To buy a souvenir, we go without fail. The ability of Ischia potters dates back to ancient times, and this capacity of the local terracotta crafstmen and masters to work clay with great passion and creativity has remained a bit magical: they are the perfect heirs of a glorious past, made of commercial exchanges, of international caliber, which remember the Greek civilization.
Their shops are in the heart of all the historic centres of the island and in the touristic strategic places where it is possible to attend a real competition of colours, shapes and inventiveness, among vases, tiles with floral motifs, creative maiolica, refined landscape representations and precious objects which are to be considered real art works.
A type of craftsmanship that expresses the roots of the rural culture is the one of the weaving of reeds or the myrtle branches: with this technique, particularly in Buonopane, baskets of different sizes, pack baskets, containers of various sizes and everyday objects are made, sold during patronal festivals celebrated throughout the year. In Forio and Lacco Ameno, in memory of the tradition of growing wheat, now disappeared, it is still possible to meet people who use straw and raffia to make baskets of different sizes and odd dolls.
