Italy
Caltagirone

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    • Day 28

      Caltagirone (Sicily)

      September 9 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

      Today we arrived in Caltagirone, one of the eight late Baroque UNESCO Towns of the Val di Noto in south-eastern Sicily. Caltagirone is a very charming town, set in the mountains and is known particularly for ceramic production as it has done for millennia as you will see in the photos. The town centres around the Santa Maria del Monte Stairway detailed with ceramics and around which many ceramic stores exist. The Bell tower we went up is at the top of the stairs.Read more

    • Day 47

      Weihnachten auf dem Bauernhof

      December 24, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Heute ist ein Tag der Begegnungen wie passend für Weihnachten! Nach dem Frühstück an der warmen Sonne am schönen Sandstrand unternehmen wir einen ausgedehnten Spaziergang. Dabei besuchen wir das in der Nähe liegende Hostel. Das Treffen mit einem Gast hat unser Interesse geweckt. Wir werden freundlich empfangen und dürfen uns das Gelände der Villa Vela Vega ansehen.
      Trotz dem traumhaften Übernachtungsplatz zieht es uns weiter. Dies auch weil der Wassertank beinahe leer ist.
      Die Sicily Ranch bietet Stellplätze an. Der Empfang ist äusserst warmherzig. Wasser ist schnell aufgefüllt und wir werden spontan zum Abendessen mit anderen Gästen eingeladen. Wie auch unsere Gastgeber sind die meisten Brasilianer. Es wird ein kurzweiliger Abend mit feinem Essen und Unterhaltung in vielen verschiedenen Sprachen.
      Wir verbringen hier zwei schöne ruhige Tage.
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    • Day 15

      Traveling without booking

      July 3, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Breakfast at San Leone was lovely as was the accommodate. It was tranquil and relaxed while we chatted with the owner until there was a loud bang as a lemon dropped from the tree above our head and bounced off the full table without hitting anything. We were given the lemon as a souvenir.

      About a two hour drive in very mixed roads brought us half way to where we get the ferry to Malta on Wednesday evening. In several places we saw fields just off the road on fire. I also spotted an MG garage which sold everything except MGs. We stopped a couple of times to cool in a café on the road.

      The good thing about traveling without booking in advance is that it gives you the flexibility to choose when to stop, we usually decide at lunch time, book and head for wherever it is.
      The down side is when you want to book a ferry. The ferry from Sardinia to Sicily had no cabins left but we did find a great place to sleep. The ferry from southern Sicily to Malta was fully booked for Tuesday evening our preferred time and when I looked on the operators web site last night while we ate our evening meal it said fully booked until Friday so I swapped to Direct Ferries app and tried exactly the same dates. It gave us similar prices and an option to travel on Wednesday evening so I've booked what is by far the most expensive ferry so far for the three hour crossing.
      Until then we will just have to rough it here in Riserva Naturale Orientata Bosco di Santo Pietro.
      See photos.
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    • Day 3

      Caltagirone

      November 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

      Caltagirone ist Siziliens 'Haupstadt der Keramik'; wo man auch hinblickt, neben dem allgegenwärtigen Barock, findet sich Keramik. Seien es die Verkaufs-und Arbeitsräume der Handwerker oder die vollständig verkleidete Freitreppe. Caltagirone wurde beim Erdbeben von 1693 fast vollständig zerstört, danach jedoch wieder barock aufgebaut.Read more

    • Day 16

      Scalinata di Santa María del Monte

      January 28 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

      Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte is a set of world-famous steps in Caltagirone. It was built in 1606 in order to connect the ancient part of Caltagirone to the new city built in the upper part. The staircase, over 130 meters long, is flanked by balcony buildings and is today one of the identifying monuments of the city.

      In the middle of the XV century, the city of Caltagirone expanded through the slopes of the mountain. The expansion of the city, on different levels, made communication between the areas of the city difficult.

      In order to facilitate access to the old town, located at the top, the city authorities ordered the construction, in 1606, of a staircase along the southern slope of the hill. The work required 10 years of work and was carried out under the direction of Giuseppe Giacalone. The original staircase had rest areas and a total of 150 steps.

      In 1844, the staircase underwent modifications, among which the elimination of rest areas stands out, which results in a lower inclination.

      Since 1954, the steps leading to the church of Santa Maria del Monte have been entirely decorated with polychrome ceramic tiles, following the ancient local artisan tradition.

      The figurative themes of the ceramics are floral or geometric, and represent the Arab, Norman, Angevin-Aragonese, Spanish, Renaissance, Baroque, eighteenth-century, nineteenth-century and contemporary styles. The designs on the tiles reflect ceramic style progressively from the 9th century to the 19th century, with the oldest style at the bottom of the stairway and the latest at the top.

      The 103rd step is inscribed with “Ave Maria”, referencing the 103rd Psalm and its themes of benediction, forgiveness, and compassion.
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    • Day 39

      Once more Caltagirone

      February 20 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      Today we went to Caltagirone again, this time with four people.

      Luigi, that's what I called the car that I borrowed from Martinello, was quite busy with 4 people.

      This time we left so early that we were able to return at 1:00 p.m. In my opinion, siesta makes no sense in winter. Everything is closed from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. or even 4:00 p.m. and only opens again when it's almost dark again.

      Today we were definitely early enough to stick our noses in everywhere before the siesta.

      A really nice town.
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    • Day 16

      Chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore

      January 28 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

      At first glance, the church is a completely normal church, only a sign at the entrance draws your attention to the word "terra-cotta".

      When you enter you will find a pretty but not unusual church. However, if you enter the room on the right and pay two euros, you end up in a terra-cotta miniature wonderland. But see for yourself.

      As a side note regarding terra-cotta: The Ceramica di Caltagirone is a type of ceramics made in Caltagirone, in Sicily. This pottery is one of the most documented and stylistically varied, as well as one of the best known in the world.
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    • Day 184

      Ragusa und Caltagirone

      October 22, 2020 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Mit Ragusa machten wir die Barockstadttriologie im Südosten der Insel komplett. Auch hier prächtige Bauwerke in toller Lage. Hinzu kommen im "neueren" Stadtteil coole Streetart und natürlich wieder Stufen ohne Ende. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war uns jedoch noch nicht bewusst dass wir in Caltagirone eine viel größere und imposantere Treppe hinaufsteigen werden. In der Stadt der Keramik ist die "La Scala" mit Keramik Kacheln verschönert.
      Die lange Treppe führt 142 Stufen zur Kirche Santa Maria del Monte. Von Oben wird man mit bezauberndem Blick über das sizilianische Inland belohnt.
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    • Day 16

      Caltagirone

      January 28 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

      Caltagirone (Sicilian: Cartaggirun) is an inland city about 70 kilometres southwest of Catania.

      It is the fifth most populous municipality of the Metropolitan City, behind Catania, Acireale, Misterbianco and Paternò. Alongside Catania, it is the only town that has a tribunal seat in the former province. Since 1987, the comune has obtained the City title, through a presidential act. After Caltanissetta, it is the second-most populous comune in Central Sicily. Caltagirone has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

      The town is a production center of pottery, particularly maiolica and terra-cotta wares. Contemporary production is more and more oriented to artistic production of ceramics and terra-cotta sculptures. Other activities are mainly related to agriculture (production of grapes, olives, peaches), third-sector activities, light industry and tourism.

      Today I went there just to have a look and I liked it. I think I will come back for a second time 😊.
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    • Day 9

      Caltagirone - die Hauptstadt der Keramik

      March 22, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

      Heute brechen wir zu unserem nächsten Domizil in Avola im Osten auf. Es sind gerade mal rund 150 Km bis zu unserem Chiuso Di Carlo Agritourismo. Agritourismo bedeutet, dass landwirtschaftliche Betriebe Zimmer und Ferienhäuser vermieten, als Nebenerwerb – sprich Urlaub auf dem Bauernhof. Wobei, unsere Unterkunft nahe Avola ist mit eine der besten und komfortabelsten die wir bis dato hatten. Alles neu gebaut, auf der Terrasse haben wir sogar einen eigenen Whirlpool. Der ist aber der frühen Jahreszeit geschuldet noch außer Betrieb. Hier bleiben wir fünf Nächte, Ausgangspunkt für einige Rundtouren in die Berge mit dem Auto sowie Besuche der nahegelegenen Städte Syracusa und Noto.
      Auf dem Weg dorthin machten wir zudem einen längeren Halt in Caltagirone, der Keramikhauptstadt Siziliens. Der Stadtname setzt sich zusammen aus den arabischen Wörtern kalat für Kastell und ghiran für Keramikgefäße. Rund um die Stadt findet sich hochwertiger Ton, mit dem die Gefäße hergestellt werden. Vieles ist auch heute noch Handarbeit, es findet sich dazwischen aber auch industriell hergestellte Ware. Keramiken begleiten einen durch die ganze Stadt, seien es Straßenschilder, Fresken im Mauerwerk, Straßenlaternen, ein Keramikmuseum, Bänke und natürlich unzählige Geschäfte, die Keramiken anbieten. Auffallend sind die vielen Männer- und Frauenköpfe, die einem überall begegnen. Besonders eindrucksvoll ist eine Freitreppe im Zentrum, die Scalinata Santa Maria del Monte. 142 Stufen führen zur gleichnamigen Barockkirche hinauf. Jede Stufe ist mit weißen, blauen und grünen Kacheln verziert.
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