São Pedro do Corval

The tradition of working with clay and making ceramics dates back to prehistoric times in this region and particularly in this village. Here, pottery activities have developed over the centuries from the Roman occupation and the invasions of the Moors, to the present days. This craft activity was able to develop in this area, thanks to the existence of clay deposits with specific characteristics and favorable to this activity. Between potters’ towers, stoves, potteries and ceramics, discover the traditional utensils of rural life in this region. From immemorial time, this utilitarian activity has been essential to agricultural life by providing farmers with the containers necessary for storing, marketing or cooking food.
This village, which currently has around twenty active potters’ workshops, is considered to be a major village for the art of pottery throughout Portugal and one of the best in the entire Iberian peninsula. Far from the clichés of a tourist activity or a tourist trap, São Pedro do Corval has remained authentic and offers visitors real masterpieces both in form and in decoration of ceramics. These unique potteries made with ancestral know-how present an aesthetic characteristic of the region. In order to familiarize yourself with this activity, a visit to “Casa do Barro” is essential. The creation of the “Centro Interpretativa da Olaria – Casa do Barro” aims to promote the pottery of São Pedro do Corval, to ensure its sustainability and preserve ancestral know-how. Beyond a traditional museum, the “Casa do Barro” offers you an unique and lively experience of making pottery. Located in the main street of the village in an old pottery factory, Casa do Barro offers an immersion in the history of this millennial activity. An activity for the whole family!