Gabbacumpari
Terracotta Workshop
In the charming Borgo Maggiore of Gerace, for generations, master potters (argagnari) have practiced a craft that has significantly shaped the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the region. Their skill in creating ceramic objects has earned renown across the area, thanks to their functionality and precise craftsmanship.
The potters’ workshops were often nestled in the cavities of tuff rock or in the basements beneath houses. Near the workshops, kilns used for firing ceramics created a glowing atmosphere. To prevent fires, a 16th-century ordinance required that the firing of objects was moved to La Piana, a safe location not far from the village.
In the 17th century, Gerace rose to prominence in ceramic art through masters Giuseppe Piráyna and Giacomo Cefali.
Beyond the traditional production of terracotta, their artistic talent established Gerace as a renowned ceramic center. Their finely decorated pottery reached Sicily, Naples, and even Spain. Today, some pieces can still be admired in private collections, precious testimonies of an art that has endured through centuries.
Experience
Gabbacumpari: Terracotta Modeling Workshop
€8.00, including a terracotta item you create – 60 minutes
Info
Susanna Campiti
Via Nazionale 80, Borgo Maggiore – Gerace
Susanna Campiti +39 3281364794
lucernarte@virgilio.it
