Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte

The Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte climbs through Caltagirone’s historic centre to the church of Santa Maria del Monte. Its 142 risers are clad in polychrome maiolica tiles whose motifs trace the history of Sicilian ceramics.

Why it matters

The staircase is a prominent feature of Caltagirone, a city known for its ceramic tradition. Its decorated risers turn a route through the historic centre into a display of motifs used by Sicilian potters across many centuries. The old town forms part of the UNESCO-listed Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, inscribed in 2002.

What to notice

Each of the 142 risers is dressed in maiolica. The ceramicist Antonino Ragona assembled the motifs, which represent styles from the tenth to the twentieth centuries. The staircase extends for about 130 metres and leads to the church of Santa Maria del Monte.

Context and history

The stone staircase was built in the early seventeenth century to connect the lower town with the hilltop settlement. Its maiolica covering was added from the mid-twentieth century, using motifs collected and adapted by Ragona. Floral arrangements and the lamps of the Scala Illuminata add further artistic traditions to the steps.