Enna heart of Sicily and enchantment of millenary history...

Piazza Armerina Aragonese Castle

Built for will of King Martino I° of Aragon in 1392, it rises on a hillock situated on the southern side of the ancient part of the inhabited centre. Its towers, encircled by bastions and rivellini, have accommodated for a long time the civil condemned. Structure of great interest, the castle possess a characteristic planimetry: four square towers connected by fortified walls with trapezoidal system. Little time ago it has been given back to the communal administration that intends using it for touristic purpose. We do not have news about the exact place where the ancient city of Piazza Armerina rose. Anyway it goes back to the Greek colonization time. One kilometre away from Piazza Armerina there are S. Francesco’s convent ruins. It belonged to the ancient Castrum Armorum, going back to Conte Ruggero’s age. Still clearly visible in the historical centre of Piazza Armerina are the Tower of S. Giovanni’s place, the Catalan Door, the Castellana Door and rests of the ancient Castle fortifications on which has developed the present urban nucleus. Along the Barrafranca – Piazza Armerina road is collocated the March Mountain. It surely was a fortified city of remarkable extension. From the excavations carried out we suppose his foundation goes back to the IV century bC. Nowadays remain just the rests of the town-walls, probably built as defence from the Greek invasion. But excavations here brought to light also walls and buildings of Greek, roman and Byzantine origin. On the same territory the ruins of several fortified “masserie” (ancient farms) are recovered.