The most visited city of the Val di Noto in Sicily for its great artistic heritage, best known as the homeland of Sicilian ceramics.
The origin of the name Caltagirone is difficult to interpret. The first part of the name, calta-, most likely comes from the Arabic qalʾat, meaning castle, fortress or stronghold, while the second part al-ḡīrāni, meaning “castle of caves”, refers to the numerous caves scattered across the area. Others link it to the Greek past, such as “fortress of Gelon”, “fortress of Hieron” or “fortress of the people of Gela”, or even to Ligurian colonies, hence “fortress of the Genoese”.

Our return to Sicily and the beginning of the journey in Caltagirone

It is from here that in September, after a few weeks’ break, we resume our tours to discover the beauties of Sicily. Full of energy and eager for new experiences. Caltagirone, famous for its ceramics, but in reality also rich in history, culture and traditions of a Sicily waiting to be discovered!

Hospitality in the heart of the historic center

Our hosts are Tina and Ben, who manage a structure located in the center of Caltagirone, inside a noble palace that now hosts several small businesses, helping bring new life to the place. The property has 5 rooms overlooking the famous staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, dominating the entire city. From here, the view is spectacular, offering a complete panorama of everything the city has to offer.

Between churches, “carruggi” and the artistic nativity scene

After settling into our room, we begin exploring the streets of Caltagirone, walking and admiring the numerous churches, the indoor theater, and the small streets commonly called “carruggi”, due to the connection with the city of Genoa, which cross the historic center.

Along the way, we visit the Church of the Holy Savior, which houses a beautiful animated nativity scene in terracotta, very large and depicting ancient crafts. It is so fascinating that one could spend hours admiring it. Caltagirone is also the homeland of the nativity scene. In fact, there is a museum that hosts over 2,500 nativity pieces of different styles and materials from all over the world.

The Water Whistle Museum and widespread culture

Walking through the town, we reach the “Water Whistle Museum”, where in different rooms we admire small works of art of various shapes and sizes: ranging from the sacred world to fairy tales, with abstract forms and multiple colors. For enthusiasts, it is truly a fascinating place. The museum also hosts a photography exhibition, also with free entry.

Here in Caltagirone, all museums have free admission, and visitors are simply asked to leave a voluntary donation to help maintain the structures and support cultural activities.

Enzo and the art of ceramics between past and present

The walk has, as always, made us hungry, so we stop for a quick lunch before continuing our itinerary. After lunch, we meet Enzo, a man of great culture and warmth, who awaits us in his workshop to show us his works and tell us about his ambitious project.

We enter his world, a ceramics workshop filled with objects, from the oldest to the most modern ones. Enzo captivates us with his stories, from clay extraction to the creation of ceramic objects, and especially with explanations of how they were used by our ancestors. We also visit his house-museum, where he has recreated a traditional home using many of his artifacts and antique pieces. We truly feel like we have gone back in time.

The memory of Don Luigi Sturzo and great personalities

After this meeting, we have the honor and pleasure of meeting a person who made history in Caltagirone, but we prefer to keep this encounter carefully in our memory.

It is already late afternoon, and another historic residence awaits us: that of Don Luigi Sturzo, where everything has remained unchanged. Books and newspapers are preserved here, recounting the life of this man, who became a priest in 1894 and later became active in both civil and political life for the good of the community.

The Sicilian Puppet Theatre: a living heritage

The day has been very intense, but we still have one last appointment. It is not the first time we encounter the Puppets, but it is always fascinating! The Sicilian Puppets are a treasure of our island, kept alive with love by the last remaining puppeteers.

We enter the oldest Sicilian puppet theatre in Sicily, founded in 1918: over 100 years of history carried on with dedication. Performances will soon resume, and we cannot wait to attend them!

The end of the journey and return to Caltagirone

After this visit, it is time to say goodbye to our hosts, who guided us throughout the day in discovering Caltagirone. Even though we are tired, we enjoy a relaxing dinner in a lovely restaurant in the historic center.

The next morning, we visit the exhibition of the Civic Senate of Caltagirone, where Alessandro explains the historical livree uniforms, precious senate costumes embroidered in gold and silver.

We then continue to Villa Patti, a 19th-century villa preserving noble artworks and treasures.

Our visit comes to an end, but we promise to return, perhaps during the Christmas season when the city becomes truly magical.

We are ready for a new experience … and you?