You might not have heard of Faenza yet. But if you follow UNESCO’s Creative Cities network, you will soon. In 2025, this small city in Emilia-Romagna officially applied to join as a Creative City of Ceramics, building on a tradition so deep that the word faïence itself — used across Europe for tin-glazed pottery — comes from this one place. I spent some time digging into what makes Faenza tick, and honestly, the story surprised me.
Why the World Is Talking About Faenza Right Now
Faenza isn’t just a town that makes pottery. It’s a town that is pottery. The International Museum of Ceramics (MIC) holds collections spanning pre-Columbian America, Classical Greece, the Islamic world, and major 20th-century Italian artists. Its specialized library has been publishing the journal Faenza since 1913. That alone tells you the depth here.
In 2023, the nearby Vena del Gesso Romagnola was recognized as a UNESCO site, adding a natural layer to the region’s cultural heft. Then in June 2024, the city kicked off its UNESCO Creative Cities candidacy with the Festival dei Calanchi e delle Argille Azzurre, a celebration of the blue clay that Leonardo da Vinci once praised as “earth for making jugs.”
The official application was submitted in April 2025 during the annual meeting of UNESCO Cities of Music in Pesaro. It’s a serious bid, backed by the Emilia-Romagna Region and a network of 56 ceramic cities under the Italian Association of Ceramic Cities (AiCC), which Faenza itself helped found in 1999.
Leonardo da Vinci praised Faenza’s blue clay as “earth for making jugs.”
A Town That Refused to Let Its Clay Wash Away
Here’s the part that got me. In 2023 and again in 2024, devastating floods hit Faenza. Streets and homes were buried in the same blue clay that made the city famous. It sounds like the kind of irony you’d read in a novel — the thing that built the town nearly destroyed it. But the community responded fast. Creative spaces and ceramic production workshops were restored in record time. The city used its own cultural identity as the foundation for reconstruction.
That resilience is baked into the local mindset. Mayor Massimo Isola has said that ceramics are “very porous to territorial cultures,” and the city’s development plan — aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals — treats creativity as a driver of inclusive, environmentally responsible growth. It’s not just about preserving the past; it’s about building a future that makes sense.
If you’re traveling with kids, this is the kind of story that sparks real conversations. My own family would want to see the actual clay and the workshops, not just read about it. More on that in a moment.
Where to Start: The International Museum of Ceramics
You could spend a full day at the MIC and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. The museum’s Italian and European production from the Middle Ages through the 19th century is massive, but the real surprises are the non-European collections — pre-Columbian vessels, classical Greek pottery, Islamic ceramics. It reframes what you think of as “Italian” ceramics.
The museum also runs a restoration laboratory, a specialized bookshop selling ceramic objects from local artisans, and a workshop based on Bruno Munari’s “Playing with Art” method. If you have kids who need to touch things, that workshop is a lifesaver. A virtual tour is available online before you visit, which helps if you’re planning your route through the galleries.
Pre-book your MIC visit and check the calendar for temporary exhibitions. The museum’s own magazine “Faenza” has been published since 1913 — ask the bookshop for back issues if you’re a ceramics nerd.
Following the Artists: Studio Visits in Faenza
This is where Faenza really shines. You can walk from studio to studio and watch artisans at work, often in the same buildings where their families have been throwing clay for generations. Here’s a practical loop that covers the essentials.
Start at the Carlo Zauli Museum, housed in the artist’s actual studio. Zauli was one of the 20th century’s great ceramic sculptors — his work sits in 36 museums worldwide — and seeing the clay storage, glaze room, and kiln room exactly as he left them is powerful. The museum is closed Sundays and Mondays, so plan accordingly.
From there, it’s a short walk to La Vecchia Faenza, a workshop producing hand-painted majolica since 1968. They specialize in “Raffaellesca” pieces and floral patterns. You can watch the painting process and buy one-of-a-kind items directly.
A few more worth your time:
- Ceramica Gatti — founded in 1928, with collaborations that read like a who’s who of 20th-century design: Bruno Munari, Gio Ponti, Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini. Their on-site museum holds rare works by founder Riccardo Gatti from as early as 1908.
- Antonella Cimatti Atelier — light installations using porcelain with LEDs and optical fibers. Appointment required, but the contrast between ancient clay and modern tech is striking.
- Spazio Ceramica Faenza — a single shop on Via Pistocchi that gathers work from every ceramist in town. Perfect if you can’t visit every individual studio.
The best part? Most of these are within a 20-minute walk of each other. Grab a map from the tourist office and make your own route.
The Big Ceramics Events: Argillà and Made in Italy
If you time your visit right, you can catch Faenza at its most vibrant. Argillà Italia is the big one — an international ceramics festival and market fair that runs every two years. The 2024 edition took over the city center from August 30 to September 1, with stands in Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Martiri della Libertà.
In alternating years, Made in Italy takes its place. The 2025 edition featured 120 ceramists from across Italy, including 25 local Faenza workshops. Mayor Isola described it as an event “building its own identity,” aimed at showcasing the differences and shared language of Italian ceramic traditions. Regional councilor Gessica Allegni called ceramics a tool for “dialogue, bridge-building, relationships, skills transmission.”
Both events are free to wander, and they transform the entire city center into an open-air gallery. If you’re traveling with someone who isn’t into museums, this is your best bet — the energy is infectious.
Flooding remains a real risk in Faenza. Check weather forecasts before you go, especially in late spring and early fall. Some studios may close temporarily after heavy rain — call ahead.
Getting Around and Where to Stay
Faenza is compact and walkable. The city also runs a free eco-friendly mini-bus called Green Go Bus, and a free public bicycle service called C’entro in Bici. Private bike rentals are available too. For a city this size, the transport options are surprisingly generous.
For accommodation, the oldest and most famous hotel is Hotel Vittoria — an early 20th-century Art Nouveau building in the center, medium-to-high range but fairly priced. For a wider selection of Airbnbs, farmhouses, and apartments, check the Pro Loco Faenza’s accommodation page.
If you’re coming from farther away and need a good travel backpack, I’ve been using the Samsonite Classic Leather Slim Backpack on city trips — it fits under train seats and doesn’t scream “tourist.”
Day Trips from Faenza: Brisighella and Ravenna
Faenza sits on a convenient rail line. Hop a train to Brisighella — a 20-minute ride into the hills — and you’ll find a medieval hamlet with an elevated road called Via degli Asini, arched windows of different widths, and a walking path up to the clock tower. It’s quiet, uncrowded, and feels like a secret.
Or go the other direction to Ravenna — about an hour by train — for the Byzantine mosaics. The Basilica of San Vitale and Mausoleum of Galla Placidia share a single ticket, along with several other monuments. If you’re building a longer Emilia-Romagna itinerary, this pairs beautifully with Faenza.
For a deeper look at the region’s food and landscapes, I’d also recommend reading our guide to Emilia-Romagna as Italy’s ultimate foodie destination.
Before You Go to Faenza
When is the best time to visit?
Late summer for Argillà (even years) or early September for Made in Italy (odd years). June also brings a medieval jousting tournament, and September has a street artists festival. Spring and fall are lovely but carry flood risk.
How long should I stay?
At least two full days. One for the MIC and the main square, one for studio hopping. A third day lets you visit the FACC center or take a day trip to Brisighella or Ravenna.
Is Faenza worth it if I’m not a ceramics fan?
Honestly, yes. The town’s resilience story, the easy walkability, the affordable food scene, and the proximity to Ravenna’s mosaics make it a solid stop even if you never touch clay. But you’ll probably end up buying a plate anyway.
What’s the downside?
Flood risk is real and the town is small — if you’re looking for nightlife or high-end shopping, this isn’t it. Some studios require appointments, so spontaneity has limits.
Why This UNESCO Bid Matters
Faenza’s application isn’t just a plaque on a wall. The city has positioned itself as a model for “third millennium craftsmanship” — blending tradition with digital tools, education, and international collaboration. It leads the European Route of Ceramics, a Council of Europe Cultural Route recognized in 2012, and has twin-city relationships with Jingdezhen and Toki, two historic ceramic capitals. That’s not local boosterism; it’s a real network.
For the traveler, the takeaway is simpler. Faenza is a place where you can still see an artist pull a lump of clay from the same earth that Leonardo admired, shape it by hand, and sell it to you from the same room where her grandfather worked. That kind of continuity is rare. And it’s worth going out of your way for.
If you’re building a broader Italy itinerary, our 2025 travel experience guide covers how to fit smaller cities like Faenza into a longer trip without rushing.
Sources and further reading
Faenza Ceramics. “Faenza: UNESCO Creative City for Ceramics.” 🔗
MOCA New York. “A Ceramic Guide to Faenza.” 2023. 🔗
Sette Sere. “Made in Italy 2025 a Faenza.” 🔗
Comune di Faenza. “Made in Italy Faenza 2025.” 🔗
Related reading on Emily in Italy
A Bologna Sojourn: Italian Weekends and Culinary Discovery — how to pair a stay in Bologna with smaller Emilia-Romagna towns, including practical train tips.
Embrace Spring Blooms in Emilia-Romagna’s Nature — seasonal travel ideas for the region, perfect for combining with a Faenza visit in spring.