Caltagirone

City of Ceramics
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Explore Caltagirone

Surrounded by green hills, Caltagirone is known for its Baroque historical centre, which is a UNESCO heritage site, and for its millenary production of ceramics.Airbnb wants to promote destinations that offer an extraordinary mix of beauty, authenticity and 'made in Italy' know-how. To encourage you to discover new places and help the survival of traditional craft districts.
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Iconic creations famous all over the world

With a tradition that is the pride of the town, Caltagirone is home to many craftsmen who hand down the ancient ceramic manufacturing techniques from generation to generation.From the intricate patterns of Arab, Spanish and Moorish origin to more contemporary designs, visting workshops in Caltagirone let you admire tiles, plates, vases and other small objects with an unmistakable Sicilian taste and made famous all over the world by fashion, design and cinema.In some shops, visitors can attend the ceramics making in person or take part in workshops to learn from the craftsmen the basic techniques of this production of excellence.
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And then you can't miss...

Scalinata di Santa Maria del MonteProbably the most beautiful staircase in the world, built in 1606 and over 130 meters long, its 142 steps are all decorated with ceramic tiles.San Giuliano CathedralImposing church of Norman origin that dates back to the 12th century, it has rich decorations and frescoes inside.Regional Museum of CeramicsDedicated to the history and art of Caltagirone, it exhibits a vast collection of more than 2500 pieces.Tondo VecchioScenic viewpoint that allows a view of the city and the surrounding valleys.

The artisans of Caltagirone

Discover the artistic craft shops participating in the project.

Learn more on these artisans

Ceramiche Branciforti

Historical company of artistic ceramics, it was founded in 1968 by Prof. Giuseppe Branciforti. Over the years they continued the tradition of terracotta figurines, simultaneously launching their own form of expression for which they participate in various contemporary art exhibitions. In 2002, the children Simona and Andrea joined the company and innovated production through the Improntabarre brand. A production that goes from classic to contemporary, from furniture to the table, always with craftsmanship.The workshop offers courses and meetings on clay manipulation and decoration, providing their experience in the ceramic and design fields.

Ceramiche artistiche di Irene Cabibbo

For over 20 years, Irene Cabibbo's artistic ceramics workshop has been involved in the production, decoration and sale of Caltagirone ceramics. She specialized in artistic majolica, wedding favors and furnishing items, all pieces are handmade. The shop also includes the laboratory, where it is possible to watch the ceramics being worked according to the traditional techniques of Caltagirone and admire a splendid permanent majolica nativity scene.

D.S. di Delfino Desirée

D.S. was born in Caltagirone in 1984 from the commitment and love for the ancient ceramic tradition of the spouses Mila and Antonio. In 2021 their daughter Desirée enthusiastically opened the workshop/laboratory, her passion for art and her experiences around Europe gave her the opportunity to give an innovative imprint to the production through experimentation. 'dS' keeps unchanged all the processes and working techniques of the Caltagirone ceramic tradition.The workshop offers a visit to the laboratory with a brief explanation of the various stages of production and ceramic courses.

Studio d'Arte Internullo

The Studio was born from the passion of Felice, who followed in the footsteps of his father, a well-known potter who has worked in the ceramics sector since 1990. The laboratory creates ceramic objects for furnishings and specialized in the creation of pine cones in all their shapes and Moor's heads. In addition to their production for which they boast collaborations with designers and participations in the Salone del Mobile in Milan, they carry out training courses for the use of the lathe, a profession that is being lost, visits to the laboratory and lessons in decorating plates or tiles.

Sofia La maiolica calatina

For more than twelve years, Sofia of the brothers Nicola and Giuseppe Intonato has been involved in the production of unique majolica pieces, decorated and modeled by hand. The handcrafted production follows the style of the classic colors of Caltagirone ceramics, which is studied and selected in its most representative creations and recognized for their artistic value. The shop offers a visit to the laboratory with demonstrations of the various stages of production such as shaping, enamelling, decoration, baking of the products and sponging.

How to get to Caltagirone

From Catania

Private car 1h15Bus 1h30*

From Taormina

Private car 2h00Bus 2h25*

From Siracusa

Private car 1h30Bus+Train 3h02*
*Indication of the fastest transport option available on the date of creation of this page. It is advisable to always check with the transport operators or with the help of hosts for the best transport option.
WithCNA - Confederazione Nazionale dell'Artigianato e della Piccola e Media Impresa
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