Overview
The home of ceramics and Sicilian Baroque
Situated between Catania and Gela, Caltagirone stands on three different hills that form a natural amphitheatre. Thousands of years old, the city developed into two settlements. The older one is at the top, quite distinct from the newly expanded area to the south-east, and houses most of the places of interest. Such as the Cathedral Basilica of San Giuliano of Norman origin and the impressive Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, built in 1606 and about 130 metres long with 142 steps decorated with ceramic tiles. After Easter, don't miss the Infiorata, when the steps are covered with flowers and plants.
Also visit the Church of Maria SS. del Monte, Piazza Umberto I, the belvedere of Tondo Vecchio and the Museum of Ceramics, which houses around 2,500 artefacts made in Sicily since the 4th millennium BC.
A few kilometres from the city are the Bosco di Santo Pietro Oriented Nature Reserve, which covers a sandy plateau, and the Monte San Giorgio Park. If you are passionate about flowers and plants, do not miss the Monte della Ganzaria, an area of great natural interest for the colourful orchids that grow there.
95041 Caltagirone CT, Italia
