Our homework really paid off-ish, we were unable to buy tickets at the kiosks as we had hoped to buy them and walked right past the train going to Vietri sul Mare. The train was at track 3 and we expected the train to be on track 1. So we waited 20 minutes for the next train, it was only an 11 minute ride to Vietri sul Mare so we were soon in the town. We got off the train at the top of the hill and took the complimentary elevator to town level. This town is considered to be the gateway to the Amalfi coast and is known for its polychrome ceramics. The ceramics business has been going on here since the 1400's and it was quite evident. Ceramics shops were everywhere, ceramics were on the walls of the buildings, decorating stairs, on table tops, as free standing sculptures and on the dome of the church. We wandered through the town, pausing at the many shops, admiring the fine work and enjoying the day. We stopped to picnic and watched 40 or so kids run all around playing and blowing off steam. They must have been on a field trip. Once we exhausted what the town had to offer, we headed back up the elevator and onto our return train. The weather was deteriorating quickly and by the time we were back in Salerno, the rain had started.
So much transportation infrastructure crammed in this tight space, a port, a highway and at least two train lines
Just like that and we are approaching Vietri sul Mare
MC Escher came here in 1923. He is described as a wandering Dutch artist and his relationship with ceramists Sophie van Stolk started here in
We were greeted with broken bits of tile plastered to the wall
Some funky bits were udes
This guy is all broken up about it
This huge mural is all made up of ceramic tiles
Yes it is something to sing about
A huge variety in styles
But always bright colors
As you might already have noticed, this blog will show so much ceramic
I was able to get some bird watching in
Too fantastic to be real birds
But fun to look at
A genetic freak with six sets of wings
Hello little donkey
The town mermaid has gotten into a few scrapes
The process of making the ceramics is illustrated
A small fishing scene
Which navy has red and yellow sails?
The lemon theme is reflected in the clothes for kids
Fancy fish
The green donkey is all along the street marking the house numbers
More than just tiles
Fantastical creatures
A day in the village of Vietri sul Mare
The town is quite small
Steep steps
Nice mustache
A busy city scene
Watermelon eating dogs
An eerie looking cross
The bell tower rang three times at 1:45
The tower is quite tall
Across from the church
A scene from the days gone by
Even ceramic street lights
They look delicate
Weeeeee!
Ride 'em cowboy
A pair of eyes on a plate?
This work covered a large building
Hunting scenes and domestic scenes
Light house, cross and ship
We saw the bell tower but the dome was around back
Made from local tile
Did he have the stigmata?
We sat and ate our lunch watching these kids play tag
Miss Mermaid
If these fish are playing tag, the octopus would be "it"
Outside a leather shop
Looking up at the train station
Looking down at a fine garden
The town at the water's level has a different name
Fish planters
We have circled back to the mermaid
The Christmas tree is permanently displayed
An iron sign, someone chose to buck the trend
Very artistic
Another workshop
Stairs also deserve a beautiful set of tiles
Of course the Amalfi lemons get their due
In one of the shops, the workspace
A man, his pipe and favorite fish
More fish
A funny looking squid
We are by the sea after all
getting risque
Details from the broken tile sign
Chomp chompy
Into the elevator we go
Up top the old train station crumbles
Soon to be another ancient ruin
Getting back on the train just ahead of the rain
