Blog: Discover Italy

The Results are in – L’Aquila has won the July 3rd, 2026 Il Palio di Siena. The Nobile Contrada dell'Aquila (Aquila) won the Palio of July 2, 2026, which took place today, Friday, July 3, after being postponed due to inclement weather. The Contrada’s horse Diodora was rode by Jockey Giovanni Atzeni, known as Tittia, who also won the July Palio last year for Contrada Oca.  There was no stopping Aquila in this race as they immediately took the lead and led the race unti …

History of the Raffaellesco Deruta Pattern The Raffaellesco pattern, renowned for its central motif of the benevolent dragon, surrounded by intricate floral arabesques in a bright color palette of yellow, blue and green, is one of the most famous and enduring styles of Italian Deruta ceramics. Originating in the 16th-century, the Raffaellesco decoration takes its name and inspiration from the “grotesque” style of the famous Renaissance painter Raffaello Sanzio, otherwise known as Rap …

CARING FOR YOUR ITALIAN CERAMICS All our Italian Ceramic Dinnerware and Tabletop Products are guaranteed to be 100% Food Safe.Our manufactures do NOT use any glaze or color pigment with lead content in our dinnerware and tabletop products, and these products comply with FDA Regulations. Fratelli Mari All Fratelli Mari products are made with lead-free enamels and colors, are food-safe, and dishwasher-safe.  All the products and colors they use are lead free and also meet California regu …

How To Identify Authentic Hand-Crafted Italian Pottery I don’t know about you, but I love shopping at HomeGoods. You never know what treasures you will come upon. Quite often I find Italian ceramic tableware and the prices appear too good to be true. However, buyers beware!! These Italian ceramic plates, bowls and other items for sale at HomeGoods are NOT handcrafted, artisan pottery, but mass-produced industrial pottery. What is the difference between artisan pottery and mass-produced ind …

What Does the "Made in Italy" Mark Signify Handcrafted pottery has been a hallmark of the Italian peninsula for a very long time – The Greeks, The Etruscans and the Romans – but it was during the Renaissance in the 15th-16th century, that Italy gained fame for her exception pottery known as majolica – a tin-glazed earthenware decorated with colorful designs. As trade developed and expanded, towns such as Deruta and Castelli began inscribing their pottery with distinctive symbol …