Audio tour Stories and places that bring pottery to life in Terra d'Otranto

Are you ready to immerse yourself in this ethnographic journey?

An experience that has engaged my entire body, my whole self — and so it will not be just about listening, but also about observing, touching, smelling, and tasting...

I travelled through the small towns of Terra d’Otranto — Lucugnano, Cutrofiano, Ruffano, Tricase, Maglie, Galatina, San Pietro in Lama, Tuglie, Lecce — but I also crossed the borders of the Lecce area, reaching as far as Rutigliano, Bari, and even Rome.

I entered the homes of elderly artisans, listening to their memories, and into the workshops of artists still at work, recording their stories...
I observed the food preparation and preservation practices of men and women who still today use earthenware pots...
I touched old wood-fired kilns, observing the signs of crosses carved into the walls as a sign of good luck for a successful firing...
I leafed through family photographs, witnessing the evolution of artistic creations...
I took part in the rich calendar of fairs, exhibitions, and events revolving around the world of ceramics, and I buried myself in libraries and archives in a tireless search for sources.

I have woven together intensive field research and ancient and recent publications, archival materials, photographs, video and audio documents, within a framework of meaning that lies precisely in integrating the research itself with my life, in the fragility of human relationships, in the possibility of remaining in affections, memories and future stories.

I have chosen to give voice above all to those who use their hands and ingenuity to recreate unique and original artefacts.

In my case, the ethnographic journey into the world of terracotta workers allowed me to capture and then share values like freedom of expression, beauty, equal opportunities, and peace.

So... enjoy the journey!

Ornella Ricchiuto
PhD Student in Cultural Heritage Sciences – University of Salento