The loam

Grottaglie has a fascinating history that is strictly linked to its territory: the loam on which the city is located represents the basics of its economy, its structure, and its origin. In the city center, there is a neighborhood where artisan shops, ovens, and art labs started to grow: artisans were turning clay into high-quality artifacts.

The ultimate souvenirs

There are two main products according to tradition: one is represented by bianchi di Grottaglie, which are artifacts characterized by the exaltation of its pure shape through white enamel; the other one by popular pottery, whose typical characteristic is a color palette consisting of lime-green, yellow ochre, blue and manganese.

D.O.C. Label

Nowadays Grottaglie is the only town in Apulia that is protected by D.O.C. label and that is in the list of 28 Italian cities specialized in ceramic. Among the events that celebrate this tradition, the most important ones are the Exhibition of Pottery (in August) and the Exhibition of Crib (in December), beside the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Pottery in the Episcopal Palace.

The Museum of Pottery

It is located in the south-eastern wing of the Episcopal Palace, which once was the bishop's residence. The Museum contains over 400 artifacts that cover a time frame between the VIII century B.C. to our days. The objects of the exhibition document a part of history when pottery had a fundamental role in human lives, helping them to preserve food and hygiene. Nowadays in the museum, there are five sections: traditional pottery, archeological one, majolica, contemporary pottery, and cribs.

Our homes in Apulia.
Our experiences in Apulia.
Here to discover more.