The Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte in Caltagirone, Sicily was built in 1609 to connect the old lower town to the new upper town. Since 1954, each of the risers of its 142 steps has been decorated with colorful, handcrafted majolica ceramic tiles. This UNESCO recognized baroque town is world renowned for its ceramic…
Tag: tile
Ascending Into A Different Realm
Today, walking up and down Caltagirone’s Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte felt magical. There is something ethereal about connecting the “upper and lower” parts of town via this 1609 staircase–here with spring flowers decorating it! It’s as if you are ascending into a different realm using the 142 steps that have unique, colorful majolica…
One with the Tiles
Here I am, one with the tiles of Caltagirone’s Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte, which was built in 1609 to connect the old lower town to the new upper town. Since 1954, each of its 142 steps was decorated with a unique design of colorful, handcrafted majolica ceramic tile, a craft for which the…
It May Be Blustery, But Here Comes the Sun
Ceramic artist Mirella Pipia of Bagheria demonstrated to us how she makes her beautiful designs. This sun is very simple in comparison to her other work. During our visit to her workshop in September she explained that she loves to listen to American R&B when she works. She studied art in Palermo, but really, she…
Sunny Days
Ceramic artist Mirella Pipia of Bagheria will spend time with us on Day 10 of Savoring Sicily, Experience Sicily’s September 22-October 4 small-group tour. We’ll go to her studio where she’ll show us how she creates her inspired designs like this sunny one pictured. Contact me at AllisonScola@ExperienceSicily.com to be inspired by our slow, boutique tour through…
Our May 2016 Sicily Tour, Day 12: Artisans Up Close
These are the hands of ceramic artist Mirella Pipia in Bagheria. This is how I like to see Sicily: up close and personal and vibrant. On the final full day of our Experience Sicily with Chef Melissa Muller tour from May 19-31, 2016, we’ll get personal with some artisans in Bagheria, the town where my…
An Inspired Workout
Caltagirone’s Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte was built in 1609 to connect the old lower town to the new upper town. Since 1954, each of its 142 steps was decorated with a unique design of colorful, handcrafted majolica ceramic tile, a craft for which the city is world renowned. (Photo Credit: Experience Sicily’s Filippo…
Sea Dragons on a Beautiful Port
These ceramic tiles border the wall where it meets the roof of a palazzo in Porticello. “Porticello,” meaning “beautiful port,” is a fishing village that is part of the larger town of Santa Flavia. Note the sea-dragon-like creatures featured on the tiles which were probably created in the mid-late 19th century. #ceramics #ceramica #ceramic #ceramiche…
Caltagirone Designs for Ceramic Floor, Noto.
Ceramic majolica-tile floor (style: from Caltigirone) of the nuns’ quarters of the Baroque era Chiesa di Santa Chiara in Noto. #chiesasantachiara #noto #siracusa #ceramics #ceramica #ceramic #ceramiche #tiles #tile #majolica #maiolica #pavimento #floor #art #design #sicily #sicilia #siciliabedda #sizilien #italy #italia #italien #sicilytourism #sicily_tourism #sicilytravel #sicily_travel #ig_sicily #siciliaph #siciliafoto #fotosicilia #igerssicilia #instasicilia #igfriends_sicilia #gf_italy #ig_italy…
This “ristorantino” (little restaurant-pub, as it’s called by the owner) in Santa Flavia possesses a tiled floor in a design-style that was common in Sicily in the 19th and early 20th centuries. #experiencesicily #santaflavia #palermo #sicily #ceramics #ceramica #ceramic #tiles #tile #majolica #maiolica #pavimento #floor #art #design #osteria #trattoria #sicilia #sizilien #siciliabedda #italy #italia #italien…