Caltagirone

Caltagirone is a historic hilltop town recognised by UNESCO among the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, and one of Sicily’s principal centres of ceramic production. Its identity is especially evident on the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, a monumental 142-step staircase built in the early 17th century, with every vertical riser embellished with hand-painted, colourful maiolica tiles.

The town’s ceramic tradition continues in its maiolica and terracotta workshops, where master potters produce distinctive local pieces including the iconic Testa di Moro planters. Artisan shops offer an opportunity to see the craft at close quarters, while the Museo Regionale della Ceramica places it in a wider context through more than 2,500 objects spanning prehistory to the 20th century.

Caltagirone’s architectural character was shaped by the rebuilding that followed the devastating earthquake of 1693. The resulting Sicilian Baroque townscape includes the Cathedral of San Giuliano and Palazzo Senatorio, whose elegant forms sit among the steep streets and terraces of the historic centre.

For a quieter pause, the 19th-century Giardino Pubblico provides an English-style public park designed by G.B. Basile. The 18th-century Teatrino viewpoint offers another perspective over the town, complementing a visit that moves naturally between ceramics, Baroque architecture and elevated public spaces.