Caltagirone – Old Town, Ceramics and Stairway Designs

Caltagirone combines a historic old town with a ceramics culture documented in the city since the tenth century BC. The town is particularly impressive when you want to discover culture not only in museums, but also on monumental stairways, in churches and at seasonal city events.

Old Town, Ceramics and Art

The entire old town of Caltagirone is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto”. This means that the focus is not just on a single building, but on the historic urban area as a whole. For your walk, this creates a cultural focus that can be combined with other independent attractions.

A central point of interest is the Museo regionale della ceramica di Caltagirone. Using objects from all over Sicily, it tells the story of the island’s ceramics production from prehistoric times to the beginning of the 20th century. A particular focus is placed on products from Caltagirone. The museum visit thus places the town’s long terracotta tradition within a broader Sicilian context.

The MACC also has its own distinctive focus. It was founded in 1996 after Carmela Pasqualino donated works by the artist Gianni Ballarò. The museum is located in the Ospedale delle Donne near the ancient church of San Giorgio and displays contemporary art collections originating from the National Ceramics Exhibitions that the Comune di Caltagirone has organized since 1980. The church of San Francesco d’Assisi all’Immacolata is also home to a large majolica panel by Antonio Ragona. It depicts the Nativity with Saint Francis.

The Scala as a Stage for Flowers and Light

The monumental Scala Santa Maria del Monte is the setting for two different events throughout the year. Every year between May and June, the Scala Infiorata is created as a tribute to the Madonna di Conadomini, the city’s patron saint. Thousands of vases with plants and flowers in different shades form a new large-scale overall image on the staircase each year. This makes a visit an experience in which ceramics, colors and urban space interact directly.

The Scala Illuminata, by contrast, focuses on light and takes place on July 24 and 25 and August 14 and 15. These fixed dates clearly differ from the Scala Infiorata, which is created between May and June, and help you schedule the cultural highlights of your trip.

Urban Greenery and History

The Giardino Pubblico of Caltagirone offers a change between the dense urban landscape and green surroundings. The green oasis in the heart of the city covers 10 hectares. Avenues lined with holm oaks, lime trees, pines and cypresses shape the garden and complement the cultural program with an expansive landscape experience within the city.

The city museum is housed in the former Bourbon prison. The building was constructed between 1782 and 1798, combining its historical function with its present-day museum use. In Caltagirone, the range therefore extends from terracotta production documented since early times, through sacred majolica and contemporary ceramic art, to urban history and events on the Scala.

If you would like to compare other places, you can also view Castel Di Judica, Viagrande, Castiglione Di Sicilia, Aci Bonaccorsi, Acireale, Montelaguardia and Fiumefreddo Di Sicilia.

For the higher-level travel overview: Catania.

More about the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Caltagirone - Sicily.