About this tour
A 2-hour pottery masterclass in Montelupo Fiorentino, a ceramics hub 20 minutes from Florence by train. You'll tour a working factory, watch artisans hand-paint pieces, then throw clay on a pottery wheel yourself. Your finished work gets fired, glazed, and shipped to your home — or you can commission custom pieces to travel with it.
Highlights
- Meet third-generation potters; watch 50-year veteran at the wheel
- Hand-throw your own piece on a working pottery wheel
- Double firing and hand glazing included in the experience
- Worldwide shipping of your finished ceramic to your address
- Option to order custom-made pieces direct from the factory
- Private factory tour with active artisans hand-painting ceramics
- Local transport to the studio included from Florence
What to expect
You'll be collected by car and driven to Montelupo Fiorentino. The experience opens with a private tour of the working pottery studio, where you'll see artisans at hand-painting stations and watch the resident master potter demonstrate technique at the wheel. You'll meet the family and learn the 700-year tradition of the region.
Then you move to a pottery wheel of your own. Staff guide you through centring clay, opening the form, and shaping a basic vessel — expect hands-on instruction pitched at beginners. After you finish, your piece goes into the kiln. It returns hand-glazed and double-fired, ready for shipping to your home address worldwide. The whole visit runs about 2 hours.
What travellers say
- Genuine family operation — meet working potters, not hired guides
- Walk away with something you made — fired, glazed, shipped home
- Off-tourist-trail location preserves authenticity and quieter atmosphere
- Clear instruction for wheel beginners; low pressure, high engagement
- Shipping timeframe means you won't take the piece with you immediately
- Physical effort at the wheel may tire those with upper-body limitations
- 2-hour window is tight if you want a leisurely pace or longer feedback
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone curious about craft, Italian ceramics heritage, or wanting a hands-on souvenir of Florence — families with children (under supervision), solo travellers, and groups all work well here. It's physically light; no special fitness needed, though you'll be standing and using arm strength at the wheel for 15–20 minutes. The factory is easily reached by train (20 min from Florence city centre) and local transport is included. Shipping takes several weeks post-firing. Children must be accompanied by an adult; infants in prams are welcome. Service animals are permitted. There are no hidden costs beyond the experience fee, though custom commissions cost extra.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BookNow summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.