Shopping for ceramics on the Amalfi Coast is one of the real treats of exploring this gorgeous coastline in southern Italy’s Campania region.
The Amalfi Coast is a vibrant landscape of pastel colored houses, steeply terraced gardens and rocky cliffs plummeting down to the Mediterranean Sea. Filling this scene with even more color and life are the brilliant ceramic shops you'll find in each town along the Amalfi Coast. Ceramic lovers will find these tempting shop displays as irresistible as the gorgeous views of the coastline.
Ceramic making has been an important tradition on the Amalfi Coast since the 15th century, with the main activity centered around the town of Vietri sul Mare. Known as the “Gateway to the Amalfi Coast” since it is the first town you reach on the Amalfi Coast from the city of Salerno, Vietri sul Mare is known as the capital of ceramics in the Campania region. A stop off in Vietri sul Mare is a must for travelers in search of beautiful ceramics.
Walking through the streets of Vietri sul Mare is a cheerful experience. Everything is decorated with hand painted ceramics, even the local food shops and the brightly colored dome of the church of San Giovanni Battista. In the center of town runs the pedestrian street Via Madonna degli Angeli, which is lined with one tempting ceramic shop after another. The lively exteriors are decorated with ceramic murals and samples of the beautiful ceramics on sale inside. Walking through town you’ll soon get an eye for all the different styles and artistic touches.
Vietri sul Mare is also home to Ceramica Artistica Solimene, a striking building clad in multi-colored circular ceramic tiles. One of the few examples of modern architecture on the Amalfi Coast, the Solimene factory was designed in the 1950s by Paolo Solari, an Italian architect that briefly studied under the Frank Lloyd Wright in America. Inside this unusual building you’ll find a showroom selling Solimene’s distinctive ceramics, including their popular series of brightly colored dishes featuring animals.
Vietri sul Mare isn’t the only spot where you’ll find beautiful ceramics on the Amalfi Coast. The towns of Amalfi and Ravello both have a fine selection of shops to keep ceramic lovers content. Driving along the Amalfi Coast road it seems there’s a brightly colored ceramic shop around almost every twist and turn. One of the best is Ceramiche Piccadilly located in a gorgeous spot in Conca dei Marini just above the Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto).
Nearly every town you stop in along the Amalfi Coast will have something pretty to catch your eye. Finding something special for yourself or gifts for others is a lovely way to remember the vivid hues of the Amalfi Coast – the brilliant blue sea, the intense greens and the bright yellow bursts of the locally grown lemons. Every time you see the ceramics it will bring you right back to the beauty of the Amalfi Coast.
[...] or St. Andrew, who is the patron saint and protector of Amalfi. Even if your visit to the Amalfi Coast is short, you’ll want to be sure to explore this beautiful church during your [...]
[...] limoncello is so strongly connected with Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, you’ll find many shops selling the liqueur and related products, including candies and a [...]
[...] the Sorrento peninsula, Nerano is surrounded by one of the most untouched and dramatic areas on the Amalfi Coast. It’s a landscape of rocky cliffs, ancient olive groves and intense natural beauty. Not far from [...]
Need to know if there is a way,or a store or outlet, to purchase a table top or actually tiles to file a table top in that has the bright colors of the typical Vietri tiles, and an outlet there to order a particular design for a specific size outside table.
[...] has visited Puglia’s capital city. Bari is an attractive city with friendly people, a good shopping district, a variety of cultural venues and activities, and a delicious regional cuisine, but it [...]
[...] day trip if you are in the area. There are lots of shops selling local crafts, such as miniature ceramic trullos or beautiful handmade crocheted linens. Don’t forget to sneak down the side streets, [...]
Ciao Cindy! I apologize for not catching your comment earlier. Hum, now that's a good question. I believe I may know the fish that you are talking about, but without a photo it would be hard to tell. Feel free to email me a photo at ciao.amalfi@gmail.com, and I'd be happy to try to help! -Laura
While my husband and I were visiting the Mediterranean this summer, we fell in love with Italy's Almafi coast. While there, I believe in the village of Almafi, I purchases 2 very ecclectic "Dr. Suess" looking fish - I thought they were quaint and adorable! When we returned, I had wished I had purchased more and we plan to use them in a mural we are making on the back side or our new room addition that overlooks our pool and back yard in Florida. However, I can't, for the life of me, find out how to purchase more of them - I need about 4 more to make the mural complete. Does anyone out there have any suggestions - just short of traveling back to Almafi to find them myself?? Please email me at cdauck@msn.com - thank you.
Dear Louann, I would try Pascal Ceramiche Artistiche in Ravello (http://www.ceramichedarte.com/) or Ceramiche Piccadilly in Conca dei Marini (http://www.mcpiccadilly.com/) as I know they do worldwide shipping and have lovely items, Good luck! :-) -Laura
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[...] or St. Andrew, who is the patron saint and protector of Amalfi. Even if your visit to the Amalfi Coast is short, you’ll want to be sure to explore this beautiful church during your [...]
[...] limoncello is so strongly connected with Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, you’ll find many shops selling the liqueur and related products, including candies and a [...]
[...] the Sorrento peninsula, Nerano is surrounded by one of the most untouched and dramatic areas on the Amalfi Coast. It’s a landscape of rocky cliffs, ancient olive groves and intense natural beauty. Not far from [...]
Need to know if there is a way,or a store or outlet, to purchase a table top or actually tiles to file a table top in that has the bright colors of the typical Vietri tiles, and an outlet there to order a particular design for a specific size outside table.
[...] has visited Puglia’s capital city. Bari is an attractive city with friendly people, a good shopping district, a variety of cultural venues and activities, and a delicious regional cuisine, but it [...]
[...] day trip if you are in the area. There are lots of shops selling local crafts, such as miniature ceramic trullos or beautiful handmade crocheted linens. Don’t forget to sneak down the side streets, [...]
Ciao Cindy! I apologize for not catching your comment earlier. Hum, now that's a good question. I believe I may know the fish that you are talking about, but without a photo it would be hard to tell. Feel free to email me a photo at ciao.amalfi@gmail.com, and I'd be happy to try to help! -Laura
While my husband and I were visiting the Mediterranean this summer, we fell in love with Italy's Almafi coast. While there, I believe in the village of Almafi, I purchases 2 very ecclectic "Dr. Suess" looking fish - I thought they were quaint and adorable! When we returned, I had wished I had purchased more and we plan to use them in a mural we are making on the back side or our new room addition that overlooks our pool and back yard in Florida. However, I can't, for the life of me, find out how to purchase more of them - I need about 4 more to make the mural complete. Does anyone out there have any suggestions - just short of traveling back to Almafi to find them myself?? Please email me at cdauck@msn.com - thank you.
Dear Louann, I would try Pascal Ceramiche Artistiche in Ravello (http://www.ceramichedarte.com/) or Ceramiche Piccadilly in Conca dei Marini (http://www.mcpiccadilly.com/) as I know they do worldwide shipping and have lovely items, Good luck! :-) -Laura