Margarites Village - Pottery
Pottery is one of the most ancient arts developed in Crete since the early Minoan years (3000 BC). In Venetian documents of the time, they are referred to as “Magarites” and there probably lies the etymology of their name, since magarikon meant clay. The village of Margarites, in the municipality of Mylopotamos, is undoubtedly the most important pottery center of Western Crete. During the visit to the village, the visitor can admire a multitude of ceramic objects such as pots, jars and ceramic utensils, which are found in the courtyards and on the walls of the houses.The main reason why this art developed in the village is the excellent quality and large reserves of the raw material available, which is none other than the clay soil.
Today, at least 16 pottery workshops operate in Margarites, where you can buy ceramics and see the artisans working in the way of their ancestors. Also, in the Museum of Ceramics, in the village square, you can admire the large collection of ceramic creations that highlights the art of the locals.The local name of these traditional workshops is “Tsikalaria”. A name that originates from the construction of the pots of the same name, or otherwise tsikalias, which were used in the past.
