
The city of Caltagirone is one of the most interesting inland Sicilian destinations. Perched on three different hills which boast of stunning views of the valley below, it became famous for the quality and sophistication of its ceramics
. Caltagirone is developing into a major tourist destination, able to attract many visitors throughout the year. The famous staircase “La Scalinata”, the nativity scenes, the patronal feast of St. James, the Baroque heritage of Unesco, are more than good reasons to get to know this vibrant city in the province of Catania.
What to see in Caltagirone
The Museums in Caltagirone
The Museum of Ceramics, located near the Teatrino, is easily accessible from Via Roma. It was inaugurated in 1965, the second of its kind only to that of Faenza. In it is the well-illustrated five thousand year history of ceramics in Sicily, with particular reference to local works.
The museum is divided into three sections, each referring to a particular historical period. The first preserves pottery from prehistoric times until the Roman period. The second section, however, in addition to artifacts from the medieval period, also presents models of furnaces used in the past.
The final section contains works in modern times, with particular emphasis on the ceramics of Caltagirone.Alpha
The Civic Museum is located near in the former Bourbon prison, in Via Roma. In the archeological and historical sections, finds dating back to prehistoric times are preserved, as well as old Greek-Roman coins and medieval sculptures.
The gallery contains beautiful paintings from the years prior to the earthquake to the present day.
Historical Background of Caltagirone
Caltagirone is definitely one of the oldest cities in Sicily, evident by numerous archaeological finds dating back to prehistoric times. The period of greatest prosperity came with the Normans, with the Arab defeat in 1030: the troops of King Roger were able to conquer the mighty castle, now completely gone; Caltagirone quickly became a reference point for the entire eastern hinterland of Sicily. The trades and crafts, driven by the production of ceramics, were able to increase the socio-economic growth of the city for several centuries.
It was the violent earthquake of 1693 that halted the development of Caltagirone: entire neighborhoods were destroyed, and only with the patience and the skill of the population were they able to resurrect the city, in its clear Baroque style, that today, makes it stand apart. It is the birthplace of Don Luigi Sturzo, an Italian politician, prominent in the first half of the twentieth century, and founder of the Italian Popular Party. After suffering a massive emigration in the years after World War II, Caltagirone is clearly emerging as a touristic and cultural city.
Caltagirone by Night
You will certainly enjoy spending a night in Caltagirone: the city has a good number of bars and restaurants to either get a pizza or enjoy a dinner of typical Sicilian delights.
Especially on weekends, Caltagirone is quite animated; children from neighboring counties choose the old town and the Spanish Steps as a meeting place for the evening.
Its geographical location also makes it attractive as a starting point to other places of interest in eastern Sicily.