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.

A new site for a new church

The façade used as a puppet theatre

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

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

A city in colour

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

The city of museums

A half-Baroque church

A miniature city

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A small room with a golden entrance

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

A museum to save a tradition

Some prestigious works

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

Feasting in Palazzolo

The chocolate of Modica

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

A long reconstruction

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

The wall comes to life

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

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

A symbol for the town

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

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

The Maiolica of the staircase

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

An eagle-shaped city

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

Many owners, one palace

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

One city, two sites

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

The disastrous earthquake

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

Two illustrious patron saints

Discovering the mother church

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

A colourful floor

Wonderful quick decorations

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

A square as the heart of the city

Norman apses

One city, three sites

Feast days

The Baroque town by the sea

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

The Staircase of Angels

A majestic and luminous church

Prominent façade

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

The colours of the cathedral

The interior and its masterpieces

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Searching for colour

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

The theatre of taste

A new site for a new city

Connections with other UNESCO sites

A triumph of colour

A prominent church

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

A talking palace

The Burgos crucifix

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A hall for the feasts

The two churches

The church of Carmine

New roads for Catania

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

A feast only for Scicli

Modica, a city with ancient origins

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

Some masterpieces

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

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

Limestone, the colour of harmony

Between white and black

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

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

St. Sebastian, so much work!

The internal colours

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

From International Gothic to present day