Caltagirone

The Maiolica of the staircase

foto dal basso verso alto scalinata
In 1956, the staircase was enriched and embellished with a colourful maiolica covering. The idea was to celebrate the thousand-year-old tradition of Sicilian maiolica makers. For this reason, Professor Antonino Ragona, head of the project, chose to reproduce maiolica designs from the 10th-20th century.
The steps were covered from top to bottom. The maiolica tiles were inserted in chronological order, from the earliest century to present day. The first two steps commemorate Antonio Ragona and those who created the decorations (Gesualdo Aqueci, Francesco Ludice and Nicola Porcelli). The other 140 steps are divided into ten sections, one for each century starting from the 10th century. So as you climb the stairs, you are retracing the history of Caltagirone pottery from the antiquity until today.
foto Particolare targa primi due gradini foto Particolare targa primi due gradini
The maiolica tiles are a triumph of yellow, turquoise and green. One after another, geometrical decorations, human and floral figures alternate and portray the characteristic maiolica styles of Arabic, Norman, Suevian, Angevin-Aragonese, Chiaramontano, Spanish, Renaissance, Baroque, 18th century, 19th century and contemporary production.
foto Dettagli maioliche diverse

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The two churches

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

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

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

A triumph of colour

The internal colours

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

A long reconstruction

St. Sebastian, so much work!

Some masterpieces

The Staircase of Angels

An eagle-shaped city

A small room with a golden entrance

One city, two sites

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The Maiolica of the staircase

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

A feast only for Scicli

The Baroque town by the sea

Many owners, one palace

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

Some prestigious works

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

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

The interior and its masterpieces

A talking palace

The city of museums

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The wall comes to life

Prominent façade

The church of Carmine

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

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

A new site for a new church

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

A museum to save a tradition

The disastrous earthquake

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

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

The Burgos crucifix

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

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

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

A half-Baroque church

The façade used as a puppet theatre

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Feasting in Palazzolo

A new site for a new city

The colours of the cathedral

The theatre of taste

One city, three sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

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

Searching for colour

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

From International Gothic to present day

The chocolate of Modica

A square as the heart of the city

Discovering the mother church

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

A majestic and luminous church

Two illustrious patron saints

A symbol for the town

Connections with other UNESCO sites

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Between white and black

Modica, a city with ancient origins

A prominent church

A miniature city

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

Feast days

A hall for the feasts

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

New roads for Catania

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

A city in colour

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A colourful floor

Norman apses

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

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

Wonderful quick decorations

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso