Vietri sul Mare Potters' Festival (Sant'Antuono)

The fire of Sant'Antuono, patron saint of potters

On January 17th, the Church celebrates Saint Anthony the Abbot, whom the popular devotion of Southern Italy calls simply Sant'Antuono: the patron saint of domestic animals and, above all, of fire. This is why he is the patron of those who work with fire every day—pizza makers, bakers, firefighters, and, in Vietri sul Mare, the potters. In a town where the furnace has dictated the rhythm of daily life for centuries, this date was destined to become the celebration of the entire artisan community.

The Potters' Festival is now one of the defining events of the Amalfi Coast's winter calendar: a civil and religious rite that brings the craft that built the town's global reputation back to the heart of the village.

A tradition born in the «faenzere»

The festival is rooted in the custom where, on the day of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the owners of the «faenzere»—as the ceramic factories were called in Vietri—would meet their employees around a communal table. It was a moment when the workshop hierarchy dissolved into conviviality, and when they asked the patron saint for protection for the kiln, their hands, and the work of the coming year.

Today's evening descends from that ancient gesture, preserving its foundational elements: the blessed fire, the shared table, and the physical presence of the master potters among the people.

An evening of fire, music, and flavors

The event takes place in the square in front of the railway station, an open space that becomes the heart of the town for one night. The program alternates between ritual moments and entertainment:

• Blessing of the fire and animals, the gesture that symbolically opens the festival
• Artistic fire performances, in direct dialogue with the craft of ceramic firing
• Fire-eater show, one of the most anticipated moments for families
• Live music, featuring traditional Campanian folk bands
• Tasting stalls dedicated to typical dishes from Vietri and the Salerno area

In recent editions, the festival has also hosted ceramic exhibitions dedicated to the saint, demonstrations of primitive and raku firing, and religious rites in memory of deceased potters, celebrated in the historic center's churches.

Vietri sul Mare, capital of Campanian ceramics

Located at the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, in the Province of Salerno and thus in Campania, the Municipality of Vietri sul Mare is famous for its polychrome ceramics, documented since at least the 15th century and recognizable by the yellows, greens, and blues that adorn domes, portals, and facades throughout the town. Vietri is part of the Italian Association of Ceramic Cities, and its workshops remain real production sites today, not just showrooms.

Visiting the village on the day of the festival means seeing this identity in its most vibrant form: the potters don't just display their work; they come out into the square, light the fire, and share the stories of their craft.

Who organizes it

The event is promoted by the Municipal Administration of Vietri sul Mare, led by Mayor Giovanni De Simone, in collaboration with local potters, the Pro Loco of Vietri sul Mare, the Youth Forum, the Vietri Restaurateurs Association, and CNA Salerno. 'The Potters' Festival represents a moment of great identity value for Vietri sul Mare, uniting faith, tradition, and community,' the mayor emphasized while presenting the 2026 edition.

Why it's worth the trip

It is a winter festival, brief and intense, far from the summer crowds of the Amalfi Coast. Those who arrive in Vietri on January 17th find a village gathered around its own craft, the nearby dark sea, the fire illuminating the square, and the scent of the food stalls. A rare opportunity to understand up close why Vietri ceramics are not just a souvenir, but a living culture.