Ceramics in Mallorca have a long history . Each year a fiesta, Fira del Fang ( Fiesta of Ceramics ), is held in the municipality of Marratxi which is the centre of the pottery industry on the island.
The date of the fiesta this year are 04 -12 March 2023.
The word `ceramic´ comes from the Greek word `keramos´ meaning clay and, stretching back many hundreds of years, Mallorca has been at the heart of ceramics in the Mediterranean.
With such a history, the adjacent towns of Pòrtol and Sa Cabaneta in Marratxi are proud to celebrate each year the “Fira del Fang” showcasing and promoting the best in ceramics Mallorca has to offer.
Both towns are home to numerous `ólleries´ (potteries) and there is a walking route the `Ruta del Fang´, which can be followed and which also takes in the pottery museum.
The ceramics produced in the area range from historical to practical everyday ware as well as more modern and decorative designs.
You are sure to recognise the traditional earthenware cooking pots or “greixoneres”, wide and shallow dishes used for soups, stews and of course paella. They come in varying sizes and are emblematic of the red clay found in the area.
You might also have seen the `siurells´, clay figurines of Mallorca, incorporating a whistle. After firing, they are lime-washed white and painted with splashes of red and green. The origins of these figurines have been lost in the mists of time but are uniquely evocative of Mallorca.
So if you are a lover of all things ceramic, make time to make a visit to these lovely traditional Mallorcan towns just outside Palma.
Bag yourself some ceramic souvenirs, hugely less expensive than in the glitzy shops of Palma and you don’t have to squeeze them into your carry on, they can be posted on to you!
One of the best stocked and one of the oldest potteries is Ceramica Terra Cuita. Open every day and happy to show you around.
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