| Attracting droves of tourists every year, Europe | | | | over 200 retail stores, each offers its own |
| promises the ancient, the diverse, and the | | | | elegantly unique patterns so it's difficult to not |
| completely fascinating. Most travelers scurry past | | | | want to see them all. Stop by Cama, right off the |
| the major sites and cram in as much as possible | | | | main road, for a tour of the facility and a |
| in order to get through a list of 'must sees.' | | | | step-by-step journey through the process of |
| Unfortunately, much is overlooked due to lack of | | | | ceramics. Cama's proud of their family-owned |
| time and money while the infinite unique treasures | | | | company and guests of their factory will see an |
| sometimes hidden for the resourceful traveler | | | | uncle spinning cool, wet clay into pots and pitchers |
| remain undiscovered and unappreciated. Not that | | | | while mom is sanding the seams from the dried |
| visits to the key attractions should be dissuaded! | | | | earthenware. Follow the circuit to witness the |
| On the contrary, I'm simply inviting the European | | | | expert artists paint each creamy white argil into a |
| travelers to dig a little deeper into their destination | | | | masterpiece of color. Cama's work has been |
| country and find the gems that will make them | | | | given to the Pope so it's without a doubt, |
| smile as they recall them even decades later. | | | | high-quality craftsmanship. Deruta's Old Town also |
| Remember and celebrate the taste of a fresh | | | | offers shoppers a delightful time but in a more |
| German pretzel, the sweet smell of the air in a | | | | charming atmosphere. Aged buildings adorned by |
| Tuscan vineyard, or the baby soft petals in a | | | | painted tiles sit just past the city gates and |
| colorful field of Dutch tulips. Savor an entire | | | | scream to be noticed. Visitors pop in and out of |
| spectrum of sensory bliss as you skip from one | | | | little stores while the cheerful water fountain in |
| country to the next, searching for that tiny unique | | | | the middle of the cobblestone road provides soft |
| detail that you will fondly relish for the rest of | | | | background music. Shop owners greet passersby |
| your life. Window after window of priceless | | | | with smiles and conversation, eager to share |
| painted ceramics, a symphony of colors that | | | | information on their wares. Visit Mariam, whose |
| dance seamlessly together, and terra | | | | talent is truly astounding. She sets herself apart |
| cotta-colored buildings that have overlooked the | | | | from other Deruta artists by using shades of |
| area since the Middle Ages - it's almost too much | | | | green and painting the outside surface of her |
| to take in for visitors of Deruta. The sun warmly | | | | bowls. Stop by Rolli Reno, who paints exquisite |
| shines down on the masters that lovingly knead | | | | tiles of all sizes and incorporates them into trays, |
| and massage their clay while shoppers 'oohh' and | | | | key ring hooks, and frames. His style explodes |
| 'ahhh' over the gorgeous works of art. A day in | | | | with a colorful symmetry that can brighten any |
| Deruta promises a treasure trove of finds as well | | | | place it's displayed in. Deruta's the 'Ceramic of |
| as the potential of making new friends - all | | | | Ceramics'...any piece is sure to become a family |
| packaged up in a relaxed atmosphere worthy of | | | | heirloom |
| any Italian town. Easy to find and tourist-friendly, | | | | Vicki Landes is the author and photographer of |
| Deruta sits right off of Autostrada E45 and | | | | Europe for the Senses, a Photographic Journal. |
| immediately greets its visitors with rows of | | | | She has been soaking up Europe for the last six |
| ceramic shops and ample parking. Despite housing | | | | years and has visited 42 countries. |