Blog: Discover Italy

For centuries, the small Umbrian hill town of Deruta, Italy, has been celebrated for producing some of the world's most beautiful hand-painted ceramics. Walk through Deruta today and you will still find ceramic workshops where artisans transform simple pieces of earthenware into brilliantly colored plates, bowls, platters, vases and decorative objects. Many of the techniques—and even some of the designs—have roots stretching back hundreds of years. Known particularly for its maiolica …

The Nobile Contrada dell'Aquila (Aquila) won the Palio di Siena Horse Race July 2, 2026, which took place on, 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 until the finish. Behind the pair of Tittia and Diodoro,  Civetta tried to clo …

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 Raphael. In Italian “grotesque” is …

Hand-painted Italian pottery is made to be enjoyed, but proper care can help preserve its beautiful colors and glazed finish for many years. Traditional Italian ceramics, including Deruta pottery and other Italian maiolica, are generally made from earthenware and require slightly different care than porcelain or stoneware. Can Italian pottery go in the dishwasher? Can it be used in the microwave? What causes crazing? And how should you remove coffee or food stains without damaging the glaze? In …

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 symbols to differentiate their authentic Italian …

I don't know about you, but I love discovering Italian ceramics—whether I'm wandering through a pottery workshop in Italy, shopping at an antique store, or even browsing the shelves at HomeGoods. But when a colorful Italian ceramic plate or bowl is marked "Made in Italy," how can you tell whether you've found a piece of authentic, handcrafted Italian pottery or something that was mass-produced? After importing handcrafted Italian ceramics for Merchant of Prato since 2007, I have learned th …