Museo della Ceramica "Lodovico Coccapani"
Museum in the restored eighteenth-century Coccapani kiln in Calcinaia, devoted to the history of ceramics and the potters of the area.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum occupies an eighteenth-century kiln in the historic centre of Calcinaia, beside the corner tower of the medieval castle. Clay working in the area had begun at the end of the 17th century with the Carthusian monks, who had set up the kiln of Montecchio, active until 1768.
The kiln was founded by the Coccapani brothers, a family of potters originally from Sassuolo who had learned the trade in the Carthusians’ kiln. After disputes with the monks, the Coccapani moved to Calcinaia and developed a profitable production, first of everyday slipware tableware, also sold by river, then of garden vases for the villas. The business remained in the family until it passed to the Opera Cardinale Maffi, which leased it to the Rovini family until the 1960s; the kiln remained in operation until the early decades of the 20th century.
The restoration of the building, completed in 2014, turned it into a museum. The rooms trace the history of the area from its first archaeological traces, the production of the kiln, and the workplace with its ovens and tools. Many of the finds come from the excavations carried out before the restoration.
Highlights
- Restored eighteenth-century Coccapani kiln
- Ovens and tools of the ancient potter’s trade
- Finds recovered in the excavations before the restoration
- Guided tours and ceramics workshops for schools and groups
- Stop on the “Discovering Ceramics” route along the Arno
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso nella fornace Coccapani – Rooms devoted to the history of the area, the Coccapani kiln and its production, with ovens, tools and excavation finds.
- Founded
- 2015
- Operated by
- Comune di Calcinaia
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,486
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Guided visit | €2Per person, by reservation. |
|---|---|
| Guided visit with workshop | €5Per person or per student. |
Free admission. A guided visit costs €2 per person; a guided visit with workshop costs €5 per person or per student.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Hands-on clay workshops for children and young people.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours and educational workshops for schools, using clay, tools and historical modelling techniques; each participant can take home a clay or terracotta object. |
