Where to find real Balearic pottery to bring home

If you want to bring home genuine Balearic pottery, not an imported souvenir, head to Marratxi, in Mallorca, and specifically the neighbourhoods of Portol and sa Cabaneta: this is the historic birthplace of Mallorcan pottery, where around a dozen workshops still work the local red clay. Here is where to go, what to buy, and when to catch the big clay fair.

Why is Marratxi the birthplace of Mallorcan pottery?

Marratxi, a municipality inland from Mallorca, concentrates four historic centres of the potter's tradition: sa Cabaneta, Portol, el Pont d'Inca and el Pla de na Tesa. Potters settled there from the late 17th and into the 18th century, notably arriving from Santa Eugenia, and the trade peaked in the 19th century: more than 20 workshops were recorded at the time.

The reason is first geological: around Portol, the ground holds deposits of red earth, the clay that gives the pieces their distinctive colour. The former Can Vic quarry once supplied the raw material. Today, Portol and sa Cabaneta count around a dozen active workshops (sources vary between 12 and 13).

Portol, Marratxi

Which Portol workshops are still active?

Several family potteries (olleries) are still turning and open to visitors, or sell directly. The Olleria Ca's Canonge was founded in January 1981 by brothers Bartomeu and Bernat Amengual Reynes (then aged 19 and 17), the fourth generation of Amengual craftsmen. The workshop still uses clay from the former Can Vic quarry to make greixoneres (traditional earthenware pots) and traditional pottery, and it ranks among the workshops catalogued as "emblematic" by the Balearic Government. The Amengual brothers also sell at the weekly markets in Inca and Sineu, and at the Fira del Fang.

Olleria Ca's Canonge, Portol

Portol Pots, run by Esperanca and Joan (mother and son), is at Carrer Major 45, in Portol. The workshop offers 3-hour pottery workshops, a chance to get your hands in the clay rather than just buying.

Portol Pots, Portol

Finally, Sa Roca Llisa is a family pottery across five generations, at its current location since 1925. A measure of how deep this tradition runs.

Sa Roca Llisa, Portol

What is the siurell?

The siurell is the symbol-object to slip into your suitcase: a painted terracotta figurine, mounted on a base and fitted with a whistle. Its look is instantly recognisable, a white background achieved with a lime wash, highlighted with green and red brushed on by hand.

Its origin, though, remains debated and has no consensus. Several competing hypotheses circulate: the siurell may be a toy of Phoenician origin, related to Bronze Age figurines from Crete, Sardinia or Ibiza, or a later adaptation of caricature figurines that appeared in France and Italy in the 18th and 19th centuries. One piece of material evidence has fuelled the debate: a related statuette was uncovered in 1986 during excavations at Can Bordils, in Palma, dated between the 12th century and a later period. In short, no one has settled it, but the object itself is very real.

Where can you see traditional pottery in Marratxi?

To understand before you buy, visit the Museu del Fang (clay museum), at C/Moli no 4, in sa Cabaneta. Housed in a restored former flour mill, it displays around 900 pieces, roughly 400 of them traditional Mallorcan pottery: utensils, ornaments, toys, siurells and greixoneres included. Opening hours change, so check before you go: the museum generally opens on weekdays, but it is best to confirm on site or by phone.

Museu del Fang, sa Cabaneta

When is the big clay fair held?

If you can time your visit for March, aim for the Fira del Fang (clay fair), held every year in Marratxi, in the Sant Marcal district, since 1984. The 2026 edition was the 41st, running 5 to 15 March 2026 under the theme "Sembrant art i ceramica", with more than 30 stalls from potters in Marratxi and beyond. It is the best time to meet the makers, compare work, and leave with a signed piece.

Fira del Fang, Sant Marcal (Marratxi)

And on the other islands, Menorca and Ibiza?

The tradition does not stop at Mallorca. In Menorca, ceramic activity is documented from around the 2nd century BC (utensils, jars). The island never had large historic factories, but craft workshops, and one piece represents it well: the "pardelelas".

In Ibiza, the village of Sant Rafael is classed a "craft interest zone" and holds a weekly craft market, on Thursdays in summer (June to September), with around 50 stalls. Reputed workshops there include Icardi Ceramicas, founded in 1977 by Uruguayan potter Carlos Icardi (master craftsman no. 008 since 1986), and Can Kinoto, active since 1978. Worth not confusing: both workshops are in Ibiza, in Sant Rafael, not in Marratxi. In Formentera, by contrast, no specific pottery tradition is documented.

Want to extend the cultural stroll? We also cover art in the Balearics, from Miro to Es Baluard, and if you prefer wearable craft, look at Balearic brands and designers.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you buy authentic Balearic pottery?

In Marratxi, Mallorca, at the Portol and sa Cabaneta workshops such as Ca's Canonge, Portol Pots or Sa Roca Llisa, or at the Inca and Sineu markets and the Fira del Fang in March. This is where Mallorcan pottery is made with local red clay.

What is a siurell?

It is a painted terracotta Mallorcan figurine, on a base and fitted with a whistle, with a white background (lime wash) highlighted with green and red. Its origin is debated, between Phoenician, ancient Mediterranean, or a later adaptation, with no established consensus.

Can you visit a workshop or try pottery yourself?

Yes. Portol Pots, at Carrer Major 45 in Portol, offers 3-hour pottery workshops. For an overview before buying, the Museu del Fang in sa Cabaneta displays around 900 pieces (confirm hours on site).

When is the Marratxi Fira del Fang held?

Every year in March, in the Sant Marcal district of Marratxi, since 1984. The 2026 edition, the 41st, ran from 5 to 15 March with more than 30 stalls from potters.

Does Ibiza's pottery also come from Marratxi?

No. In Ibiza, ceramic craft is concentrated in Sant Rafael, with workshops such as Icardi Ceramicas (1977) and Can Kinoto (1978) and a Thursday craft market in summer. Marratxi is the Mallorcan home of the craft; these are two distinct traditions on two different islands.

Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.