Via degli Archi

Via degli Archi in Randazzo, Sicily, was built, in the 13th century, in the Aragonese style. The Aragonese ruled Sicily from 1282 when the Sicillian Nobles ousted Charles of Anjou, the "Angevin"  King of Naples and Sicily. The crown was offered to King Peter of Aragon (because his wife could claim a blood line to the throne) and the Aragonese remained the ruling power until 1492 when the modern Spanish era began and  the crown became vested with the Kings of Spain until 1713 when it was passed to the control of Savoy under the Treaty of Utrecht.

Via degli Archi is a narrow alley which opens onto Piazza San Nicoli which was the site of the, intermittent, Sicilian "parliament" in the Aragonese period. The term parliament generally implies some form of democracy but in the feudal society of Sicily it was merely a meeting of the barons (and more senior nobles) convened by the crown to rubber stamp royal decisions. Via degli Archi was the route by which the nobility would enter the Piazza for the meetings of the parliaments.

The small street has four lava stone arches, the first of these is surmounted by mullioned windows.  Although a short street it is very attractive and a fantastic example of Aragonese architecture.