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In the Arab rule in Sicily, the Arabs brought with them great workers from the far East, introducing the technique of ivetriatura of pottery; 
a method to waterproof containers making them weatherproof Introduced first in Caltagirone, Sicily, and then in the rest of Italy.
The oldest Italian protomaioliche, observable today are in the Museum of ceramics of Caltagirone and archeologico di Gela.

The production of pottery and Islamic era is still poorly understood, but appears to be attributable to this period

the fornace of Mazara del Vallo, and  fornace the Piazza Armerina which previously had been dated later.

In the Norman period ceramic production continues with the previous traditions, both in form and in decorative motifs. 

The main centres ceramic  were Palermo and Agrigento, where are common the  glazed pottery, the ceramic popular

decorated with typical almond-shaped motifs, zoomachie (animal fights), isolated figures or "Plover", with the body, wire frame campito seems to be an invention local.

staircase of Caltagirone

Traces of Arab culture in Sicily

Traces of Arab culture in Sicily

In Sicily, there are gardens that have the features of Arab culture, characterized by 200 years of domain, from 827 to 1060, which touched many aspects, both in architecture and in agriculture, and influenced the culture.

San Giovanni degli Eremiti-Palermo
In this period, very prosperous, Sicily saw regain the splendor, after Byzantine rule.
Great were the innovations made by Arabs, there are many examples of architecture, because Muslim policy time to reuse existing structures, left few testimonies, and in later times many constraints were torn down.

Castle della Zisa 
and the Norman period, which follow the period of Arab domination, leaving many buildings in Arab-Norman style.
The most important on the island, are the castello della Zisa, Cuba, Castle and Royal Park Falcons.

Castle della Zisa

Il Castle della Zisa dates back to the 12th century, was commissioned by King William I of Hauteville, is in the city of Palermo and was designed by an architect.


The fundamental element of the garden, the water who from a spring, the garden was characterized by a canal along about 130 metres which connects to a system of water tanks, ran in front of the portal of the Palace, recreating the ancient canal that goes from the inside of the building to the " the Fontana Room".

Originally these gardens had a mix of evergreens, fruit, flower gardens, planted in regular form, alternate with open areas with almond groves and arbors, gardens, large fig trees and the dominant presence of citrus trees.