Vietri sul Mare – Ph. Armando Dicuonzo/flickr
In the beating heart of Italian craftsmanship, there is a tradition rooted in a millennial history: ceramics. In every corner of the country, the art of ceramics lives on in the specialised villages, true custodians of a knowledge that has been handed down from generation to generation, representing one of the excellences of Made in Italy recognised throughout the world.
The art of ceramics: a timeless legacy
The ceramic villages are distinguished by their cultural richness and the craftsmanship of their artisans. Places such as Castelli in Abruzzo, Caltagirone and Sciacca in Sicilia, Deruta in Umbria and Faenza in Emilia Romagna, are just a few examples of centres where working with clay becomes art. Every piece made carries with it the hallmark of its origin, telling the story and culture of the place that forged it.
Ceramiche a Castelli – Ph. Tommaso Lembo/flickr
Faenza, the Capital of Ceramics
No trip to the ceramic villages would be complete without a stop in Faenza, in the province of Ravenna. Famous for its artefacts that bear the name ‘faience’ in many European languages, Faenza is home to the Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, which holds one of the most extensive collections of Italian and international ceramics. The Palazzo Milzetti, a pearl of neoclassicism, is another of the jewels to be visited in this city rich in ceramic tradition.
Event “Buongiorno Ceramica” – Ph. Ente Ceramica Faenza/flickr
The ceramics of Deruta
In Umbria, the small and charming village of Deruta offers a setting rich in ceramic history and tradition. Here, every vase, plate or statuette expresses the identity of a place where ceramic production has never stopped. Deruta’s museums and workshops guard the skilful art of the ancient ‘Deruta masters’ and invite you to discover how tradition can be perpetually reinvented.
Artigiano a Deruta – Ph. Pietro Torellini/flickr
Colours overlooking the sea
At Vietri sul Mare, in Campania, ceramics are coloured in vibrant tones reminiscent of the sea and sky that envelop the village. The façades of houses, churches and even benches speak through ceramic decorations that have become the symbol of this place overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. The Vietri tiles, recognisable by their brilliance and glazed colours, encapsulate the warmth of the South.
Ph. tanialerro.art/shutterstock
Caltagirone and Sciacca: A South of ceramics and tradition
In Sicilia, the ceramic tradition is expressed with power and variety. In Caltagirone, the famous “Scala di Santa Maria del Monte” è a marvellous example of how ceramics is integrated into architecture and everyday life, while in Sciacca, majolica tiles are presented in designs and shapes that tell of sea myths and legends.
Caltagirone, Scala di Santa Maria del Monte – Ph. Jostein Aaserud/flickr
Innovation while respecting tradition
Craftsmen today not only preserve ancient techniques, but supplement them with new ideas and designs, enriching the country’s ceramic heritage. The master ceramists continue to train, travel and deal with different realities to ensure that each creation is a unique example of applied art.
A heritage to be preserved and enhanced
Italian ceramics, with its millennial history, is a heritage that requires commitment and dedication to be preserved and enhanced. In the age of mass production, ceramic villages represent oases where quality and attention to detail are still the rule. Visiting these places is a way to get in touch with the authentic soul of Italy, the one made of passion and skilful hands that shape the material to give life to true masterpieces.
Supporting master craftsmen, purchasing their artefacts and spreading knowledge of this ancient art means contributing to keeping alive a fundamental aspect of Italian culture. Moreover, each piece purchased is not just an object, but a story, a fragment of everyday life that lives on through the generations.
They are not just an object, but a story, a fragment of everyday life that lives on through the generations.
This journey è an immersion in an art capable of telling stories of civilisation and humanity, a way of touching the deep roots of a country and a tradition that has managed to make “made in Italy” a synonym for excellence and beauty.
