Hand made tiles and personalised ceramics in Totana

Centuries-old artisan traditions live on in the south-west of Murcia

Totana has been a focal point for artisan ceramic production for many centuries, with natural sources of clay occurring locally, and although the market for hand produced items has been decimated by cheap Chinese imports, there are still a number of artisans working in the municipality today.

It’s a great place to head for if looking for ceramic items of any description for the home, and the tourist office in the centre of the town alongside the Town Hall (Ayuntameinto) will be happy to supply a map indicating where the various shops and workshops are located. 

A vast range of items can be purchased, ranging from large-scale terracotta garden pots to tea sets, jugs, bowls, house signs, murals, and even individual tiles.

The opportunity to buy directly from the manufacturers opens up many possibilities for locals and local visitors, as some of the workshops will make items to order at extremely low prices.

As much of the production is on a small scale, items are hand-thrown and so it’s very easy for the potters to make sets especially to order, or individual pieces which follow the designs usually produced. All of the painting is done-in house, so again, personalised messages, sets of plates, bowls, and even individual items can be painted to order.

The workshop shown in the images is that of Alfarería El Poveo, which is at the northern end of the Rambla de La Santa, the floodwater channel which runs through the centre of Totana, just before the aqueduct. This workshop, and another behind it, are opposite the original Iberian settlement in Totana (the Iberians were renowned for their attractive ceramic production 500 years before the birth of Christ!).