A visit to Gerocarne, the village of potters

The village of Gerocarne lies amidst the centuries-old forests of what was once the most inaccessible area of the Serre Regional Park, in the province of Vibo Valentia.

Known to the chronicles of the time as the hiding place of the brigand Giuseppe Musolino, to whom today a beautiful trekking route along the Brigante Path is dedicated, today the village is famous for Gerocarne pottery, entrusted to generations of master potters, and for the flourishing Ariola nursery in Gerocarne.

Ready for a trip to the land of potters?

We are in the heart of the Serre Vibonesi (Serre Regional Park): here, amidst centuries-old beech forests and aromatic plants of all kinds, lies a small town devoted to the historical craft of terracotta. This is no ordinary art, because the famous Gerocarne pottery is still made today as it was in the Middle Ages. Don't believe us? Follow us to discover a centuries-old tradition, handed down from one generation to the next within a historic family of potters.

In these parts, the traditional vessels used in the kitchen to cook soups and sauces typical of Calabria, or to contain water and wine, are called ‘’argàgni‘’, ‘’pignàte‘’, ‘’gòzza‘’ depending on their use and shape. To learn more, we pay a visit to the Papillo family, the historic potters of Gerocarne, who are waiting for us in their home-workshop, heralded by ceramics of all shapes and sizes. The Papillo are proud of their method of working and firing glazed earthenware, made from clay from the Serre (known as ‘’crìta‘’ in the local dialect). 

A method that has remained unchanged since ancient times, which still makes use of the treadle lathe and the firing chamber as used in the Middle Ages, according to a procedure with zero environmental impact: first the clay is wet and kneaded; then it is worked on the lathe, allowed to dry and finally fired in the large ‘’igloo‘’ made of shards and scraps. In the final stages, any decoration with typical symbols (often with an apotropaic function, against the evil eye) is made. The ceramic pots of Gerocarne are perfect for simmering many traditional Calabrian dishes, including the unbeatable bean soups.

What to see in and around Gerocarne? After greeting the master potters, creators of Gerocarne ceramics, let's take a stroll through the small historic centre, admiring the Church of Santa Maria de Latinis, of medieval origin but rebuilt after the 18th century earthquake, like most of the buildings and other churches scattered around.

An absolute must-see is the precious ‘’Ariola Nursery‘’, moving just a little way into the hamlet of Ariola in Gerocarne of the same name: an attraction that enchants young and old alike, to be visited in all seasons of the year. This is one of the 9 Regional Forest Nurseries that play a fundamental role in safeguarding local biodiversity, which includes maples, hollies, lime trees, chestnut trees, cypresses and even a specimen of ginkgo biloba, a real living fossil!

Another great attraction for nature and regional trails lovers is the so-called Brigante Path, to discover the fascinating story of the brigand Giuseppe Musolino, one of the most famous in Italy. Leaving from Gerocarne, near the small fountain in the locality of Gagliolo, one enters the dense woodland of the Serre Regional Park and travels through a fascinating naturalistic scenario: from the plateau between Colaiello and Castania to the Morano Wood, where it is easy to meet the families of charcoal burners still in activity, until reaching the imposing Pietra delle Armi.