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