Caltagirone is situated on three different hills, giving it a splendid view of the entire valley below. Having become famous for its ceramics, the city is developing a strong tourist vocation, managing to attract several hundred visitors throughout the year. Underlying this great success are the folklore of the patronal feast of San Giacomo, the Baroque UNESCO heritage site, the famous staircase, the nativity scenes, and many other attractions, both historical and cultural, that make Caltagirone one of the unmissable destinations of the Sicilian hinterland. Here is what you need to know to best visit this small city.
To get an overview of the city, we recommend a 30-minute sightseeing tour on the little train at a cost of €5.00 for adults and €2.50 for children, departing from the historic centre.
What to see in Caltagirone
1 - Museum of Ceramics
The Caltagirone Ceramics Museum houses some 2,500 exhibits of ceramics made in Sicily from the 4th millennium B.C. to the contemporary age. Second only to the Museum of Faenza, the complex can be described as'a museum within a museum' as the exhibition is housed in a 1950s Art Nouveau building with two imposing staircases at the entrance.
How to get there: the museum is 2 km from the historical centre, approximately nine minutes on foot, via Roma - Get directions
Opening hours: Daily 9am-6.30pm. Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 18:30 p.m.
Ticket price: €4.00 full ticket, €2.00 reduced ticket, €1.00 ticket for residents of the province
2 - Steps of Santa Maria del Monte
Built in 1606, the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte (Stairway of Santa Maria del Monte) links the old part of Caltagirone with the new part, built in the upper part. The staircase, over 130 metres long, was originally built in cantilevers.
In 1844, the various flights were unified, resulting in one hundred and forty-two steps decorated with ceramic tiles.
How to get there: the staircase is located in the historic centre, so it is easy to reach on foot, walking along Corso Amedeo di Savoia - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket cost: Free
3 - Villa Comunale and public garden
The municipal villa can be accessed either from Via Roma, where the main entrance is located next to the Politeama Theatre, or from Viale Principessa Maria José. The garden is built on the model of English parks, and is characterised by an Art Nouveau entrance, and a long internal avenue, where you can admire terracotta vases, majolica and ornamental terracottas. In the central square there is a Moorish-style music box, while in the lower part one can admire one of the basins of the Flora Fountain by the Florentine sculptor and architect Camillo Camilliani.
From the entrance on Viale Principessa Maria José, one descends a double flight of steps leading to two majolica panels and a statue of Ceres.
Within the confines of the villa is also the former municipal library, in Art Nouveau style, now housing the International Nativity Museum.
How to get there: it is 1.2 km from the centre, a 13-minute walk, going south on via Duomo - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket cost: Free
4 - Cathedral of San Giuliano
Photo by Hein56didden. The church of San Giuliano dates back to Norman times, and is one of the best preserved examples, although it has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries due to earthquake damage.
The interior consists of three naves, separated by a colonnade, with arches adorned with beautiful frescoes. On 12 September 1816, Pope Pius VII, through the papal bull Romanus Pontifex, gave birth to the diocese of Caltagirone and elevated the church of San Giuliano to a cathedral.
How to get there: it is located in the heart of the historical centre, so it is advisable to reach it on foot - Get directions
Hours: daily from 9 am to 6 pm
Ticket price: Free
5 - Monumental Cemetery
Photo by Davide Mauro. The cemetery of Caltagirone was built in the second half of the 1800s and is called the Paradise Cemetery, after the district in which it stands. Given the large number of sculptures, paintings, friezes and other antiquities it contains, it was declared a national monument in 1931.
Along the north-south axis are the most important elements, including the entrance portico, the Famedio, the Ossuary and the octagonal square.
How to get there: from the city centre the cemetery is 2.8 km away, which can be covered in 34 minutes on a pleasant walk, taking in some of the most important sights such as the Villa Comunale, and the ceramics museum - Get directions
Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Monday to Friday. On public holidays it closes earlier at 13:00
Ticket price: Free
6 - Maria SS. del Monte Church
It stands in the oldest part of the city, and has been damaged and rebuilt several times. Situated at the top of the steps of the same name, its nave vault is decorated with frescoes depicting biblical heroines.
Italso houses the Sacred Image of Our Lady of Conadomini, dear to the citizens, who express their devotion in the month of May entirely dedicated to the cult of Mary. It is a table that arrived in Caltagirone in the first half of the 13th century, painted on both sides.
How to get there: it is located in the historic centre, at the top of the steps of the same name. It is easily reached on foot - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
7 - Luigi Sturzo Civic Museums
The Luigi Sturzo civic museums are a museum chain, housed in a prison built during the reign of the Bourbons. The building has decorations on the façade, articulated by a giant order of Ionic pilasters, which support a large projecting cornice: in the centre of the façade is a large city coat of arms.
Inside there are, on the ground floor, the large rooms for the common prisoners, still with chains and bars; on the first floor there was the chapel, storerooms and warehouses, and on the second the officers' and guards' quarters. In the attic were the isolation cells.
These rooms now house the archaeology section, the picture gallery and the history collection. The various collections illustrate the history and aspects of the Caltagirone community and territory.
How to get there: located in the historic centre, it is recommended to go on foot, given the presence of other attractions along the way - Get directions
Opening hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday from 9:30 to 13:30 and 15:30 to 18:30; Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 9:30 to 13:30
Ticket price: Free
8 - Church of St Francis of Paola
Built in 1593, the Church has undergone several modifications, including structural ones, that have now compromised its original appearance. At the same time, however, numerous paintings and sacred furnishings from other churches, which collapsed due to earthquakes or were closed, have been preserved inside.
The parish church is strongly linked to the devotional cult of the people towards the hermit saint, which is expressed during the traditional procession of"i virgineddi", a procession made up of thirteen children holding a candle.
How to get there: given the church's proximity to the theatre, the statue of Luigi Sturzo and other attractions, it is advisable to go on foot. It is 550 metres from the city centre, about 6 minutes' walk - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket price: Free
9 - The Old Tondo
Built in the second half of the 18th century as a decorative element of the new road layout, the Tondo Vecchio is located near the Church of San Francesco di Paola, and is a belvedere overlooking a magnificent panorama of mountains and valleys.
Today it is a venue for concerts and open-air shows.
How to get there: given the church's proximity to the theatre, the Luigi Sturzo statue and other attractions, it is advisable to go on foot. It is 550 metres from the city centre, about 6 minutes' walk - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket price: Free
10 - Piazza Umberto I and its buildings
The Piazza Umberto I is overlooked by beautiful and important civil buildings, which are worth even seeing from the outside. First among these is the Monte delle Prestanze, now the headquarters of the Banco di Sicilia, characterised by slender columns decorating the lower floor; the Palazzo Crescimanno d'Albafiorita, a sumptuous 18th-century residence rich in works of art; the Palazzo Libertini di San Marco, the former seat of the bishop, now used as the civic museum.
How to get there: Piazza Umberto I is part of the city's historic centre, so it is best reached on foot. Alternatively, the square can be reached using the city bus routes 14, 7, 5, 13 - Get directions
Hours: always accessible
Ticket price: Free
One-day itinerary in Caltagirone
Morning: After breakfast at the Forte bar, it is a good idea to move on to the first stop on the itinerary: the Caltagirone Ceramics Museum, which is certainly not to be missed, given that we are right in the city of ceramics.
The second stop is the beautiful and imposing Church of San Pietro, with its particular Gothic style that gives it a certain 'mysterious charm'.
Once the visit is over, it is time to move on to another church, dedicated to San Francesco di Paola, guardian of numerous treasures from other churches destroyed or damaged by earthquakes. Near the church is the famous'Tondo Vecchio': a vantage point overlooking an expanse of mountains and valleys.
Afternoon: lunchtime is now upon us, and we recommend a stop at the Gusto e Arte restaurant nearby for affordable refreshments.
The time has come to set out again, and the Ponte di San Francesco is the next stop on the agenda. Completed in 1665 to connect two of the three hills on which the city stands, the bridge is finely decorated with relief ceramics and has five majestic arches. After crossing the bridge, proceeding straight along Via Roma, you will soon reach the very central Piazza Umberto I, overlooked by Monte delle Prestanze, Palazzo Crescimanno d'Albafiorita and Palazzo Libertini di San Marco. With only one day available, one certainly cannot visit all the beauties that Caltagirone has to offer and one has to make choices, but a visit to the square allows the tourist to see all these architectural masterpieces at once, albeit quickly and only from the outside.
And here we come to the last two stops on the tour, if only the city's crowning glory: the steps of Santa Maria del Monte and the church of the same name. Built in 1606, the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte connects the old part of the city to the new part, located on the upper part. The staircase is over 130 metres long, with a total of one hundred and forty-two steps decorated with ceramic tiles. Dominating the work is the church of Santa Maria del Monte, particularly dear to the citizens and guardian of a rare sacred image.
Evening: and here we come to dinner time, and we recommend ending the day with a stop at the trattoria Anima e Core, so you can enjoy some good typical dishes before saying goodbye to the city.
Daytours from Catania: Caltagirone is perfect to visit via organised day tours. There are several departing from Catania that also include a stop at the nearby town of Piazza Armerina.
One-day itinerary at a glance
Breakfast at Bar Forte via Roma,103 - Get directions
Ceramics Museum: Mon to Fri from 9:00am to 6:30pm - Sundays and public holidays from 10:00am to 6:30pm - ticket cost: full price €4.00 reduced €2.00
Church of St. Peter: always open, free admission
Church of St. Francis of Padua and the Old Tondo: always open, free admission
Lunch at Gusto e Arte restaurant, Via degli Studi, 27 - Get directions
Bridge of San Francesco: always open, free admission
Piazza Umberto I: always open, free admission
Steps of Santa Maria del Monte and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte: always open, free admission
Dinner at Trattoria Anima e Core, Piazza Innocenzo Marcinno, 15 - Get directions
Where to eat in Caltagirone
Gusto e Arte Restaurant: located in the city centre. It offers a rustic and authentic ambience, where you can taste typical traditional cuisine at a great price.
Average price per person: from €15.00
Address and contact details: Via degli Studi, 27 ( Get directions) / tel: 334 545 8324Ristorante al Saracino: The restaurant, which is divided into several rooms, is located in the city centre and is designed in Art Nouveau style. The restaurant offers a wide choice of traditional cuisine, as well as gourmet dishes, all accompanied by a wide selection of wines.
Average price per person: €20.00
Address and contacts: via Roma,84(Get directions) / tel: 338 344 4419Trattoria Anima e Core: typical Sicilian cuisine, with special focus on 0 km meat and fish dishes.
Average price per person: €15.00 - €30.00
Address and contacts: Piazza Innocenzo Marcinno, 15(Get directions) / tel: 0933 030578
What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and best clubs
There is no shortage of bars and pubs in Caltagirone, which has a wide choice of venues (also open until late) concentrated almost everywhere in its territory. Beer and drink lovers are spoilt for choice. It is a different story for lovers of nightclubs, who will have to travel to Catania to find the venues that best meet their needs.
Shamrock Pub: sandwich bar and pizzeria, it also provides its customers with a range of board games to have fun with
Address: Via San Bonaventura, 6(Get directions) / Facebook pageAtlantic City: lounge bar, specialising in drinks and aperitifs
Address: Via Luigi Pirandello, 7 (Getdirections) / Facebook pageDiscoteca Industrie: cult discotheque, meeting place for dance/house music lovers also from nearby cities
Address: Via Acquicella Porto, 13 - 95121 Catania CT(Get directions)
Plan your stay in Caltagirone: info and useful advice
How to get there: by car Highway A19 Catania-Palermo; exit Enna direction Piazza Armerina. The nearest airport is Comiso (45 km - Get directions), but the major airport is Catania - Fontanarossa (65 km - Get directions). From here you can get to Caltagirone by Interbus buses in about an hour at a cost of €6.40.
Gettingaround: Caltagirone is a small town, and all the main monuments are within a short distance of each other. It is therefore advisable to get around on foot. However, an urban bus service is available at a cost of €1.50 each way.
Where to park: near the Villa Comunale, there is a large free car park(get directions). Near the centre instead, in Via Porta del Vento, the Altea car park also gives you the chance to park your camper van (Getdirections)
Where to stay: Hotels and b&b from €37.00 per room - see offers
What to see nearby: Catania (68 km, 1 hour drive - Get directions), Ragusa (59 km, 57 minutes - Get directions), Piazza Armerina (28.4 km, 44 minutes - Get directions), Enna (40 km, 1 hour - Get directions).
