To learn about the history of the pottery industry in Santa Maria, we begin our visit at the Santo Espírito Museum Wing of the Santa Maria Museum, housed in a building in the center of this parish—a two-story structure from the early 20th century, which includes an annex used as a storage area— to explore its collection of primarily ethnographic artifacts, with a special focus on the collection of pottery produced in the island’s traditional potteries. There, we will have the opportunity to explore its diverse collection of fired clay tableware, produced in the potteries of Vila do Porto, which likely emerged in Santa Maria as early as the export of clay began, given the abundance of this raw material on the island. At this museum, we will also learn about the work of all those involved in this industry, from the extraction and transportation process to production, storage, loading, maritime transport, and unloading.
Next, we’ll visit the SÓ Atelier in Vila do Porto to discover how this industry and tradition are kept alive on the island, guided by the resident potter. Here, we begin a walking tour that takes us to some of the most iconic sites in the island’s pottery history, returning later to the studio to round out the experience with a hands-on workshop, where we’ll learn to create a simple clay piece. At the end, everyone is invited to share a moment of tasting local sweets and liqueurs.