Caltagirone day trip from Catania or Ragusa
A day trip to Caltagirone from Catania or Ragusa: the cathedral of San Giuliano and Piazza Municipio in the morning, the climb up the staircase of painted majolica steps to Santa Maria del Monte and the basilica of San Giacomo, then after lunch the San Francesco bridge, the Tondo Vecchio, the Regional Ceramics Museum and the Villa Comunale gardens. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Caltagirone in 1 day
Day 1
Caltagirone Cathedral (San Giuliano)
The cathedral, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, with a facade finished in the early twentieth century and a richly decorated interior.
Historic centre of Caltagirone (Piazza Municipio and Corte Capitaniale)
The town's main square at the foot of the staircase, with the town hall, cafes and the long stone front of the Corte Capitaniale.
Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte
Long stairway of 142 steps, each riser covered with hand-painted majolica tiles in a different pattern, linking the old and new towns.
Santa Maria del Monte
Old mother church at the top of the staircase, in the highest part of the town, with views over the rooftops and countryside.
Basilica of San Giacomo
Baroque basilica of Saint James, the town's patron, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake; his July feast lights up the staircase nearby.
Ponte San Francesco
Old bridge over a ravine linking the centre with the church of San Francesco d'Assisi, with views over the rooftops of the town.
Tondo Vecchio
Old curved stone monument near the San Francesco bridge, a landmark of the lower town; a restaurant nearby shares its name.
Regional Ceramics Museum
Large museum beside the public gardens showing Sicilian ceramics from prehistory to the nineteenth century, much of it made in Caltagirone.
Villa Comunale (public garden)
Nineteenth-century public garden with tall trees, shaded paths and ceramic decoration on its benches, balustrades and bandstand.
Watch: Caltagirone
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
Caltagirone is about an hour and a quarter from Catania by car or by the regular bus, which arrives near the centre. From Ragusa it is also about an hour and a quarter by car, through the Hyblaean hills.
Staying in Catania or Ragusa? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Caltagirone
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months for the climb and the steep streets. July is busy for the feast of Saint James, when the staircase is lit on 24 and 25 July, and summer days are hot. December brings the nativity scenes, and winter in the hills can be cool and wet.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Caltagirone on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Caltagirone on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Caltagirone on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Caltagirone
- Climb the staircase in the morning before the heat, or come back at dusk when the tiles glow; the steps are steep, so take your time.
- Ceramic workshops line the staircase and nearby streets; buy from those where you can see the pieces being made and painted.
- Churches close for a long lunch break; this plan sees the cathedral, Santa Maria del Monte and San Giacomo in the morning and keeps the afternoon for the bridge, the museum and the gardens.
- On 24 and 25 July the staircase is lit with thousands of oil lamps for the feast of Saint James, the town's patron.
- At Christmas the town is known for its nativity scenes, made in terracotta by local craftsmen.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of San Giacomo: Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Caltagirone (Piazza Municipio and Corte Capitaniale): Ottantafame, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Maria del Monte: Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte: Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
