Certainly Montelupo is a reference point for Italian and European ceramics. So why not spend a few days discovering the artisanal beauty this town has in store for us? You can reach the town comfortably by car or by train; once you arrive in town, getting around on foot is definitely the cheapest and fastest way. On the first day, during the morning we propose a visit to the MMAB Museum of Ceramics, easily reached in a few minutes from the city center; At the museum you can get lost in the corridors discovering the history of ceramics, its changes and evolutions.
Among the major items of interest you will find the famous Rosso di Montelupo, a fully decorated majolica basin whose chemical composition still remains unknown made in 1509 by Lorenzo di Pietro Sartori.
If at the Museum of Ceramics it is easy to discover the beauties of ancient and traditional art at the Bitossi Museum Archive, opened in 2021 on the occasion of the centenary of the Bitossi company, one can delve into a century of ceramic production, an exhibition gallery divided into chronological-typological order where one can admire the evolution of the ceramic product from the early twentieth century to the present. The layout of the museum is reminiscent of and brings back to the 'practical aspect; the works are arranged on the typical drying carts found in the workshops and introduce the visitor to a more concrete aspect of manufacturing.
Putting your hands in the dough
Just to satisfy the urge to "put your hands to work," 100m from the Bitossi Museum Archives, in the same industrial area, you will find the School of Ceramics, which, with its large spaces and wide range of workshops and courses, including vocational ones, offers many opportunities to meet new people and acquire new skills. If your aspiration is to become a potter's wheel, you can try the one-weekend Introduction to Lathe course, where having fun and learning basic technique go hand in hand; if, on the other hand, you are fascinated by decoration, it is possible to try the Introduction to Ceramics course, where you can experiment with both processes and try to replicate the light squiggles of majolica decorations. The teachers, all experienced potters, will know how to engage you in an exciting and satisfying experience by whetting your creativity and curiosity about Montelupese art.
Both courses are suitable for all levels and introduce the participant to basic skills and workmanship. And do you know what the great thing is? That by participating in these courses you will have a unique memory of the experience because the objects you produce will be yours! If you are passionate about the courses, you can go on to become an industry expert and ceramic professional!
To conclude this ceramic tour, the suggestion is to walk to the center and enjoy some shopping, because admiring and experiencing the ceramic beauty is exciting but certainly tiring. Relaxing as you stroll among the stores and small stores in the center will show you a lively and colorful town, and with any luck you will see ceramic masters in their workshops working the clay or decorating in their own styles, and you will feel like you are in one of those old stores where craftsmanship was wealth.
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