One of the most famous sights of Caltagirone is the Staircase of Our Lady, built in 1606 to connect the old city with the new quarters built on the hill.

The staircase, 130 meters long, flanked by baroque buildings, has become a real emblem of the city and one of its wonders. Initially, the staircase consisted of several flights, interrupted by a steep slope. In 1844, the ascent to the hill was unified and turned into a continuous staircase of 142 steps, which in 1954 were decorated with polychrome ceramic tiles with ornamental island motifs, produced by local workshops.

The staircase is connected with the most important temples of the city: at the base of the stairs on the left is the Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed, almost in the middle of the height of the stairs the Church of Our Lady of the Carmelite Monastery was erected, and on the top of the hill there is the Church of St. Mary on the Hill of 1606, to which the stairs lead.
Every year, on July 24 and 25, on the day of the patron saint of the city of St. James, according to ancient tradition, the Staircase of Our Lady is decorated with millions of lights, turning into a real sparkling waterfall of lights and light. In May, during the feast of the Madonna of the Lady, the entire Staircase is decorated with fresh flowers, which make up a grandiose decorative pattern.