Impruneta Terracotta Pottery and Watermelons

 Impruneta has been a centre for terracotta pottery since the Etruscan times (8th to 3rd centuries BC ) and in 1308 a Guild was formed for terracotta workers and works.

Impruneta is especially good for terracotta because of the composition of the clay in the area. It is strong, frost resistant and produces warm colours with many nuances.

The tiles on the dome of the Duomo in Florence were made in Impruneta, many of the Renaisance artists had pottery works in Impruneta, especially the della Robbia family of sculptors who used glazes to highlight some of their pottery pieces.

The Mariani family, trading as MITAL, are one of many 'fornaci' furnaces operating in Impruneta today. The following photos were all taken at their display garden and workshop  this morning.

Not the first time I have said that it is lucky we have luggage weight limits.

Watermelons are a hugely popular summer fruit in Italy. They can be bought from trucks beside the road and from markets, fruit shops and supermarkets and in many forms, whole, portions and cut into cubes and sold in plastic containers with a fork.

In mid August there are watermelon festivals, so popular is the simple cocomero or  anguria.