Caltagirone is a Sicilian town located in central Sicily which is about 80 km from Catania and over 200 km from Palermo. Arranged in "Roman" amphitheater and famous worldwide for its finely decorated ceramics and the great churches that embellish it, the city of Caltagirone presents itself to the eyes of the visitor in all its splendor. Appreciated in the summer but also in winter seasons, with its fogs that make it unique and mysterious, Caltagirone stands high among the surrounding mountains that surround it and guard it. Thanks to the mountains and the hard rock on which the city of Caltagirone lies, no damage has caused the terrible earthquake of 1693. Caltagirone in fact preserves its historical center intact, where it is still possible admire the ancient Churches, the bell towers, the towers and the testimonies of the city's medieval art and architecture. A true pearl in the mountains of Sicily.

Scalinata Santa Maria del Monte - Caltagirone, Provincia di Catania (Source: amercader - CC BY SA 2.0)

How to reach Caltagirone

By plane

The municipality of Caltagirone is about 70 km from the "Vincenzo Bellini" airport of Catania Fontanarossa. From Catania airport, by car, you can reach the city of Caltagirone booking a transfer service that will pick you up at the arrivals and leave you at the address you want, on our portal you will find the best licensed drivers in the area. By bus, from the Catania airport, there are no direct connections with the city of Caltagirone. The fastest and most comfortable route therefore remains the rental service with driver (NCC) or Taxi. Alternatively, from the airport you must first reach the central train station of Catania (Piazza Giovanni Paolo XXIII) and then continue to Caltagirone by train or bus. To reach the central station from Catania, an alternative to transfer with driver is the shuttle bus service offered by the company ATM Alibus.

By car

From the city of Catania to reach the historic center of Caltagirone it is necessary to follow the SS 417 (Catania - Gela) highway, exit at Caltagirone Nord (about 70 km). Greater, however, the distance with the cities of Palermo (200 km) and Agrigento (120 km). From the municipality of Palermo, to reach the city of Caltagirone go the motorway A19 (Palermo-Catania), exit at the junction for Enna and continue until the town of Caltagirone.

By train

From Palermo central train station (Giulio Cesare square), the Palermo - Caltagirone line is served by Trenitalia. The weather travel time varies from 60 to 80 minutes and the train ticket can be purchased online. To know timetables, seasonal promotions and daily trips it is advisable to visit the site of the rail transport service.

By ship or ferry

To reach the locality Caltagirone by boat or hydrofoil you must disembark in the port of Catania connected daily with different national and international locations.

The Ceramics of Caltagirone: between history and millennial tradition

The real attraction of the city of Caltagirone is represented by the Ceramics that in the municipality in the province of Catania has been cultivated for over a thousand years. The first furnaces of Caltagirone have in fact started to work in the fifth century BC and since then they have never stopped burning. The artistic works are now exhibited in the well-kept Museum dedicated to the ceramics of the city that come used for appropriate events in ancient cities: Caltagirone deserves the nickname of "Faenza della Sicilia". Beyond visiting the Museo delle Ceramiche, to learn about history and the evolution of this ancient art is necessary to observe every corner of Caltagirone, a real outdoor museum, embellished with original colored insertions, vases and decorations in ceramics that culminate in that undisputed masterpiece that is the stairway of Santa Maria del Monte.