Vietri Ceramics Amalfi Coast

  • If you’re looking for a charming destination to visit starting from Positano, Vietri sul Mare is an ideal stop easily reached by scooter. As the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, this town is famous for its colorful ceramics, artisan workshops, and sea-view terraces. Traveling by scooter lets you enjoy every scenic curve along the coast, avoid traffic stress, and stop whenever you like to take photos or enjoy a break, making the trip simple, practical, and perfectly aligned with the spirit of freedom that defines Positano Scooter.

  • History and diffusion of the most famous ceramics in Italy

    Vietri sul Mare, the last town on the Amalfi Coast, is renowned for its ceramics, whose lucky destiny seems to have begun in the fifth century BC, under the Etruscan domination. However, the real success of this art was marked during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when ceramics became commercial products of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi and began to circulate in the Mediterranean thanks to its strategic position on the Tyrrhenian Sea, which promoted trade.

    The Art of Ceramics will continue over the centuries, gaining greater value, and all production techniques will be further refined. In fact, in the eighteenth century, the art of the “majolica riggiola” spread throughout ​​the Gulf of Naples, which in Neapolitan means “decorated tile”.
    An essential turning point occurred during the period between the two world wars: in the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century, many German Jews took refuge on the Amalfi Coast to escape racial persecution. They decided to stay there even after the war ended for its mild climate. They offered their artistic skills to the inhabitants in exchange for a place to stay. They were very skilled in chemistry and entered into the art of making ceramics with the creation of colours classified as “unrepeatable”, such as the characteristic “yellow of Vietri”.

    Thanks to these new motivations, international, stylistically unique products were born: the influences of Jewish culture and the typical characteristics of Italian ceramics were combined, with a more modern mentality that preserved the artisan character of these products.
    • majolicas Vietri
    • majolica Vetri
    • Handmade majolica Vietri

  • Clay is the key material for making ceramics, and the Amalfi Coast’s soil is rich in it.

    This material is worked using the lathe and then modelled to give the shape and the structure to the final object. After that, it is fired in the oven at extremely high temperatures, and a first glaze is applied. For dishes and tiles needs to be done also a white bath. After drying, the decoration is realised by hand. Then, a second firing is necessary to let the colours be brighter and to fix the decoration.
    The most important characteristic of these products is that no two are alike; each piece is absolutely unique and inimitable, and they are now considered masterpieces of local artistic production.
    Production of majolica

  • The processing of the ceramics
    Long and complex process, but amazing results

    Vietri Ceramics today, between tradition and innovation. The workshops where these are realised and where to find them.

    These pretty artefacts adorn plates, trays, vases, and other household items, and also decorate the alleys, streets, and houses of the villages overlooking the sea, creating a lively and colourful atmosphere. The production today is still very active and continues to attract tourists and collectors from all over the world. Walking through the streets of Vietri, one can find many craft workshops that carry on centuries-old family traditions.
    Moreover, in the last decades, many companies that respect tradition and use original techniques have been able to produce, on a large scale, innovative types as required by modern design, in particular in the construction sector. Choosing Vietri ceramics to furnish your home means you will bring a bit of Mediterranean air into your home, with typical bright colours: blue, green, yellow, and red. They are mainly used to cover kitchens, bathrooms, garden tables, but also plates, signs, and house numbers.
    Among the workshops where you can find handmade ceramics, there is La Ceramica Solimene, with a long and productive family tradition in Vietri and Ceramica Pinto, active since the 10s of the twentieth century and immediately specialised in exports.
    • Ceramic Plate Vietri
    • Ceramic Shop
    • Ceramic Factory Vietri

  • Other little curiosities on Vietri Ceramics

    To learn more about the world of Vietri ceramics, we recommend an educational stop at the Vietri Ceramics Museum, inaugurated in 1981 to celebrate and protect this local artistic heritage.
    The Museum is located in the rooms of the beautiful Villa Guariglia in Raito di Vietri, an exquisite historic residence. Here, there are many ancient religious ceramics and pottery, as well as examples of ceramic production from the “German period”.We want to mention the idea promoted by some restaurateurs in the area. The famous “Piatto del Buon Ricordo” – literally “The Plate of the good memory”: while eating at the restaurant, some dishes are served on hand-decorated plates that can then be taken home as a souvenir. It is an intelligent system that allows you to incentivise artisanal production and export ceramics.
    In 1997, Vietri was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the richness of its landscapes and for its artistic and cultural heritage, together with the Amalfi Coast.
    In December, at Villa Guarigilia, the annual “Festa dei Boccali” is an artistic, voluntary event where 100 Vietri potters exhibit their handicrafts. On this occasion, 10 works that remain in the permanent collection and the rest are donated to charity.
    The Villa was also the location of the famous film “Capri”, shot from 2006 to 2010, and it became known to the public as Villa Isabella.

    mics, pottery, and examples of ceramic production from the “German period”.We would also like to mention the idea promoted by some restaurateurs in the area. The famous “Piatto del Buon Ricordo” – literally “The Plate of the good memory”: while dining at the restaurant, some dishes are served on hand-decorated plates that can then be taken home as a souvenir. It is an intelligent system that allows you to incentivize artisanal production while also enabling the export of ceramics.
    In 1997, Vietri was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for the richness of its landscapes and for its artistic and cultural heritage, together with the Amalfi Coast.

    In December, at Villa Guarigilia, the annual “Festa dei Boccali” is held, an artistic and voluntary event where 100 Vietri potters exhibit their handicrafts. On this occasion, 10 works are selected for the permanent collection, and the rest are donated to charity.

    The Villa was also the location of the famous film “Capri”, shot from 2006 to 2010, and it became known to the public as Villa Isabella.

  • Scooter rental to visit Vietri sul Mare

    Choosing PositanoScooter means experiencing the Amalfi Coast in true Dolce Vita style, riding scooters and Vespas designed for freedom and style. Whether you want to reach Vietri sul Mare, explore other villages along the Amalfi Coast, or continue towards Sorrento, our staff is always available to provide travel information, personalized suggestions, and practical advice on itineraries, scenic stops, travel times, and parking. Not just a rental service, but real support to help you enjoy every kilometer at its best, turning your scooter tour into an authentic and stress-free experience.