In the province of Enna in the centre of Sicily, at a height of almost 700 metres in the southern Erei
mountains, stands Piazza Armerina. Set amidst dense woodland (made up predominantly of Eucalyptus trees),
the town is surrounded by luxuriant natural sites, ideal for excursions and trekking: the
Pergusa reserve
with the namesake lake, the lago d'Olivo, the archaeological site of
Montagna di Marzo, and the nature reserve
Rossomanno Grottascura Bellia.
Piazza Garibaldi is the throbbing heart of the town, with streets of
an ancient flavour leading off in all directions. Dominating the entire urban panorama is the
Cattedrale dell'Assunta, commanding a superb
view of the surrounding buildings, sober and elegant, which have to be seen as a unique architectural
complex in which each individual construction is harmoniously integrated into the overall structure.
In Piazza Santa Rosalia is the Duomo,
commissioned at the wish of Baron Marco Trigona, who is portrayed
in the statue in the centre of the square in the act of offering the cathedral to the city. Overlooking
the same square is the Palazzo dei Trigona della Floresta
(eighteenth-century), the future premises of the town's archaeological museum.
In the summer Piazza Armerina offers itself to visitors in a unique garb, with the organisation of
performances, cultural events, shows, spectacles and art competitions. The
Palio dei Normanni is a historic
re-enactment held every year from 12 to 14 August, plunging the town into a mediaeval atmosphere. Another
important event connected with the local traditions is the
Feast of the Madonna di Piazza Vecchia (3 May).
