One of the most interesting archaeological sites of the Sicilian is certainly the ancient Greek city of Morgantina. Numerous sources mention found in Morgantina are a testament to its importance. Literary sources of information are of course following the artefacts found in excavations throughout the area.
The city lies on a small plain bounded by hills. At the center of the plateau is dominated by the Agora from the "hill of the Citadel", home of the Acropolis. The site, before being colonized by the Greeks, presented castelluciana old prehistoric settlements and Bronze Age. It was in the ninth century BC, arrived Morgetis (Morgantina from which it takes its name). Testimonies of the period of colonization by these people are in the Acropolis: a square huts belonging to an agricultural village. In the fourth century BC settlers Chalcis enlarge the site of Catania. In 211 BC, during the Punic Wars, Morgantina sided with the Carthaginians and this causes its destruction by the Romans.
The most interesting area of Morgantina is certainly the Agora, on two levels (lower reserved for sacred rituals, the upper one for commercial and public) are connected by a grand staircase. This is very special because it has three sides forming a space so low probably used for town meetings, as Ekklesiasterion, or moments of worship, having regard to the proximity of the Shrine of the chthonic deities, Demeter and Kore. Contemporary is without doubt the staircase at the Greek Theatre. Its semi-circular auditorium consists of 15 steps and is divided into six sectors, it is likely that the stone steps with wooden structures continued to increase the capacity of the theater (5000 seats around). The Shrine of the chthonic deities has a trapezoidal shape and is within this building that have been found votive polychrome busts depicting Demeter. Next to the greek theater, to the east, is the public granary, dating from the third century. BC has a rectangular plan.
The remains of two furnaces in the building are evidence of the existence in the city of factories ceramic vases. The upper terrace of the Agora is bordered by three monumental columned portico (stoa), which function as a school, one used for commercial purposes, the other for public meetings. At the center of this terrace lies the Agora Macellum of the second century BC, the building has a square plan and is the oldest example of macellum come down to us. The archaeological remains found in the archaeological site of Morgantina are kept in the small but very interesting Archaeological Museum in nearby Aidone. The finds are kept from the Iron Age to the first century BC Visit the ruins extend in a small valley and the two hills that enclose it. This reveals the agora, and a small theater on the hill to the north, some mosaics sheltered under canopies. HOW TO GET Coming from the 'Palermo-Catania motorway, exit from the reel, you go in the direction of Piazza Armerina. Coming out from the junction of the highway Enna-Gela, before arriving at Piazza Armerina, take the SS 288 is surrounded by natural parks of pines and eucalyptus. 6 Km appears Aidone. The driveway culminates in the CHURCH OF ST MARY THE QUARRY, attracts thousands of pilgrims from every part of Sicily come to venerate the miraculous statue of St. Philip the Apostle.
Calendario eventi Piazza Armerina
