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

Many owners, one palace

The Baroque town by the sea

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

The cathedral of Sant’Agata: a lengthy reconstruction

The city of museums

The two churches

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

The Barresi-Branciforte lords

The senses tell about Palazzo Nicolaci

St. Sebastian, so much work!

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

A half-Baroque church

A long reconstruction

The character of Badia Sant’Agata

Baroque and the loss of equilibrium in the 16th century

Between white and black

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

A Nobel Prize in Modica

A design by Vincenzo Sinatra

The Supernatural dimension of the chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento

A new palace for the La Rocca lords

The senses tell the story of the church of San Giuseppe

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

A majestic and luminous church

An eagle-shaped city

The Benedictine Monastery, one of the largest in Europe

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

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

The façade used as a puppet theatre

A city in colour

The kitchen, a treasure chest of colours

A new entrance for Santa Chiara (St. Claire)

Places of knowledge: the Benedictines’ library

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

A new site for a new city

The senses tell the story of the Church of the Annunciation

The colours of the cathedral

The church of Carmine

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

The disastrous earthquake

Fontana della Ninfa Zizza, public water in the town

A miniature city

One city, three sites

From International Gothic to present day

A feast only for Scicli

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

From St. Thomas to St. Joseph

The internal colours

Searching for colour

A talking palace

New roads for Catania

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

Garden of Novices and the restorations by Giancarlo De Carlo

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Sebastiano

The senses tell about Palazzo La Rocca

The wall comes to life

Norman apses

A prominent church

The chocolate of Modica

A symbol for the town

The interior and its masterpieces

San Nicolò l’Arena: an unfinished church

Some masterpieces

Militello, the story of an enlightened fiefdom

The Infiorata, a feast of colours and flowers

Limestone, the colour of harmony

A triumph of colour

The senses tell the Cathedral of Sant’Agata

The Staircase of Angels

A colourful floor

The Burgos crucifix

The senses tell the story of the Church of Santa Chiara

A museum to save a tradition

Wonderful quick decorations

A hall for the feasts

A small room with a golden entrance

The senses tell the story of the Church of San Benedetto

Some prestigious works

Prominent façade

Modica, a city with ancient origins

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

The theatre of taste

The senses tell about Palazzo Napolino Tommasi Rosso

A new site for a new church

Palazzo Nicolaci di Villadorata, who is the architect?

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

San Benedetto: a treasure reopened to the public

A square as the heart of the city

Discovering the mother church

Two illustrious patron saints

Corbels: a celebration of the Nicolaci family

Connections with other UNESCO sites

The Feast of San Giacomo (St. James)

St. Agatha and the giant candelabras

The Maiolica of the staircase

Feasting in Palazzolo

Rosario Gagliardi, the maestro of the Val di Noto

Feast days

One city, two sites