Caltagirone.
The first settlements of the town date back to very ancient times and its name Caltagirone dicloses the Arab origin.
Qualat Gerun means “the rock with the caves” as the stones of the archeological area of Monte San Mauro show the origin from the Bronze age. Later on Greeks, Byzantine, Arab, Genovese, Normans encourage the commerce thanks to the strategic position in the heart of the mountains south of the plain of Catania, along important trade routes towards the southern coast.
The queen of the mountain, destroyed by the earthquake, then risen up and enriched by monuments, palaces, churches and vestiges from the past; its natural scenographic rocks, alleys, quarters and steps were finely decorated by majolica tiles, a tradition in use from the Greek times, continued across the Arab times and especially developed by talented Jewish artists which still today reflects in the technique, colours and decorations. The ceramic art shop and its ovens show an intense production activity that still today support the local economy; the ceramic museum and the churches, the floors and even the street signs or house numbers attract visitors in a place that can be described as an open air ceramic museum.
Among the most interesting places the steps of Saint James which lead to Santa Maria del Monte and the area around rich of squares, streets in cobble stones, palaces and churches.
Saint James, Jesuit church, Capuchin church are some of the nicest churches in town, while along via Roma old palaces, monuments and churches show medieval or baroque vestige and take you to the “Villa Comunale”, one of the best gardens in Sicily, really outstanding.
The town can boast one of the most beautiful monumental cemeteries in Sicily whith private family chapels finely decorated showing off the social rank of their owners.