Hylonicum

Light and its residues, by Nicola Polloni

Sicily, in Fragments

Caltagirone

In Caltagirone, form is produced through repetition. Streets, stairs, façades and ceramic surfaces accumulate patterns that move continuously between ordinary use and artistic display.

A narrow street in Caltagirone is lined with ornate balconies, while a church dome and bell tower rise above the rooftops.
A pedestrian walks along a residential street with balconies, laundry and a parked car, beneath a large historic building in the distance.
A steep stone staircase climbs through a narrow passage towards a large wooden door, framed by pipes, cables and balconies.
An ornate church façade appears between two narrow walls, with religious mosaics, carved stonework and a traditional streetlamp.
A long historic façade with repeated arched windows stands beneath a church dome and a bell tower covered in scaffolding.
Two people bend beside a parked Vespa on a sunlit residential street.
A quiet lane curves uphill between weathered buildings, balconies and air-conditioning units, divided by strong sunlight and shadow.
A large stone arch with decorative ironwork opens into a courtyard, beneath a balcony draped with patterned fabric.
A long street leads towards Caltagirone’s monumental staircase, decorated with a large geometric pattern and framed by historic buildings.
The monumental staircase rises between buildings, covered with rows of light and dark cylindrical lanterns arranged in patterns.
A close view of decorated stair risers shows repeating ceramic designs and rows of cylindrical lanterns.
Stone stairways cross diagonally behind three decorative ceramic planters containing small plants.
An elevated view looks down the decorated staircase and across Caltagirone’s rooftops, churches and surrounding plain.

Places and dates
Caltagirone, 2026.