Manises: Ceramic Tradition, Museums and Historic Routes

Manises showcases its ceramic history in a museum whose origins lie in the donation of a late-18th-century manor house and a collection of works of art and ceramics.

Culture and Ceramics

The Museo de Cerámica de Manises was founded in 1967. Its monographic ceramic collection comprises more than 5,000 pieces and documents local production from the 14th century to the present day. The museum also includes a technology room and a library; it also provides information about the ceramic factories, workshops and shops in Manises.

The history of ceramic education includes several stages. The Escola de Ceràmica de Manises dates back to 1896. The Antigua Escuela de Cerámica is a historic neoclassical building that housed Manises's first ceramics school from 1916 to 1925. In 1916, the ceramics school was finally recognised as an official state training centre under the name Escola Pràctica de Ceràmica.

The Barrio arqueológico de obradores is now known as the “Barri dels Obradors” and concentrated a large part of Manises's ceramic production for almost eight centuries. The Bienal Internacional de Cerámica de Manises is an international competition for contemporary ceramics by artists, organised by the Ayuntamiento de Manises. MUMAF – Colección Museográfica de Fotografía de Manises, Carlos Sanchis offers a different perspective on recent technological history, with significant analogue cameras from the final decades of the 19th century through to the emergence of digital photography.

Historic Buildings

The Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista was built between 1734 and 1751, with a Latin-cross floor plan and a single nave. It preserves the church's original ceramic-tile dado; its dome is covered with golden tiles with a metallic lustre.

The Els Arcs Aqueduct is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural, has 28 arches and is attributed to Roman and medieval origins.

Workshops and Tours

At Cerámicas Palanca, visitors can see step by step how traditional yellow faience mortars are made. At the Taller de Arturo Mora, the production of lustreware is explained, a piece is demonstrated on the potter's wheel, and visitors are invited to try the wheel themselves.

The Ruta de la Cerámica conveys Manises's ceramic history through significant buildings, monuments and gardens. It can be reserved for groups of 15 to 50 people; accompaniment by an information officer depends on the availability of the Oficina de Turismo de Manises on the requested date. The route is offered in seven languages: Spanish, Valencian, Galician, English, French, German and Italian.

The “Paisaje Cerámico del Centro Histórico” is an urban tour that can be taken as an outdoor walk at any time of year. The “Conoce Manises” treasure hunt is a family activity that presents the more than 700-year-old local ceramic tradition through 10 tasks.

Festivals and Local Traditions

The Festa de la Ceràmica takes place on the weekend before 19 July. Visitors can watch ceramic handicrafts being made, see various techniques and create a piece of their own. The celebration of Sant Joan includes the traditional Ball dels Coveteres, which has been revived in recent years.

When selecting a holiday apartment in Manises, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages. Cultural tours, workshop visits, festival dates and the natural area offer different themes around which you can organise your preferred daily schedule.

Further destinations: La Cuevarruz, Navalón, Albuixech, Museros, Los Ruices, Mislata, Villargordo Del Cabriel and Aielo de Malferit.

Nature and Connections

The Parque Natural del Turia also extends across the municipal area of Manises. Metro lines 3, 5 and 9 connect Manises with Valencia.

To the main travel overview: Valencia.