| Historical quarters |
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The four historical quarters represent the life blood from which the most important events that take place in the town all year round originate. Canali The neighbouring district of Canali is an old part of the town, inhabited until 1492 by Jews (Giudecca) and once the commercial and productive heart of the town. The district is located in the lowest lying part of the town, where the abundant fresh water supply was provided by the "Fonte dei Canali", which fed the mediaeval washhouse. Near the Fonte (fountain) there is a small church dedicated to Saint Lucy, probably built in 1685 on the site of a pre-existing 14th century synagogue. In the higher part of the district you can visit the 17th century Church of ltria, with an elegant baroque portal in sandstone, which was the second parish church to be built in the town after Saint Martin's. Casalotto The rural district of Casalotto once belonged to the Branciforti family of Mazzarino and only became part of the town of Piazza in 1598. There used to be an oratory here, dedicated to Saint Phillip Neri, which became a sacramental church in the 17th century. The Church of Saint Phillip Neri is located in the square of the same name and has a plain fa~ade with an inlaid sandstone portal. In the lower part of the district stands the 17th century Church of the Carmine, with the adjacent convent, which was built on the ruins of the 15th century church of St. Albert. The Gothic-Catalan style bell tower of this latter church still stands today. The 16th century cloister is interesting, as is the marble statue of Our Lady by A. Gagini situated above the portal of the church. Castellina Behind the ex Benedictine Monastery is the Castellina district, one of the four historical districts of the town, so called because it was situated at the foot of a mediaeval castle that stood on the site of the present day monastery of Saint Francis. At the centre of the district stands the Church of Saint Veneranda, which was founded in 1180, although the present day façade dates from 1650. The lowest part of the district is closed off by the old Castellina Tower (1337) and by a stretch of fortified walls with a wide opening, serving as a gateway into the distric Monte Passing along via Monte, the old "strata mastra" (main street), you will see numerous buildings worthy of note: Palazzo Geraci, the Monastery of the Trinity, the building traditionally believed to have been the residence of Baron M. Trigona, with its refined Gothic Catalan portal and the Palazzo belonging to the Marquises of Roccabianca, unfortunately badly restored. The Monte district is a classical example of Norman town planning, with side streets leading of the main street in a fish bone pattern.
From Piazza Garibaldi to the Collegio From St. Anthony Square to St. Peter's
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