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Culture & towns

El Cercado, the potters’ village

A whole village where women shape pottery by hand, without a wheel, as they have for centuries.

Best time
Morning
Area
North coast
Duration
1–2 h

In El Cercado pottery passes from mother to daughter and is worked without a wheel: the piece is built by hand from coils of clay, exactly as it was before the Spanish arrived. Houses have the workshop at the front and you can walk in and watch. Out come water jars, griddles, and the múcuras that keep water cold without a fridge.

  • Crafts
  • History
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North coast

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