This Sicilian town has been making colorful ceramics since the 10th century. Its famous 142-step staircase is decorated with hand-painted tiles depicting regional patterns.
Caltagirone, a Sicilian town recognized by UNESCO, fills its streets with ceramic art. You'll find hand-painted tiles on the 142-step Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, decorated bridges, and intricate church facades. Local artisans work in more than 200 workshops, continuing techniques from the 2nd century BC. Walk through streets lined with pottery displays, join hands-on ceramic classes, or visit during July's Illuminata festival when 3,000 candles light up the grand staircase.
The Famous Ceramic Staircase
The Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte rises through Caltagirone's old town with 142 steps, each decorated with hand-painted ceramic tiles. Built in 1608, the staircase displays majolica art from various periods - geometric Moorish patterns, scenes from Sicilian daily life, and floral designs in Mediterranean blues, olive greens, and sun-baked yellows. Local artists added these distinctive tiles in the 1950s, turning the staircase into an open-air ceramic museum. Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat and get better photos.
Ceramic Workshops and Shopping
Walk along Via Principe Amedeo and neighboring streets to find artisans at work in their studios. At Giacomo Alessi's workshop, you can watch the creation process from clay shaping to glazing. Many workshops run 2-3 hour classes where you'll learn to make traditional pieces like head-shaped planters or decorative plates. The streets between Piazza Municipio and the Scalinata contain the highest concentration of ceramic shops, selling both traditional and contemporary pieces.
Annual Festivals
During the Infiorita in May, local gardeners arrange thousands of potted plants on the Scalinata, creating images of Sicilian symbols and religious figures. The July Illuminata celebrates St. James with 3,000 candles arranged in geometric patterns across the staircase steps. The lighting ceremony begins at sunset, and the display continues until midnight.
Museums and Architecture
The Regional Museum of Ceramics displays 2,500 pieces from prehistoric clay pots to modern artistic works. Located in the 1800s Palazzo Reburdone, the museum opens Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Throughout the old town, ceramic decorations appear on building facades, particularly on the San Francesco di Paola church with its yellow and blue tile work, and the Cathedral of St Julian with its ceramic-tiled dome dating to Norman times.
Day Trips from Caltagirone
Take a 40-minute drive to Piazza Armerina to see the Roman villa with its well-preserved floor mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale. The coastal city of Catania lies 70 kilometers east, where you can explore its fish market, Baroque squares, and take guided trips to Mount Etna. Both locations work well as day trips, with morning departures allowing full days of exploration.
