About Montelupo Fiorentino
Montelupo and its ceramics
The historyof a craftsmanship famouse all over the world

The history of Montelupo is written in water, fire and clay. It travelled over the merchant shipping routes that, since the 15th century, have been carrying its products everywhere in the world.
The town, founded as a small “castrum” at the gates of Florence, owes its success to the production of majolica. In particular between the 15th anc early 16th century, when it became the center of ceramics production for the Medicis and other nobile Tuscan families.
In 1600, the plague and general economic recession slowed production, that for year was considered a minor undertaking. Il was only at the beginning of the 20th  century that Montelupo rose once again to its earlier glory with the Fanciullaccis and their historical factory where famouse artists and designers worked.
In Montelupo ceramics are a TRADITION, and still today many talented craftsmen produce the classical designs with unique maestry, with small runs of pieces of rare beauty.

But in Montelupo ceramics are also INNOVATION: over the years the enterprises have begun t o view ceramics as a product with many new functional and formal applications.
You can retrace the history of Montelupo’s ceramic production by visiting the CERAMIC MUSEUM, inaugurated in 2008. At its new location, the ceramic Museum occupies three floors and covers a total area of 2.100 square meters.
Over 1200 items are exhibited, dating from the end of 13th century to the 18th century, and selected from among the 5.500 pieces that make up its collection.