Scala Infiorata – Feast of the Madonna di Conadomini

The Scala Infiorata of Caltagirone

In the heart of Caltagirone, the city of ceramics in the province of Catania and a UNESCO World Heritage site of late Sicilian Baroque, the famous Scala di Santa Maria del Monte becomes the canvas for one of Italy's most spectacular flower festivals each year. Its 142 steps, built starting in 1606 and covered in majolica tiles decorated by local artisans, stretch for over 130 meters, connecting the lower town to the upper district. During the Scala Infiorata, they are covered with thousands of plants and flowers arranged with millimetric precision to form a single, immense design visible from afar.

A living mosaic that changes every year

The installation, curated by the municipal gardening service, is designed each year around a different theme and features the work of local artists. The floral mosaic is composed of plants such as boxwood, kalanchoe, geraniums, marigolds, and daisies, chosen for their hues: green in its various shades, red, white, yellow, and orange combine to give depth and clarity to the image. It is an ephemeral, collective work that requires weeks of preparation and remains visible for about a month, both by day and in the evening.

The Feast of the Madonna di Conadomini

The Scala Infiorata is not just an aesthetic event: it is deeply intertwined with the festivities in honor of Maria Santissima di Conadomini, co-patron saint of Caltagirone. According to tradition, the painting of the Madonna arrived in the city in 1225 and was proclaimed co-patron in 1664; she is also venerated by the faithful as the Madonna del Pane (Our Lady of the Bread), protector against famine and drought. During the days of the feast, the historic center comes alive with altars set up along the streets, religious celebrations, and processions that wind through the ancient districts.

'A Rusedda, the parade of devotion

A highlight is 'A Rusedda, a characteristic parade where tractors, traditional Sicilian carts, and agricultural vehicles are decorated with cistus (the rusedda), the plant that once fueled the kilns of Caltagirone's potters. The procession, led by the sacred image of the triunfu and accompanied by the ancestral sound of brogne (seashells used as instruments), unites the sacred dimension with the community's agricultural roots in a riot of color that travels through the city streets.

Why it's worth the trip

Visiting Caltagirone during the Scala Infiorata means experiencing the most authentic side of Sicily: the art of ceramics, the Baroque of the Val di Noto, popular devotion, and an event that involves the entire community. Climbing the flower-adorned staircase, especially at sunset, offers one of the most photographed views on the island.