Caltagirone, capital of ceramics

Caltagirone is a large Sicilian town in the province of Catania; rises 608 meters above sea level and has 40,000 inhabitants. It is an ancient city; important testimony of its long millennial history is certainly the ceramics, present in the form of embellishment and decoration in many buildings and monuments. The basilica of San Giorgio, built around 1000 and dedicated to the patron saint of the city, expresses an enchanting gracefulness. Very characteristic and particular is the important marble coat of arms of Caltagirone, dominated by the eagle, one of the symbols of the city. Inextricably linked to the cult of San Giacomo and the absolute emblem of the Calatina city is the monumental staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, dating back to the 17th century on a project by Giacalone; originally the ramps of the staircase were built in cantilevered and unified only in 1848, giving life to the current 142 steps of the staircase, made even more suggestive by the decorations with polychrome ceramic tiles dating back to 1954. On the evening of 25 July on the steps of the staircase of Santa Maria del Monte reclines a majestic representation of St. James on horseback that gives life to a painting in front of which the whole crowd is kidnapped by his intense mystical charge imbued with faith. Caltagirone is a Sicilian diamond set in a suspended and indefinite time.