Vietri sul Mare the UNESCO Ceramics Village

Vietri sul Mare , defined land of talents, art, creativity and colors, is one of the most important coastal villages of the Amalfi Coast and of the province of Salerno, located in the most protected corner of the homonymous gulf. The origins of Vietri can be traced back to the ancient Marcina, an Etruscan city, located where today is the Marina of Vietri, mentioned in the geography of Strambone with a predominantly mercantile function as a territory serving Nuceria. Renowned for its richness, elegance and luxury, Marcina, a classic ancestor of Vietri sul Mare, was famous in antiquity for the cult of the arts and the development of maritime and terrestrial trade. At the turn of the year the territory, occupied by scattered settlements between Vietri, Marina di Vietri and Molina, from the administrative point of view was the outskirts of Salerno; in the Middle Ages it was entrusted to the Benedictine monastery of the SS. Trinità di Cava. From the Renaissance to the last century it was part of the city of Cava de 'Tirreni and only in 1806 it became an autonomous municipality. The town, in addition to offering a splendid sea, is surrounded by magnificent Mediterranean vegetation. Like all the countries of the Amalfi Coast, one of the most beautiful corners of the world certified by UNESCO with the seal of World Heritage, Vietri sul Mare has a strong tourist vocation and is famous for its ceramics. For those arriving from the sea, the show of majolica from the dome of the church of S. Giovanni Battista, the main 17th century city monument, is the first impact with this ancient art that completely pervades the life, trade and artisan activity of Vietri . News of a thriving activity related to the production of ceramics date back to the 14th century, as shown by the large demand for tiles and tiles produced in the nearby farmhouse of Vietri sul Mare, by the master builders of that period. The increasing commercial ties together with the unique characteristics of the territory and the particular originality of the Viennese artisans attracted, starting from the 1920s, the arrival on the coast of world-famous artists and artisans (Irene Kowaliska, Riccardo Dolker, Giovannino Carrano) that led Vietri to become one of the recognized capitals of art pottery production. The ceramics workshops of Vietri are a show in the show. The narrow streets of the town are dotted with small shops and artisan shops where the art of ceramics reaches truly unique levels, both in shapes and colors. Each object and furnishings is re-proposed in ceramic: tiles, plates, holders, ashtrays, amphorae and ornaments of all kinds, vases, statuettes, tea and coffee services, sacred objects and the famous donkeys. The donkeys, which later became the symbol of Vietri ceramics, are an 'invention' of German ceramists who, in the 20s and 40s of the last century, attracted by the sun and the sea, moved to the charming coastal town. Styles and contaminations are still present today. In the same way, however, new experiences are sought after: from the classic warm tones of these places, we move on to views of the country and scenes of daily life and imaginary and contemporary figures. These are the details that determine the strong personality of the inimitable Vietri Artistic Ceramics .

Vietri sul Mare is the last of the Amalfi Coast countries to the south and is by right a part of the villages and towns that should be visited during our vacation. The parish church of San Giovanni Battista , built in the seventeenth century in Neapolitan late-Renaissance style, is characterized by the double crowning of the cusp of the bell tower in painted ceramics; the portal is surmounted by an oculus closed in the second half of the 20th century to insert a figure of the patron saint painted on ceramic. In the interior, with a single nave, the altars are decorated with majolica and ceramics except for the larger one, made of committed marble, interesting are the paintings that start from the seventeenth century and end at the eighteenth. Between the Dome and the tall bell tower rises Palazzo della Guardia, the Archconfraternity , which has a beautiful majolica floor. The palace is an example of that Baroque art also witnessed by the palaces of De Simone, Del Plato and Punzi.

The Archconfraternity of the Annunciation and the Rosary , of seventeenth-century origin, is decorated on the façade with painted ceramics; the interior was frescoed in the 18th century. The Dragonea Tower of 1100. The Solimene ceramics factory is an example of organic architecture after the Second World War by Paolo Soleri; the interior contains a vast collection of contemporary ceramics. Church of the Madonna dell'Arco , on the street of the same name that joins Marina di Vietri sul Mare to the Amalfi Coast, on another narrow road that leads up to the hamlet of Raito. These streets retrace ancient paths that were used by the resident population to take refuge in the high areas of Vietri (the current villages of Raito and Albori) to defend themselves against attacks by the Saracens. The tower of Marina di Vietri is related to the defense. This, together with other similarly constructed towers, was the pirate ship sighting system. The sentries on top of the towers passed the signals with fires and fumes. Each tower could see the other. Don't miss a visit to the " Roman Baths " located along the banks of the Bonea stream , in the Bagnara area of Marina di Vietri. Some structures are located in the center of the village inside the "Vient 'e Mare" Restaurant where there is, well preserved, a circular room (open to the public) dated by the Superintendency, to the "1st century BC Wonderful to visit, because of its remarkable archaeological importance . The spa rooms are located in Via G. Pellegrino, 142.

Other places of interest are also the paths that connect the upper fractions of Raito and Albori with natural sources (Fonte del Cesare) and the upper fraction of Dragonea, with the Cava de 'Tirreni valley and the Badia . In this path we arrive at a fork that leads to the paths of the Avvocatella and the Avvocata. The latter is called " Sentiero degli Dei " because the views that can be enjoyed are incomparable. From the Avvocata path you reach Monte Pertuso, above Positano. The Ceramics Museum is located within the Villa Guariglia complex, the magnificent summer residence, bequest of the owner Raffaele Guariglia, Ambassador of Italy, of the Order of Malta and Foreign Minister of the Badoglio government.

climate: Vietri sul Mare rises directly on the sea and enjoys the classic Mediterranean climate and that is with a warm and temperate climate. The average temperature of the coldest month, January, stands at + 10.4 ° C; that of the hottest months, July and August, is around 26 ° C.

 

Curiosities: Vietri Sul Mare has about 8,000 residents and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1997. The colors used for the enamels of Vietri ceramics? All are inspired by the colors of the Amalfi Coast, the deep blue of the sea, the bright green of the woods, the golden orange of the orange trees, the yellow of the Sorrento lemons, the ocher of the setting sun.

 

tips: if you visit the Amalfi coast, you must pay a visit to the village of Vietri Sul Mare. A village overlooking the sea where you can stroll through its narrow streets and go shopping in the many Vietri ceramics shops, while enjoying a good homemade ice cream or iced limoncello. If you have time, you can also visit a factory like that of the D'Arienzo family "La Vietrese" , which has been dirtying the hands with clay and the face of colors for 5 generations, handing down this ancient art from father to son. There you can, if you wish, also do a course in ceramics or decorum with one of these talented master potters. If, then, you love the Vietri ceramics, but you have no way to go there in person, you can then visit the website www.ceramicavietrese.it/en and buy and have it delivered directly to your home.