Piazza Armerina, a Sicilian town with millennial charm, is a cultural heritage of exceptional value and, says Tourism Councillor Ettore Messina, a year-round tourist attraction.
Piazza Armerina is in the centre of Sicily
Despite being in the centre of Sicily, Piazza Armerina is well connected to the rest of the island, being about an hour from Catania and an hour and a half from Palermo, Agrigento and Siracusa. Explaining why Piazza Armerina remains authentic and lively all year round, not fearing the winter depopulation that affects other tourist destinations, Ettore Messina, tourism councillor of the municipality, spoke to ItaliAbsolutely at the BTE in Palermo. 
Every month there is a music festival
“Thanks to a stable population of 20,000 inhabitants our historic centre remains alive in every season,- the councillor explained. -We offer visitors an immersive experience in the real Sicily, thanks to our cultural heritage. Then every month we have a high-level cultural festival - from the Barocco Festival to a music rock festival, to the Between Music Festival which brings dozens of musicians to the city for a whole week, and then there is the Palio dei Normanni, one of the biggest historical re-enactments in the South of Italy.”
Roman remains and a large historic centre
Just four kilometres away from the historic centre of Piazza Armerina, the Villa Romana del Casale is world-famous for its more than 3,500 sqm of North African floor mosaics, making it the Roman villa with the largest mosaic extension in the world. The town can also boast one of the largest monumental historic centres in Sicily.
“Our old centre has monuments both from the late Middle Ages and the early Baroque period, making it quite unique. This is his is due to the fact that the devastating earthquake of 1693 did not affect Piazza Armerina. Every year, more than 500,000 tourists visit our unique town, discovering the immense artistic wealth that it contains.”
Trekking and religious paths and a outlet shopping
Piazza Armerina is also the ideal starting point for experiential and slow tourism.
“We have trekking routes, religious paths and tours to the sites of the Second World War,- adds Ettore Messina. –And our accommodation offer is very varied, including three large hotels, numerous, B&Bs, guest houses, farmhouses and boutique hotels, while a few kilometres away the Sicilia Outlet Village is a shopping destination that appeals to many of our visitors.”
