Montelupo
Located on the Arno River, west of Florence, Montelupo was a very important majolica production center during the renaissance times. Naturally occuring clay and glaze minerals, as well as abundant forests for fueling the kilns aided in Montelupo's development as a ceramics city. More importantly though, was Montelupo's location on the Arno between Florence and Pisa. When trade treaties were struck between Florence and Pisa, Montelupo was the direct connection for moving goods, particuarly ceramics between the two cities, and in and out of Italy via the ports Pisa and Livorno. The Florentine ruling family, the Medicis, were major patrons of the potters of renaissance Montelupo.
A contemporary commercial ceramics factory, located on the outskirts of Montelupo
Montelupo ceramics shop
Montelupo is not a major tourist stop for majolica
ware, though it does boast a few shops, mainly located in close proximity
to the regional Archeological and Pottery Museum.
This particular style of ware in not typical of Montelupo, though it is displayed in a Montelupo shop. The design is "Raphaellesco" and is more typical of Deruta pottery. It's a very popular style.
Tile majolica sign for a watch shop
roadside devotional niche
simple majolica to mark the number of the house of da Vinci.
The ancestral home of Leonardo da Vinci is located in the hills just outside of Montelupo.
ancestral home of the da Vinci family
The Archeological and Pottery Museum of Montelupo
entrance to the museum
a few selections from the museum collection:
