Caltagirone is located on three different hills, this gives it a splendid view over the entire valley below. Having become famous for its ceramics , the city is developing a strong tourist vocation, managing to attract several hundred visitors during the year. At the base of great success, there are the folklore of the patronal feast of San Giacomo, the Baroque heritage of UNESCO , the famous staircase, the cribs and many other historical and cultural attractions, which make Caltagirone one of the unmissable destinations of the Sicilian hinterland. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of this small town.
To get a preview of the city, we recommend that you take a 30-minute sightseeing tour on the train at a cost of € 5.00 for adults and € 2.50 for children, starting from the historic center.
What to see in Caltagirone
1 – Museum of ceramics
Inside the Museum of ceramics of Caltagirone there are about 2,500 artifacts of ceramics made in Sicily starting from the fourth millennium BC . up to the contemporary age. Second only to the Museum of Faenza, the complex can be defined as “a museum within a museum” as the exhibition is housed in an Art Nouveau building from the 1950s, with two imposing staircases of enormous charm at the entrance.
- How to get there: the museum is 2km from the historic center, about nine minutes on foot, passing through via Roma – Get directions
- Hours: Every day 9: 00-18: 30. Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 18:30
- Ticket price: € 4.00 full ticket, € 2.00 reduced ticket, € 1.00 ticket for residents of the province
2 – Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte
Built in 1606, the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte connects the old part of Caltagirone to the new one, built in the upper part. The stairway, over 130 meters long, was originally built in overhangs.
In 1844 the various ramps were unified, thus giving life to the one hundred and forty-two steps decorated with ceramic tiles .
- How to get there: the staircase is located in the historic center, therefore it can be easily reached on foot, along Corso Amedeo di Savoia – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
3 – Villa Comunale and public garden
The communal villa can be accessed both from Via Roma, where the main entrance is located next to the Politeama Theater, and from Viale Princess Maria Jose. The garden is built on the model of English parks , and is characterized by the liberty style entrance, and by a long internal avenue, where you can admire terracotta vases, majolica and ornamental terracotta. In the central square there is a musical stage in Moorish style, while in the lower part you can admire one of the basins of the Fountain of Flora by the Florentine sculptor and architect Camillo Camilliani.
From the entrance of Viale Princess Maria Jose, on the other hand, you go down a double staircase that leads to two majolica panels and a statue of Ceres.
In the confines of the villa there is also the former municipal library, in Art Nouveau style, now home to the International Nativity Scene Museum .
- How to get there: 1.2 km from the center, which can be covered in 13 minutes on foot, moving 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 the Norman era, and is one of the best preserved examples, although it has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries, due to damage due to earthquakes.
The interior consists of three naves, separated by a colonnade, with arches embellished with splendid frescoes . On 12 September 1816 Pope Pius VII, through the papal bull Romanus Pontifex, gave life 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 historic center, and therefore it is recommended to reach it on foot – Get directions
- Hours: every day from 9:00 to 18:00
- Ticket cost: Free
5 – Monumental cemetery
Photo by Davide Mauro. The Caltagirone cemetery was built in the second half of the 1800s, and is called the Paradise cemetery, from the name of the district in which it stands. Given the large number of sculptures, paintings, freiges and other antiquities contained in it, it was declared a national monument in 1931 .
Along the north-south axis there are the most important elements, including the entrance portico, the Famedio, the Ossuary and the octagonal square.
- How to get there: from the city center the cemetery is 2.8 km away, which can be covered in 34 minutes on a pleasant walk, which touches some of the most important attractions such as the Villa Comunale, and the ceramic museum – Get directions
- Hours: 7: 00-18: 30 from Monday to Friday. On holidays the closing is anticipated at 13:00
- Ticket cost: Free
6 – Church of Maria SS. del Monte
It rises in the oldest part of the city, and has been damaged and rebuilt several times. Located at the top of the homonymous staircase, it has the vault of the nave decorated with frescoes depicting biblical heroines.
It also houses the Sacred Image of the Madonna di Conadomini , dear to the citizens, who express their devotion in the month of May entirely dedicated to the cult of Mary. It is a panel that arrived in Caltagirone in the first half of 1200, painted on both sides.
- How to get there: it is located in the historic center, at the top of the stairway of the same name. It’s an easy walk – 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 Bourbon Kingdom. The building has decorations on the facade, articulated by a giant order of Ionic pilasters , which support a large protruding cornice: in the center of the facade there is a large city coat of arms.
Inside there are, on the ground floor, the large rooms for common prisoners, still with chains and railings; on the first floor there were the chapel, warehouses and deposits, while on the second floor the lodgings of the officers and guards. In the attic the isolation cells.
These rooms now house the archaeological section, the picture gallery and the history collection respectively. The various collections illustrate the history and aspects of the Caltagirone community and territory.
- How to get there: located in the historic center, it is recommended to go there on foot, given the presence of other attractions along the way – Get directions
- Hours: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday from 9:30 to 13:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30; Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 9:30 to 13:30
- Ticket cost: Free
8 – Church of San Francesco di Paola
Built in 1593, the Church has undergone several changes, including structural ones, which 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 closed, have been preserved inside.
The parish church is strongly linked to the devotional cult of the people towards the holy hermit, which is expressed during the traditional procession of “the virgineddi”, a procession made up of thirteen children holding a candle.
- How to get there: given the proximity of the church to the theater, the statue of Luigi Sturzo and other attractions, it is recommended to go there on foot. From the city center it is 550 meters away, for about 6 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
9 – The Tondo Vecchio
Built in the second half of the eighteenth 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 made of mountains and valleys .
Today it is a venue for concerts and outdoor shows.
- How to get there: given the proximity of the church to the theater, the statue of Luigi Sturzo and other attractions, it is recommended to go there on foot. From the city center it is 550 meters away, for about 6 minutes – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
10 – Piazza Umberto I and its buildings
On Piazza Umberto I there are beautiful and important civil buildings, which are worth seeing even from the outside. The first of these is the Monte delle Prestanze , now the seat of the Banco di Sicilia, characterized by slender columns that decorate the lower floor; the Palazzo Crescimanno d’Albafiorita , a sumptuous eighteenth-century residence rich in works of art; the Palazzo Libertini di San Marco , an ancient bishopric, now used as the management of the civic museums.
- How to get there: Piazza Umberto I is part of the historic center of the city, and it is therefore recommended to reach it on foot. alternatively the square can be reached using the city bus lines 14, 7, 5, 13 – Get directions
- Hours: always accessible
- Ticket cost: Free
One day itinerary in Caltagirone
Morning : after having breakfast at the Forte bar, it is good to move towards the first stage of the itinerary: the Caltagirone Ceramics Museum, which certainly cannot be missed, since we are right in the city ​​of ceramics.
The second stage is the beautiful and imposing church of San Pietro, with its particular Gothic style which gives it a certain “mysterious charm”.
At the end of the visit, the time has come to move towards another church, the one dedicated to San Francesco di Paola, guardian of numerous treasures from other churches destroyed or damaged by earthquakes. Near the church there is the famous “Tondo Vecchio”: a panoramic point overlooking an expanse of mountains and valleys.
Afternoon : lunch time has now come, and we recommend a stop at the nearby Tondo Vecchio restaurant, to eat at an affordable price.
The time has come to get back on the road, and the Ponte di San Francesco is the next stop on the program. Completed in 1665, in order to connect two of the three hills on which the city stands, the bridge is finely decorated with relief ceramics and has 5 majestic arches. Crossing the bridge, proceeding straight on via Roma, you will soon arrive at the very central Piazza Umberto I, overlooked by Monte delle Prestanze, Palazzo Crescimanno d’Albafiorita, Palazzo Libertini di San Marco. With just one day at your disposal you certainly cannot visit all the beauties that Caltagirone has to offer and you have to make choices but, a visit to the square allows the tourist to see all these masterpieces of architecture together, albeit quickly and only from the external.
And here we are now at the last two stages of the visit, but the pride of the city: the stairway of Santa Maria del Monte and the church of the same name. Built in 1606, the Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte connects the old part of the city to the new one, located on the upper part. The staircase is over 130 meters long, for 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 are at dinner time, and we advise you to end the day with a stop at the Anima e Core restaurant, so that you can taste some good typical dishes before saying goodbye to the city.
One day itinerary at a glance
- Breakfast at Bar Forte via Roma, 103 – Get directions
- Museum of Ceramics : from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:30 – Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 18:30 – ticket price: full € 4.00 reduced € 2.00
- Church of San Pietro : always open, free admission
- Church of San Francesco di Padova and the Tondo Vecchio : always open, free admission
- Lunch at the Tondo Vecchio restaurant, Via Rampe Tondo Vecchio, 2 – Get directions
- Ponte di San Francesco : always open, free admission
- Piazza Umberto I : always open, free admission
- Staircase 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
- Tondo Vecchio Restaurant : the structure, consisting of three internal rooms and an external hall, is located in the historic center of the city. The restaurant offers both a wide choice of typical traditional cuisine and a variety of pizzas cooked in a wood oven.
Average price per person: choice of tourist menus at fixed meat / fish prices € 15.00
Address and contacts: Via Rampe Tondo Vecchio, 2 (Get directions) / tel: 0933 58661 - Ristorante al Saracino : the structure, divided into several rooms, is located in the historic center of the city and is designed in “liberty” style. The restaurant offers a wide choice of typical traditional cuisine and gourmet courses, all accompanied by a vast choice of wines.
Average price per person: € 20.00
Address and contacts: via Roma, 84 (Get directions) / tel: 338 344 4419 - Trattoria Anima e Core : typical Sicilian cuisine, with particular attention to meat and fish dishes at km 0.
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 the best clubs
Certainly there is no shortage of bars and pubs in Caltagirone, which has a vast choice of clubs (also open until late) concentrated almost everywhere in its territory. Lovers of beer and drinks are spoiled for choice. The same goes for lovers of nights spent in the disco, who will have to move to Catania, to find the places that best correspond to their needs.
- Shamrock Pub : sandwich shop and pizzeria, it also provides its customers with a series of table games, with which to have fun
Address: Via San Bonaventura, 6 (Get directions) / Facebook page - Atlantic City : lounge bar, specialized in drinks and aperitifs
Address: via Luigi Pirandello, 7 (Get directions) / Facebook page - Discoteca Industrie : cult nightclub, meeting place for dance / house music lovers from nearby cities
Address: Via Acquicella Porto, 13 – 95121 Catania CT (Get directions)
Plan your stay in Caltagirone: info and useful tips
- How to get there: by car A19 Catania-Palermo motorway; Enna exit towards Piazza Armerina. The closest airport is Comiso (45 km – Get directions), but the main airport is Catania – Fontanarossa (65 km – Get directions). From here you can get to Caltagirone with the Interbus line buses in about an hour at a cost of approximately € 6.40.
- Getting around : Caltagirone is a small town, and all the main monuments are located within a short distance from each other. It is therefore advisable to move on foot. However, a city bus service is available at a cost of € 1.50 each way.
- Where to park : near the Villa Comunale, you can take advantage of a large free parking lot (Get directions). Near the center instead, in via Porta del Vento, the Altea car park also gives the possibility to park the camper (Get directions)
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 37.00 per room – look at the offers
- What to see in the surrounding area : Catania (68 km, about 1 hour by car – 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).
