Discover Caltagirone: UNESCO Old Town and Ceramics

Caltagirone combines a historic cityscape with a ceramics tradition dating back to well before the Christian era, colorful festivals and extensive green spaces. The entire old town of Caltagirone is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto”. This makes the historic town center the focus of a stay that combines culture, craftsmanship and distinctive urban views.

Ceramics, Churches and Contemporary Art

Terracotta has been produced in Caltagirone since the tenth century BC. Using objects from all over Sicily, the Museo regionale della ceramica di Caltagirone presents the island’s historic ceramics production from prehistoric times to the beginning of the 20th century. A particular focus is placed on products from Caltagirone. For visitors interested in regional craftsmanship, this makes the long development of ceramics on the island tangible, as well as the city’s particular importance.

The Church of San Francesco d’Assisi all’Immacolata also reflects this artistic tradition: it contains a large maiolica panel by Antonio Ragona depicting the Nativity with Saint Francis. The MACC was founded in 1996 after Carmela Pasqualino donated works by the artist Gianni Ballarò. It is located in the Ospedale delle Donne near the ancient Church of San Giorgio and displays contemporary art collections acquired from the National Ceramics Exhibitions organized by the Comune di Caltagirone since 1980.

Festive Stairways with Changing Designs

The Scala Infiorata is designed every year between May and June as a tribute to the Madonna di Conadomini, the city’s patron saint. Thousands of vases containing plants and flowers in different shades of color form a different large-scale overall image each year on the monumental Scala Santa Maria del Monte. The Scala Illuminata takes place on July 24 and 25 and on August 14 and 15.

City Museum and Historic Buildings

The former Bourbon prison, which now houses the Caltagirone City Museum, combines its present-day museum function with a building constructed between 1782 and 1798. Palazzo Aprile and Palazzo Ceramico are among the palaces in the immediate vicinity of Caltagirone. Museums in the immediate vicinity include the Luigi Sturzo Gallery and the Musei Civici Luigi Sturzo.

Green Spaces and Regional Landscape

The Giardino Pubblico of Caltagirone is a green oasis in the heart of the city and covers 10 hectares, with avenues lined by holm oaks, linden trees, pines and cypresses. The Montagna di Marzo, a hill, lies in the wider regional area surrounding Caltagirone. The Riserva Naturale Orientata Bosco di Santo Pietro, a park and protected area, is also part of the area around Caltagirone. The wider regional area around Caltagirone also includes the Riserva Naturale Orientata Sughereta di Niscemi, a park and protected area, as well as the Parco Suburbano Grotta del Drago, a park.

Choose a Holiday Apartment in Caltagirone Based on Your Travel Interests

When choosing a holiday apartment in Caltagirone, you can base your decision on the focus you want for your stay. The UNESCO-listed old town, churches, museums, ceramics and the two stairway festivals represent urban culture and events. The Giardino Pubblico adds a green accent in the heart of Caltagirone, while hills and protected areas complement the wider regional surroundings. If you are traveling with different interests, you can choose your accommodation based on whether urban culture, ceramics, festival days, inner-city green spaces or regional landscapes should shape your stay.

More Destinations at This Level

More destinations: Trecastagni, Montelaguardia, Monterosso, Montargano, Fiumefreddo Di Sicilia, Belpasso, Puntalazzo, Acireale

To the higher-level travel overview: Catania.