Nove: Ceramic Tradition, Waterways and Museums

Nove is a destination for anyone who wants to discover Veneto through its ceramic culture, museums and historic waterways. Local offerings combine insights into the development of ceramics with hands-on creative experiences and an audio tour through the town’s streets. This allows you to discover Nove through both its exhibitions and the traces left by water and craftsmanship.

Ceramics as a Defining Part of the Town’s History

Nove’s local ceramic tradition began in the mid-17th century with the Manardi family. Its connection to the landscape is reflected in the materials used: sand, gravel and quartz from the Brenta River, as well as red earth from the nearby hills, are among the foundations of the tradition. An important point of interest is the Museo Civico della Ceramica. It opened in 1995 in the former building of the Regia Scuola d’Arte.

In the section dedicated to 20th-century ceramics, you can see ceramics that received awards at the competitions of the Salone Internazionale della Ceramica in Vicenza from 1949 to 1975. Another notable object is a large vase by Pablo Picasso from 1950. The Antonibon complex preserves a 19th-century kiln and thus highlights the technical side of the local history of ceramics.

A building constructed in the 18th century is also one of the town’s special historical sites. It served as the residence of Giovanni Maria Baccin and was Nove’s first school; today, it is a library museum. The cultural offering therefore extends beyond individual exhibits and also encompasses the buildings where education, production and local history come together.

Waterways and a Tour of the Town

The Museo Diffuso offers a free audio tour. Using your smartphone, you can walk through Nove’s streets and along its waterways. This exploration reveals the oldest channel in the town’s structure. Its waterway system is already mentioned in documents from the 14th century. It provided water power for mills and for their machinery used to mix and prepare ceramic clay and glazes. The tour thus connects the spatial structure of the town with the former work processes involved in ceramic production.

Experience Ceramics for Yourself

If you would like to do more than view exhibitions, Nove+ and Nove Terra di Ceramica offer different hands-on experiences. Nove+ organizes ceramics courses for beginners as well as special offerings for more experienced participants. In the group course on the potter’s wheel, you can make a cylinder from red clay, which is finished with white glaze. Nove+ workshops focus on specific topics in ceramic modeling or decoration, last two hours and are limited to a maximum of six participants.

As part of Nove Terra di Ceramica, visitors can take part in ceramics workshops and experience experimental wood firings in ceramics. Another event with a strong connection to the town is the Festa della Ceramica di Nove e Portoni Aperti. Its 29th edition will take place in Nove from September 11 to 13, 2026. This full date is particularly relevant when planning the timing of a stay, while the museums, audio tour and workshops offer different ways to engage with the ceramic tradition.

Further Destinations in the Area

For further options, you can also choose Cagnano, Romano D'ezzelino, Foza, San Giorgio Di Perlena, San Benedetto, Montegalda, Villaganzerla and Solagna.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Vicenza.