Caltagirone

A museum to save a tradition

In 1965, the Museum of Ceramics was founded in order to save a centuries-old tradition. Located on one of the main streets, Via Roma, the location was refurbished before the inauguration.
It has a special entrance, a 19th-century portico that rests on a tall raised structure accessed by a series of staircases. The maiolica decorations make it extra special, embellishing and adding colour to the façade.
The museum contains pottery from the Greek age until the beginning of the 20th century, including collections of Arab, Norman, Suevian and Aragonese artefacts.

foto ceramiche in ordine di descrizione per periodo

foto ceramiche in ordine di descrizione per periodo foto ceramiche in ordine di descrizione per periodo
The pottery is exhibited in four large rooms, where there are around 2500 artefacts and work from the ancient, medieval, post-medieval and modern worlds. The collections mostly come from the Civic Museum of Caltagirone and the “ Luigi Sturzo “, State Institute of Art for Ceramics, but also from other Sicilian museums such as the Russo-Perez collection or from private collectors including Professor Antonino Ragona.

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

Wonderful quick decorations

A city in colour

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

The chocolate of Modica

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

A miniature city

Between white and black

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Giuliano ai Crociferi

A half-Baroque church

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Norman apses

The city of museums

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The church of Carmine

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the staircase of Santa Maria del Monte

A triumph of colour

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The interior and its masterpieces

A majestic and luminous church

From the contrast of the exterior to the internal jubilation of colours

A square as the heart of the city

The senses tell the story of the Badia di Sant’Agata

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A feast only for Scicli

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A new site for a new church

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

A Nobel Prize in Modica

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The two churches

New roads for Catania

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giovanni Battista

Two illustrious patron saints

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The colours of the cathedral

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

Prominent façade

A talking palace

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The internal colours

The Baroque town by the sea

Some masterpieces

A symbol for the town

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A small room with a golden entrance

The role of the religious orders in rebuilding the Val di Noto

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The senses tell the Mother Church of San Nicolò and of the Santissimo Salvatore

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The Staircase of Angels

Connections with other UNESCO sites

One city, two sites

The senses tell the Benedictine Monastery and San NicoIò l’Arena

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

From International Gothic to present day

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The disastrous earthquake

A colourful floor

The Burgos crucifix

Some prestigious works

St. Sebastian, so much work!

An eagle-shaped city

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A hall for the feasts

Freedom of worship and the role of the Catholic Church in the diffusion of Baroque

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A long reconstruction

A prominent church

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the church of Santa Maria del Carmelo

The Maiolica of the staircase

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The wall comes to life

A new site for a new city

One city, three sites

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

Searching for colour

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

Feast days

A museum to save a tradition

Discovering the mother church

Feasting in Palazzolo

The theatre of taste

Church of San Giuliano (St. Julian) on Via dei Crociferi: reconstruction