Puglia's two ceramic towns are Grottaglie, near Taranto, known for painted majolica and the pumo, and Cutrofiano, in Salento, known for terracotta cookware. Online, the easiest Puglian pieces to order are Colì terracotta pots from Cutrofiano and Frantoio Muraglia's olive oil in jugs hand-painted by Puglian ceramists, both on Amazon.it, .de, .fr and .co.uk. Many pumi sold online are made outside Puglia, so check who made one before you buy it.
Our picks
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Table · Murgia
Orcio Arcobaleno – Coratina, intense fruity
Frantoio Muraglia
On Amazon: .it · .de · .fr · .co.uk
What makes Grottaglie ceramics different
Grottaglie's potters have worked in the same quarter, carved partly into the rock of the ravines, for centuries. Pieces are thrown and painted by hand, so no two are identical. Alongside Grottaglie, Cutrofiano in Salento is known for terracotta with speckled or brown glazes.
The pumo
The pumo (from the Latin pomum) represents a flower bud wrapped in acanthus leaves, a symbol of life and good fortune. Puglian families place it on balconies and give it for weddings, births and new homes. Small pumi from about 8 cm are an inexpensive gift; large ones are decorative pieces.
Ordering and delivery
Ceramics are fragile and heavy. On Amazon, the delivery date is shown before you pay and returns follow your local Amazon's rules. For a pumo or a made-to-order piece from a Grottaglie workshop, buying in person on a trip, or from the workshop directly, is still the surest way to know who made it.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a pumo pugliese?
- A ceramic ornament shaped like a closed flower bud, made in Grottaglie and across Puglia, traditionally given as a good-luck charm.
- Where is Grottaglie?
- In the province of Taranto, about 20 km north-east of the city, on the road towards Brindisi and the Valle d'Itria.
- How long does delivery of handmade ceramics take?
- On Amazon, the delivery date is shown before you pay; pieces sent by Italian producers can take a few days longer. Workshops making pieces to order often need several weeks.
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