Museo regionale della ceramica

Nestled in the heart of Caltagirone, Sicily, the Museo regionale della ceramica, known locally as Museo della ceramica, stands as a testament to the island's rich history and artistic heritage. This museum is not just a repository of ceramic artifacts but a vibrant celebration of the craft that has been an integral part of Sicilian culture for millennia.

The Building and Its Surroundings

The Museo regionale della ceramica is housed in a striking building constructed in the 1950s. The structure exudes a sense of grandeur with its arched portico supported by sturdy pillars and columns, welcoming visitors into a world where history and art converge. The museum was inaugurated in 1965 after extensive restoration work, transforming it into the cultural beacon it is today.

The journey to the museum is equally captivating. Located on Via Roma, the ancient royal road Maria Carolina, the path connects the old part of Caltagirone with the newer area of Santa Maria del Gesù. As you stroll along Via Roma, you are flanked by the enchanting public garden and a beautifully decorated balustrade adorned with intricate and imaginative majolica tiles. This charming route leads you to the Teatrino, a terraced staircase embellished with 18th-century ceramic tiles, designed by the Syracusan architect Natale Bonajuto. At the top of this picturesque ascent stands the Museo regionale della ceramica, inviting you to explore its treasures.

The Collection

The museum's collection is a treasure trove of approximately 2,500 ceramic artifacts that span from the 4th millennium BCE to contemporary times. The exhibits are meticulously arranged in seven sections, each offering a unique glimpse into different eras and styles of ceramic art.

Educational Room

The journey through the museum begins with the Educational Room, which provides an overview of ceramic production from prehistory to the present day. One of the highlights of this section is a 5th-century BCE crater decorated with red figures, depicting a potter's workshop under the protection of the goddess Athena. This artifact was discovered inside a kiln that was active in Caltagirone during the Greek period.

Prehistoric to Byzantine Ceramics

The next section showcases ceramics from the prehistoric, protohistoric, Sicilian, Siceliot, Greek, and Byzantine periods. Noteworthy exhibits include Eneolithic artifacts from Sant'Ippolito, such as the mistiform vase and the flask, as well as items from various other localities. The section also features a large 5th-century BCE tomb found in Via Escuriales and a limestone tomb cover with sphinxes and a funerary dance scene relief from the Monte San Mauro necropolis, dating back to the 6th century BCE. Additionally, you can marvel at Greek ceramics with black and red figures, Hellenistic terracottas, and Roman glassware from the Russo-Perez collection.

Medieval Furnaces

In the courtyard, you will find scale models of medieval kilns. These reproductions, created by Professor Antonino Ragona, represent two of the four medieval kilns discovered in Agrigento in 1960. The first kiln dates back to the Norman period, while the second is from the Angevin-Aragonese era.

Medieval Ceramics

The medieval ceramics section features Sicilian-Arab and Norman artifacts from the 10th to the 15th centuries. Among the oldest pieces are those found in Ortigia, near the Temple of Apollo, where medieval ceramic production kilns were located. Highlights include a 10th-century bowl with lead glaze and painted decoration in yellow, green, and brown, 13th-century protomajolica bowls decorated in brown and green or polychrome, and a variety of jugs, amphorae, and pitchers. From the 15th century onwards, the glaze on ceramics became more brilliant and substantial, giving rise to what we now call majolica. This period is represented by monochrome blue bowls with phytomorphic motifs and plates decorated in blue and luster with floral designs.

Renaissance Ceramics

The Renaissance ceramics section showcases majolica used for dining and food storage, predominantly produced in Caltagirone. The exhibits include cups and bowls with vegetal and floral motifs, as well as numerous 17th-century majolica pieces.

Baroque Ceramics

The Baroque ceramics section features 17th-century sacristy amphorae and holy water stoups with plastic applications depicting vegetal, animal, and small saint figures.

Sicilian Majolica

The grand hall offers a panoramic view of Sicilian majolica from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The display cases are filled with exquisite vases, albarelli, and bombole depicting angels, saints, coats of arms, and female profiles. Other remarkable items include anthropomorphic oil lamps, majolica with turquoise blue glaze, and maiolica floors, large ornamental vases, and glazed door tiles. The collection also features unique 17th-century majolica hand warmers shaped like fish or turtles. The museum also houses works by renowned ceramic artists such as Giacomo Bongiovanni, Giuseppe Vaccaro Bongiovanni, and Giuseppe Failla, including terracotta nativity scenes, figurines, and group sculptures.

In addition to its extensive collection, the Museo regionale della ceramica offers educational services with audiovisual and multimedia equipment, making it a perfect destination for both art enthusiasts and casual visitors. Whether you are a history buff, an art lover, or simply curious, a visit to this museum promises a captivating journey through the rich and colorful world of Sicilian ceramics.