This itinerary, studied with the direct contribution of the Regional Ceramics Museum of Caltagirone, is devoted to the discovery of the Sicilian towns that have based their economy, entirely or in part, on the ancient art of ceramics.
Day 1
Between Ancient and Modern, the Ceramics of Patti
Arrival in Catania and departure for Patti, which overlooks the white beaches of one of the most beautiful coasts of Sicily. Visit to the Museum of Ceramics, at Villa Pisani of Marina di Patti. The productions, characterized by the colours green, pink, and brown, show the beauty of the elegant essentiality of objects of everyday use, connected with the needs to preserve, carry or serve foods, oil, water and wine. Continuation on to S. Stefano di Camastra, dinner and overnight stay.
2
Ceramics School in S. Stefano di Camastra
After breakfast, tour of S. Stefano di Camastra, the largest production centre for ceramics. Whether they are old shapes and decorations or contemporary creations, these ceramics provide a summary of the history of terracotta in the Mediterranean basin. Visit to the Camastra Ceramics Museum at Palazzo Sergio. In the afternoon, ceramics workshop. Dinner and overnight stay.
3
The Brown, Green, Blue, and Yellow of Sciacca
Breakfast and departure for Sciacca. Here the ceramics productions date from the late 12th to the early 13th century, with lovely terracotta with lead-based glazes, decorated with heraldic and schematic plant motifs mainly in the colours brown, green, blue and yellow. Dinner and overnight stay.
4
Burgio, Eagle’s Nest 
Breakfast and departure for Burgio, a town with a typically medieval “eagle’s nest” town plan. The production of terracotta and ceramics dates from the 16th century, when craftsmen specialized in ceramics for table use and keeping spices, ornamental and everyday objects and majolica floor tiles, arrived from Sciacca and set up shop here. The characteristic colours are vivid yellows, blues, and greens. Dinner and overnight stay in Sciacca.
5
The Centuripe Forgery…
Breakfast. Departure for Agrigento and visit to the Valley of the Temples. Continuation on to Centuripe, a production centre for Sicilian ceramics, famous for its forgers capable of placing extraordinary and hard-toauthenticate pieces on the
antique markets. Today it boasts an industrious activity of “copiers”. Overnight stay in Caltagirone.
6
…and the Noble Caltagirone
Breakfast and tour of the city which, embroidered in a triumphant Baroque lace of terracotta and majolica, climbs up amidst high hills on the south-eastern side and the African side of Sicily. Along the town’s streets the changing perspectives offer views of the multi-coloured enchantment of ceramics. In the afternoon, ceramics workshop. Dinner and overnight stay.
7
Return
Breakfast, walk through the town, and departure for Catania airport.
