6 Best Shopping in Sicily, Italy

One of the oldest ceramic factories in Sicily, La Giara sells a bit of everything from souvenirs to more substantial pieces of art. In their impressive showroom, you will find every possible style of Sicilian ceramics, from basic terra-cotta to elaborate hand-painted Baroque designs as well as large pieces of furniture. Still run by the same family that originally founded the factory, the quality and artistry of the pieces are guaranteed by many generations of experience. They also ship worldwide.

Among Italians, Erice is known for the quality and delicate floral designs of its majolica ceramics, well represented in this ceramics store off Piazza San Domenico, one of the best in town.

This local ceramics factory and producer has been around since 1683 and is still a family business. The showroom is filled with unique hand-painted pieces that reflect the history and artistry of the town. The owner is often at the showroom and has been known to hand-wrap plates, cups, and other souvenirs.

For a more pop art take on traditional Sicilian ceramics, visit Folk, a little boutique and gallery run by artist Magda Masano. You'll find iconic ceramic pinecones and teste di Moro (a ubiquitous pair of heads) in vibrant colors such as emerald green, lilac, or turquoise. Additionally, there are kitchenwares like plates, spoon rests, and cheese boards, all made of lava stone.

Of the numerous ceramic shops in Caltagirone's old center, this one 13 steps up Caltagirone's fabled ceramic staircase is one of the best, selling eye-catching work with a modern aesthetic that is inspired by the town's long artisan tradition.

As you would expect from a town renowned for its ceramic products, ceramics stores are ubiquitous in Sciacca, mostly filled to the rafters with attention-grabbing displays of exuberant plates, spoons, pine cones, moor's heads, jugs, and birds. In this store, though, you will find these same designs but imbued with the singular artistic vision of the young craftsman Giovanni Muscarnera.