全球最美階梯

Located in the Sicilian town of Caltagirone， La Scala di Santa Maria del Monte is a 142-step staircase dating back to 1608， each step of which is decorated with a different ceramic1） pattern. It's a wonder to behold， but during the spring and summer seasons it becomes even more breathtaking as locals adorn it with potted flowers and lanterns， creating intricate designs.

Situated 68 kilometers from Catania， the town of Caltagirone has long been famous for its production of pottery2）. The name of this charming settlement derives from the Arabic \"qal'at-al-jarar\" （\"Castle of [pottery] jars\"） and perfectly befits3） its longstanding pottery-making tradition. But it's the splendid La Scala di Santa Maria del Monte that really stands as a testament4） to the town's millennial5） tradition of pottery making. This breathtaking work of art， connecting the high part of Caltagirone to the low part， is completely covered in ceramic tiles6）， with each of its steps featuring a different design inspired by the local culture. The Staircase is the main attraction of the Sicilian town， and it's here that locals celebrate their most important festivals， La Scala Infiorata and La Luminaria， during which they use the Staircase as a canvas7） for floral8） and light masterpieces.

Every year， during La Scala Infiorata， the Flower Festival of Caltagirone， the Staircase is decorated with thousands of potted plants masterfully arranged to create a monumental design. From May 8 to June 2， tourists are invited to Caltagirone to admire the floral designs that stretch from the bottom of the stairs all the way to the top. They can even walk through the maze9） of potted flowers and see every detail up-close10）. The unique event is a tribute to Our Lady of Conadomini， the protector of Caltagirone， and every year it draws tourists from all around the world.

Less than two months after La Scala Infiorata， the Staircase hosts yet another breathtaking spectacle. On the nights of July 24 and 25， the La Luminaria is held in honor of San Giacomo， and the steps of the Staircase are decorated with up to 4000 handmade lanterns arranged in intricate patterns by local artists. Preparations for La Luminaria begin about a month before the days dedicated to San Giacomo， with artists making simple cylinders11） of special transparent paper， called \"briglia\"， in which they place ceramic lamps fitted with a cotton wick12）. Hours before the light show， the lamps are filled with olive oil， which produces a pleasant perfume when the traditional lanterns are lit. Each year， the design of the light mosaic13） is kept secret until the day of completion to surprise the audience.

迪圣瑪利亞·德爾蒙特階梯位于西西里島的卡爾塔吉羅內(nèi)小鎮(zhèn)，是一座有142級臺階的階梯，其歷史可以追溯到1608年。這座階梯的每一級臺階都裝飾有不同的陶瓷圖案，令人嘆為觀止。但在春夏之時(shí)，隨著當(dāng)?shù)鼐用裼门柙怎r花和燈籠來裝飾臺階，擺出各種復(fù)雜精美的圖案，這座階梯會變得更加令人驚嘆。

卡爾塔吉羅內(nèi)小鎮(zhèn)距離卡塔尼亞68公里，長期以來一直以生產(chǎn)陶器而聞名。這個迷人小鎮(zhèn)的名字來源于阿拉伯語“qal'at-al-jarar”（“[陶瓷]罐子的城堡”），相當(dāng)契合當(dāng)?shù)貧v史悠久的陶器制造傳統(tǒng)。然而，宏偉的迪圣瑪利亞·德爾蒙特階梯才真正是這個小鎮(zhèn)千年陶器制造傳統(tǒng)的見證。這一令人嘆為觀止的藝術(shù)作品將卡爾塔吉羅內(nèi)鎮(zhèn)地勢高的地方和地勢低的地方連接了起來，階梯上面全都鋪滿了瓷磚，每級臺階上的圖案各不相同，獨(dú)具特色——那些圖案的設(shè)計(jì)靈感都源自當(dāng)?shù)氐奈幕＿@座階梯是西西里島上這個小鎮(zhèn)的主要景點(diǎn)，同時(shí)這里也是當(dāng)?shù)厝藨c祝他們最重要的節(jié)日斯卡拉花卉節(jié)和彩燈節(jié)的地方。在節(jié)日期間，他們會把階梯當(dāng)成畫布，用鮮花和燈籠來繪制杰作。

在每年的斯卡拉花卉節(jié)，也就是卡爾塔吉羅內(nèi)的鮮花節(jié)期間，階梯上都會用上千盆的植物裝飾，它們被巧妙地?cái)[放成一幅巨大的圖案。從5月8日到6月2日，游客們被吸引到卡爾塔吉羅內(nèi)，觀賞從階梯底端一直延伸至頂端的花卉圖案。游客們甚至可以徜徉在盆栽花卉的迷宮之中，近距離觀賞每一處細(xì)節(jié)。這一獨(dú)特的活動是為了向卡爾塔吉羅內(nèi)的保護(hù)神圣母科納多米尼致敬，每年都會引來來自世界各地的眾多游客。

斯卡拉花卉節(jié)過后不到兩個月，這座階梯又會迎來另一令人驚嘆的壯觀景象。人們在7月24日和25日的晚上慶祝彩燈節(jié)，紀(jì)念圣賈科莫。屆時(shí)，這座階梯的臺階上會裝飾多達(dá)4000盞手工制作的燈籠，由當(dāng)?shù)氐乃囆g(shù)家們擺放成各種復(fù)雜的圖案。彩燈節(jié)的準(zhǔn)備工作要在供奉圣賈科莫之前一個月就開始，藝術(shù)家們會用特殊的透明紙制作出一種叫做briglia的簡單圓筒狀物，然后在里面放上裝有棉質(zhì)燈芯的陶瓷燈。燈展前的幾個小時(shí)，燈里會裝滿橄欖油，它會在這些傳統(tǒng)燈籠被點(diǎn)亮之時(shí)散發(fā)出怡人的芳香。每年，燈籠的設(shè)計(jì)圖案在全部弄好之前會一直保密，以帶給觀眾驚喜。

1.ceramic [s??r?m?k] adj. 陶瓷的；制陶藝術(shù)的

2.pottery [?p?t?ri] n. [總稱]陶器，陶瓷器皿

3.befit [b??f?t] vt. 適合于

4.testament [?test?m?nt] n. 證明，證據(jù)

5.millennial [m??leni?l] adj. 一千年的

6.tile [ta?l] n. 瓦片；瓷磚

7.canvas [?k?nv?s] n. （一塊）帆布畫布

8.floral [?fl??r?l] adj. 花的

9.maze [me?z] n. 迷宮；錯綜復(fù)雜的事物

10.up-close： 近距離地

11.cylinder [?s?l?nd?（r）] n. 圓柱狀物，圓筒

12.wick [w?k] n. 燈芯；燭芯

13.mosaic [m???ze??k] n. 鑲嵌圖案