VIETRI SUL MARE

Located on the western coast of Italy, near Naples and next door to Salerno, this Amalfi coastal resort town is home to a hugh production and export business of contemporary Italian majolica. Though Vietri does not have a history dating back to the Renaissance, it is, nonetheless, an intersting town to visit for majolica. This town became something of an "art colony" for European nationals during the early 20th century. the regional museum of Salerno province has a minor collection of the typical ceramics artifacts, as well as several tile and other ceramic forms decorated by the local & foreign artists living in Vietri during the early 20th century.
The beautiful seaside location and Vietri's proximity to Italy's shipping cities, are probably the main reasons why this town has a thriving contemporary majolica trade, alonside a thriving tourist trade.
These images will provide a quick tour of Vietri Sul Mare. Note, that, typical of other "ceramics cities" in Italy, Vietri is liberally decorated with majolica painted ceramics.
 

I Museo Provinciale della Ceramica (Ceramics Museum of the Salerno province)
 

Tile murals decorating the exterior of a church
 

Church undergoing restoration; note the tile "tondo" in the center, above door
 

Elaborately tiled entrance to a passageway, allowing pedestrians to cross under a busy street
 

Closer view of the under-street passage
 

Other entrance/exit of the under-street passage (beautifully tiled)
 

Enormous ceramics/majolica factory "Solimene" named for the family who originated to business
 

A peek inside the Solimene factory
 

Painting the ware
 

Stacks and stacks of ware awaiting sale and exportation
 

These majolica shops line the main "drag" of Vietri sul Mare.
 
 
 
 

Ceramic majolica tiles are used to decorate the entrances to many businesses and offices in Vietri sul Mare. The above is the entrance to a gym offering tennis and racketball.
 

The federal offices for licenses to hunt and fish in the province
 

Mural tiles depictingthe numerous seaside activities of Amalfi - the colored tile is a sign for a pavement tile company.
 
 

Beautiful majolica depiction of the town of Vietri sul Mare