Piazza Armerina Tourist Attractions

Piazza Armerina is dominated by the cathedral of Santissima Assunta built on a hill in 1627 to plans by Orazio Torriani in place of an earlier 15th century building. The Late Gothic bell-tower from this older building was preserved and incorporated in the right-hand end of the front. The front displays Renaissance forms, contrasting beautifully with the 1719 Baroque portal with pairs of spiral columns on each side.The interior of the triple-aisled cruciform columned basilica is fitted out in Classical style, dominated by the crossing cupola. A wooden crucifix from the older church is painted on both sides; on one side can be seen the Crucifixion, on the other the Resurrection, painted in 1485 by the otherwise unknown Maestro della Croce di Piazza Armerina. The 1594 baptistry by Gagini also formed part of the original building. The church's treasures include the silver altar and the bejewelled Byzantine picture of the "Madonna delle Vittorie", which Roger I took with him into battle against the Saracens.

The Palazzo Trigona in the cathedral square is a good example of the secular architecture of Piazza Armerina; it houses an art gallery with paintings by such artists as Canaletto, Caravaggio, Carlo Dolci and A. Faggini. The 1603 church of Sant'Ignazio is Baroque, with a library and municipal museum in its former convent building.

Giovanni, with its Gothic portal and frescoes by Borreman, and in particular the 12th century church of Gran Priorato di Santo Stéfano; a few years ago some Norman frescoes were discovered hidden under later plaster.

The single-aisled church of Sant'Andrea outside Piazza Armerina dates back to 1096. Among its frescoes will be found a portrayal of "St Gregory's Mass". Below the Suffering Christ the Pope is shown celebrating mass in the presence of twelve cardinals. The inscription shows it to be Pope Pius II (1458-64), thus definitely dating the painting.