This 17th century town Piazza Armerina is one of the highlights of inland Sicily. Here you can traipse over century-old mosaics, observe a medieval battle, wander through old churches and down cobbled streets or enjoy the delicious local drink with strawberries and cream.

Piazza Armerina is located in Sicily's southern interior in the province of Enna. It’s an excellent base for visiting other parts of the province and smaller towns well off the tourist trail.

How to get to Piazza Armerina

The town is well serviced by public transport with buses from Azienda Siciliana Trasporti (AST), Etna Trasporti and SAIS Autolinee calling through. The nearest train stations are in Enna, Caltanissetta and Caltagirone. Buses from Piazza Armerina will take you to these towns.

Things to do and see in Piazza Armerina

There is plenty to do in Piazza Armerina to keep you busy for a day or two, and much longer if you use it as a base to venture further afield. The most famous sight of the town and indeed of the Sicilian interior, are the incredible mosaics of Villa Romana del Casale. This former Roman villa was not excavated until the 1900s when baths, a latrine area, courtyard and gymnasium were unearthed featuring incredible mosaics. Keep a look out for the famous one of the girls in bikinis. The villa is 5km from town and you can get the CSA tours Autolinee buses from May to September from Piazza Senatore Marescalchi to get to/from it.

Museo Archaeological in town itself has findings from the villa and is near Piazza Garibaldi. It's worth climbing up from here to the rather majestic 17th Century Piazza del Duomo where you can also get a good view over town. If you're here on a Sunday or for mass at anytime it's worth popping in.

Piazza Armerina has a number of interesting districts. Castellina is the area near the duomo where a medieval castle once stood. The narrow alleys and medieval streets behind are known as Il Monte and feature Renaissance and Baroque town houses, the interesting churches of San Martino and Crocifisso and a 14th Century Aragonese castle

Canali is in the lower part of town and features an antique water supply that gushes from four stone mouths. Casalotto is the fourth part of town.

The colourful Palio dei Normanni festival is held every August and should not be missed if you're anywhere in the vicinity. The pageant actually lasts from August 12-14 but it's the final day of parades and battle reenactments you must go to. Participants in full costume act out the entrance of the Norman Count Roger I to the city. There's also plenty of jousting, horse trials, colour and spectacle for a great day's entertainment.

Accommodation and restaurants in Piazza Armerina

Piazza Armerina has a range of restaurants, bars and cafes. While you’re here you must try the local granita drink available in summer; fragola con panna (strawberries and cream). A good place to sample it is in Café Sport in Piazza Garibaldi. You won't be disappointed. Another good café is Bar Duomo in the piazza behind the church; you can take your food or drinks to benches by the belvedere – a great view.

Piazza Armerina has a number of hotels, b&bs, nearby agriturismos and one of the inland region's only hostels.

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