Your Visit to Caltagirone - the Ceramics Capital of Sicily

Caltagirone is the ceramics (ceramiche) capital of Sicily. The town’s name derives from the Arabic “Qal’at al Ghiran,” meaning “Fortress of Jars,” reflecting its historic role in pottery.

Caltagirone is one of the eight towns of the Val di Noto recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They were destroyed by an earthquake in 1693 and rebuilt during the period of late baroque architecture.

Driving and Parking

Caltagirone is a 90-minute drive from Noto. I recommend entering ‘Museo Regionale della Ceramica, Caltagirone’ into your navigation and parking there or nearby when you arrive.

Refreshment

Begin your exploration of Caltagirone by walking north on Via Roma. After the long drive, you will probably fancy some refreshment and a bathroom break. On the right-hand side of the street is a cafe called Bar Sorte, which is a handy pit stop.

Ceramics

Caltagirone is Scicily’s historic centre for ceramic design and production and is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir such as a Pigna or Teste di Moro.

As you walk through the town, you will see hundreds of ceramic shops to choose from. My ‘go-to’ brand, and reputedly Sicily’s premier ceramics brand, is Verus, which has a magnificent showroom at Via San Bonaventura 3 and is well worth exploring.

Staircase

The Stairs of Saint Mary of the Mount (Scala di Santa Maria del Monte), are iconic of Caltagirone. The staircase, built in 1606, connects what was then the old part of the city with the new. The scala is 130 metres long and has 142 steps, the fronts of which are adorned with beautiful ceramic tiles.

Church

At the top of the staircase is the Church of Saint Mary on the Mount (Chiesa di Santa Maria del Monte). From the courtyard at the front of the church, you can enjoy spectacular views back down the staircase to the new town.

Enjoy your visit to Caltigirone, the ceramics capital of Sicily!

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