Porches Pottery
Porches Pottery: A Guided Heritage Tour
Porches Pottery: A Guided Heritage Tour
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Step inside a living legacy at Porches Pottery, where art and history have been firing for over 50 years. This behind-the-scenes factory tour offers a rare glimpse into the authentic majolica technique - a 1,000-year-old tradition preserved by local artisans in the heart of the Algarve.
What the tour includes:
- Begin with a guided walk through our garden, our shop and our café visiting the tile murals and architectural details. Discover how our founders’ dream revitalized a local craft and secured a place in local history.
- Enter the painter’s studio to see skilled artisans at work, hand-painting the vibrant designs that are now world-renowned.
- Learn about our techniques, and our delicate freehand brushwork.
- Visit the historic kilns that have been the steady heartbeat of our workshop for decades.
- Watch the transformation as we hand-dip pottery in white glaze, creating the perfect canvas for our iconic designs.
Please note:
- You’ll discover the different steps of our majolica process during your visit. While we don’t throw pottery on site, this reflects a long-standing tradition of specialised craftsmanship. We collaborate with talented Portuguese potters who create the biscuit forms, and here in our workshop, our role is the intricate art of ceramic painting.
Accessibility information:
- Important: Due to the historic nature of our building, the tour is not accessible for wheelchair users or guests with reduced mobility. We are happy to explore alternative arrangements where possible - please contact us in advance to discuss a customised visit tailored to your needs.
- Age restriction: Due to the fragile nature of our work and the safety considerations within an active majolica workshop, this tour is suitable for adults aged 18 and over.
Key features
Key features
Accessibility
Accessibility
Due to the historic nature of our building, the workshop is not fully accessible for wheelchair users or guests with reduced mobility.
We would love to explore alternative arrangements where possible - so please contact us in advance to discuss a customised visit tailored to your needs.
Important Info
Important Info
Workshops are only for the grown-ups for now, due to the nature of our processes. Not applicable for under 18s.
Both good and bad things happen in the alchemy of the kiln. It is always possible for reasons out of our control that the tiles you painted may break or they are somehow damaged in the firing process.
Sadly, there is nothing we can do about this - occasional disappointments are part and parcel of pottery making.
Private Groups
Private Groups
Contact us directly if you are interested in other dates or have a group. Please be aware that we cannot accept large groups due to the limitations of our space.
