Caltagirone

Caltagirone is the ceramics capital of Sicily, about 70 km south-west of Catania in the hills of the interior. The practical way to reach it is by car on the SS417 Catania-Gela road in about one hour. Regional coaches serve the town, but operator, stop and fare for 2026 are not verified, so the Etna Trasporti, AST and Interbus sites should be checked, and a private transfer from Catania Airport is another option. Parking is easiest near the Villa Comunale and the lower town, from where the old centre is reached on foot or by taxi.

The town's best-known landmark is the Scala di Santa Maria del Monte, a 142-step staircase whose risers are decorated with hand-painted majolica tiles in different patterns, linking the lower town to the church of Santa Maria del Monte at the top. Caltagirone belongs to the UNESCO-listed late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto. Other stops include the Villa Comunale gardens with their ornate pavilions, the Museo Regionale della Ceramica, the cathedral of San Giuliano and the many workshops on Via Roma and around the staircase, where potters sell plates, tiles and figurines. Ceramics are a living craft here, and visitors can often watch painting in progress.

A day trip usually starts with an early drive, arriving by 09:30 to climb the staircase before heat builds, then visiting the ceramics museum and workshops. Lunch can be found in the old centre, where pasta with local sausage, caciocavallo cheese and almond sweets are typical. The afternoon suits the Villa Comunale and a slow shopping walk, with the return drive before evening.

Spring and autumn are the best seasons. On 24 and 25 July and 15 August the Scala is illuminated with thousands of oil lamps arranged in patterns, an event that draws large crowds and requires early planning. The climb is steep, so comfortable shoes are essential, and shops may close in the afternoon break.