L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano b e a u t i f u l e x a m p l e o f B a r o q u e a r c h i t e c t u r e i n town is Palazzo Trigona: located near the cathedral, it was built in the 18th century and was once the home of the powerful Trigona family. It is poised to become the city's archaeological muse- um and should house arti- facts from local excavations. But just like the whole island of Sicily, back in the early to mid Middle Ages P i a z z a A r m e r i n a w a s incredibly multicultural, it was corner of the world where East and West, North and South met, mingled and c o h a b i t e d . T h e t o w n , notably, reflects the influ- ence of Arab and Norman cultures, which is evident in its architectural styles and traditions: its layout and c e r t a i n a r c h i t e c t u r a l e l e - ments are examples of such influences, like the Arabic muqarnas (stalactite-like decorations), which reflect the ancient Islamic past of t h e a r e a . . T h e N o r m a n impact, on the other hand, is evident in fortifications and in the many Romanesque architectural elements, like s e m i c i r c u l a r a r c h e s a n d large stone blocks. We've reached the end of our walk through the sunny streets of Piazza Armerina, ed while practicing sports like those we've been watch- ing at the Olympics, like w e i g h t l i f t i n g a n d d i s c u s t h r o w i n g . M e n s s a n a i n corpore sano, the ancient R o m a n s u s e d t o s a y : n o w o n d e r s p o r t s w e r e s o important to them! Other notable mosaics at the Villa del Casale include scenes of the Great Hunt, illustrating a vast and orga- nized hunt across diverse terrains, and the depiction of the Labors of Hercules, which shows the hero's leg- endary feats. Besides the villa, Piazza Armerina is home to other historical and architectural landmarks. The Aragonese C a s t l e , although not the o l d e s t s t r u c t u r e i n t o w n , stands out with its unique architectural features and h i s t o r y : b u i l t i n t h e 1 4 t h century, the castle served as a defensive fortress and later as a prison during the Span- ish domination of Sicily. The town's majestic Cathedral, dedicated to Maria Santissi- ma delle Vittorie, was built in an impressive Baroque style between the 17th and 18th centuries; its interior features exquisite stuccoes and frescoes, while its façade is a masterpiece of Sicilian B a r o q u e d e s i g n . A n o t h e r but we're not done with our trip quite yet. If you love natural beauty, there is p l e n t y i n t h e t o w n ' s s u r - r o u n d i n g s t o m a k e y o u h a p p y , s t a r t i n g f r o m t h e n a t u r e r e s e r v e o f R o n z a Park. Located just a short drive from Piazza Armerina, the park is home to various species of flora and fauna and is known as a top desti- nation for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. If you are a Classicist or j u s t l o v e m y t h o l o g y , y o u should definitely head to Lake Pergusa, famous for its biodiversity but also for i t s m y t h o l o g i c a l c o n n e c - tions. According to Greek mythology, Persephone, the daughter of Demeter (the goddess of agriculture), was abducted by Hades while picking flowers near Lake Pergusa. This event led to Demeter's grief, causing a s e v e r e d r o u g h t u n t i l a n a g r e e m e n t w a s r e a c h e d , a l l o w i n g P e r s e p h o n e t o spend part of the year with her mother and part in the underworld. This was the w a y t h e G r e e k s a n d t h e Romans would explain the alternating of the four sea- sons. When Persephone was with her mother Demeter, t h e g o d d e s s w o u l d f e e l h a p p y a n d j o y o u s , a n d nature would burst with life a n d f e r t i l i t y , g i v i n g t o Humankind the seasons of Spring and Summer. When, on the other hand, Perse- p h o n e h a d t o b e i n t h e U n d e r w o r l d w i t h H a d e s , D e m e t e r w o u l d p a i n f u l l y d r a g h e r s e l f t h r o u g h t h e days, feeling alone, aban- doned, and hopeless: nature, t h e n , w o u l d m i r r o r h e r heart, and fall into a deep, silent sleep, made of appar- ent death and solitude — the Fall and the Winter. It is with these poetical i m a g e s o f l o v e , l o s s a n d myth, that we end our short — b u t I h o p e p l e a s a n t — j o u r n e y t h r o u g h P i a z z a Armerina and its surround- ings, yet another place to add to our bucket list. In the end, who doesn't want to check out those 2000 years old bikinis and rest the eyes on a lake that can lead us to the Otherworld? century, it became a strong- hold under the control of F r e d e r i c k I I o f H o h e n - s t a u f e n , H o l y R o m a n Emperor and Stupor Mundi. Today, we can still appre- ciate the town's historical importance through local art and archaeology, starting with the place that, perhaps, b e s t r e p r e s e n t s P i a z z a Armerina in people's imagi- nation, the incredible Villa del Casale, a beautifully p r e s e r v e d R o m a n v i l l a , w h i c h i s a l s o a U N E S C O World Heritage site. Built in t h e 4 t h c e n t u r y A D , i t i s known for its well-preserved m o s a i c s , w h i c h c o v e r a n i m p r e s s i v e 3 , 5 0 0 s q u a r e meters and depict various scenes, including mythologi- c a l n a r r a t i v e s , h u n t i n g scenes, and daily activities. One of the most famous m o s a i c s i s — y e s , y o u g u e s s e d i t — t h e " B i k i n i Girls," which portrays young women wearing two-piece costumes that look just like strapless bikinis to our mod- ern eyes. Nothing further from the truth, though: the girls in the mosaic are not holiday makers frolicking by the sea, but athletes during t r a i n i n g . I n d e e d , t h e s e women are dressed in what can be considered ancient athletic gear and are depict- A r t h i s t o r y i s a c o m p u l s o r y school subject in Italy, at least if you attend a liceo, and while most Ital- ians probably don't remem- ber much about it, one thing p r o b a b l y s t u c k i n t h e i r minds: in Piazza Armeri- na there is a Roman mosaic with girls in bikini. Things are not exactly like that, but they are ... close enough — more about it in a few para- graphs. But there is much more than Roman mosaics and art to appreciate and enjoy — t h o u g h t h a t ' d b e w e l l enough to love the plac — in Piazza Armerina, a town of about 21,000 located in the province of Enna, central S i c i l y . L e t ' s e x p l o r e i t together, taking one of those "armchair trips" we at L'Ita- lo-Americano often share with our readers. T h e h i s t o r y o f P i a z z a A r m e r i n a s t a r t e d i n p r e - Roman times when the area w a s h o m e t o t h e S i c u l i people. The Romans took control in the 3rd century BC during their conquest of Sicily, which was part of the b r o a d e r e f f o r t t o e x p a n d t h e i r i n f l u e n c e i n t h e Mediterranean: the strategic location of the town made it a valuable asset to consoli- d a t e t h e i r p o w e r o n t h e island. During the Byzantine period, Piazza Armerina became a fortified center, and later, under Arab rule, it flourished economically and culturally. It also played a significant role during the Norman conquest and sub- sequent periods, earning the title urbs opulentissima (the r i c h e s t o f t o w n s ) f r o m Emperor Charles V, due to its wealth and importance. The Medieval period saw Piazza Armerina becom- ing an important agricultur- al center: the Normans, who conquered Sicily in the 11th c e n t u r y , i n t r o d u c e d n e w agricultural techniques and crops, which boosted pros- perity in the area even fur- ther. Then, during the 13th A beautiful view of Piazza Armerina (Photo: Roman Babakin/Shutterstock) Piazza Armerina: where Roman splendor meets Sicilian charm GIULIA FRANCESCHINI LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE TRADITIONS

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