Morgantina (Enna Province) eventually prevailed in the identification of the site which, in a vital position between Enna, Agyrion, Gela and Catania, and therefore also Siracusa, played a role of extreme importance already in antiquity, starting from the protohistorical period and continuing until Hellenistic and Roman times.
Its discovery and the first excavations, which started in 1955 and lasted for more than a decade, were the work of a team of Americans from the University of Princeton. Further discoveries have subsequently been made.
The site is clearly divided into two parts: a hilly terraced area (the Citadel) and, to the west, beyond a broad valley, the long and irregular hill now called Serra Orlando.
Aidone is a picturesque, pretty little town in a very pleasant position high on the Monti Erei (Monte Castellaccio, 899 m). Its origins pre-date the Arab period. A Lombard colony settled there in the 13th century, as in nearby Piazza Armerina. The town is rich in interesting monuments, both of the Middle Ages and of the 16-18th centuries.
Of interest is the the Regional Archeolgical Museum, which is house in the former Capuchin Convent in nearby Aidone.
Links to other sites about Morgantina include:
Italian Wikipedia
Italian Towns
Italian Postal Codes
Sicily Web
Sicilia
Sicilian Net
My latest book on CD is titled Sicily - A Reference for Researchers and is now available. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.
Its discovery and the first excavations, which started in 1955 and lasted for more than a decade, were the work of a team of Americans from the University of Princeton. Further discoveries have subsequently been made.
The site is clearly divided into two parts: a hilly terraced area (the Citadel) and, to the west, beyond a broad valley, the long and irregular hill now called Serra Orlando.
Aidone is a picturesque, pretty little town in a very pleasant position high on the Monti Erei (Monte Castellaccio, 899 m). Its origins pre-date the Arab period. A Lombard colony settled there in the 13th century, as in nearby Piazza Armerina. The town is rich in interesting monuments, both of the Middle Ages and of the 16-18th centuries.
Of interest is the the Regional Archeolgical Museum, which is house in the former Capuchin Convent in nearby Aidone.
Links to other sites about Morgantina include:
My latest book on CD is titled Sicily - A Reference for Researchers and is now available. With a file for each town (plus many other files), it relates the history of Sicily as reflected in the photos, records and festivals of its towns. It contains over 2500 text and photo files and can be ordered at CD order.
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