Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, an early-17th century staircase of 142 lava stone steps, vividly decorated with local majolica ceramic tiles, at Caltagirone, Sicily, Italy. The staircase, known as ‘La Scalazza', was built in 1604 and leads up to a Baroque church, Santa Maria del Monte, but tiles decorating the risers were added in the 1950s. Caltagirone is the centre of the Sicilian ceramics industry.
Caltagirone, Catania Province, Sicily, Italy: the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, known locally as ‘La Scalazza’, is a stunning early-17th century staircase of 142 lava stone steps, vividly decorated with local majolica ceramic tiles, that links the old and new levels of the town and leads up to the Baroque Church of Santa Maria del Monte. Caltagirone is the capital of the Sicilian ceramics industry and the staircase is lined with small shops offering works by the city’s majolica artists. The staircase was built in 1604, but the tiles decorating the risers were added in the 1950s. Most are predominantly yellow, green and blue on white grounds with motifs depicting mythological scenes and honouring traditional ceramic designs from the 10th to the 20th centuries. The tiles were laid in chronological order, starting from the bottom. On 24 and 25 July, the feast days of San Giacomo (Saint James) are celebrated by a costumed procession and with the staircase brilliantly lit. Up to 5,000 small oil lamps, covered by delicate paper cylinders called coppi, illuminate every step. Together, they form an ingenious 'tapestry of fire' which is redesigned for each year’s festival.
Size: 2668px × 4011px
Location: Caltagirone, Catania Province, Sicily, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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