Deruta and Assisi

{{yesterday we went to the UMBRIA region towns of Deruta and Assisi. i fell in love with the pottery that is produced in Deruta. having taken art classes in highschool with a major focus on clay and pottery making, i was in my element. the talent and time that goes into making one completely hand-made piece of pottery is 6 months! i did mine in a week (not that intense). enjoy the photos of my favorite pieces i found in the factory. 
we also traveled to Assisi, the town where St. Francis was born, raised, and died. we were fortunate to have a tour of the basilica, which is made up of three churches, the crypt of St. Francis, the romenesque church directly above, and the gothic church directly above that. the frescos and art inside are to die for, unfortunatly no photos allowed. enjoy!}}


Deruta

• Located in the Umbria region of Italy, Deruta is known for pottery, which is exported worldwide
• It is known for its Maiolica pottery. This is tin-glazed and dates back to the Renaissance. This style is usually made with bright colors on a white background depicting historical scenes.
• The steps in making Maiolica pottery include: the potter constructing the shape, firing, glazing, painting, and lastly the second firing.
• Deruta’s art dates back to the Etruscan times who found it’s local clay was good for pottery making. During the 1600’s (Renaissance times) it peaked in pottery production.
• Deruta’s first documentation of art dates back to the 1200’s. Items found were used in daily life such as jugs, bowls, and basins.
• By the 1500’s its pottery became known all around Europe.
• In the 15th century, the plague took over the town so much that they had to rewall the city to make it smaller due to the major population drop.
• There are different styles of pottery found here: Deruta Raffaellesco (usually has borders depicting mythical animals), Ricco Deruta (bloomed scrolls and the blue arabesque), and Deruta Arabesco (derived from the patterns on ware imported from the east in the 15th century)
• Deruta holds the Gothic church of San Francesco, which was built 1388, as well as the Palazzetto Municipale, which is the town hall. There is a museum and atrium that hold art pieces dating back to Neolithic times.
• Today the total population of Deruta is a little under 9,000 (8,935).
• 250 factories still produce pottery in Deruta.

Deruta Factory Sign

Factory Wheel Studio

Pre-fired Fruit Bowl

Collapsed Pot

(look closely to see the two
women)

Artist Hand Painting

{Favorites}

Serving Platter

Pitcher

Serving Dishes

My favorite pottery: 80euro for a salad plate...it would

cost that much. 

Assisi

• Assisi is a small town in Umbria, located 12 miles east of Perugia, and at an elevation of 1,300 feet.
• The Romans took control of central Italy around 300 BC and built the municipium of Asisium. Many of the original ruins can still be found in the city.
• Assisi had several political turnovers and battles in its earlier years, and was a thriving city of religion in the 13th C due to the presence of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
• The decline of the city began in 1348 with the black plague.
• From the beginning of the 14th C to the end of the 16th, two prominent families, the Nepis (from the upper half of the city) and the Fiumi (from the lower half) fought for power. Only under the reign of Pope Pius II Piccolomini was the domination of the Church over Assisi restored. Today, the people of Assisi relive their history in a Renaissance style festival held in May which consists of a challenge between the upper and lower divisions of the city.
• While its main attraction today is the Basilica of St. Francis, it is also famous for its six other churches including the Basilica of St. Clare, the Duomo of St. Rufino, the Carceri Hermitage, the Saint Damien Convent, the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, and St. Mary’s over the Temple of Minerva.
• Assisi is, and has been for centuries, a major city of Catholic pilgrimmage with between 4 and 5 million visitors per year.
• The actual town has only about 3,000 inhabitants (26,000 in the entire commune).
• The town is also home to two medieval castles, the larger of which is Rocco Maggiore, a massive structure built to intimidate the city.
• Built entirely of white and rose stone from Mount Subasio, on which it is located.
• It’s characterized by its old, steep, winding roads which have been preserved through the ages.
• Assisi was hit by two major earthquakes in 1997, but restoration has been succesful so far.

Saint Francis' Basilica
(no pictures allowed inside)