The Manufacture of Doccia, in Sesto Fiorentino

Three centuries of artistic creation, social history, employment and work: it is the time when the Manufacture of Doccia has shaped since 1737 the territory of Colonnata and Doccia, two adjacent locations, at the foot of Mount Morello, in the municipality of Sesto Fiorentino.

Marquis Carlo Ginori set up his manufacture in a plot of land owned by the family, after studying the way of producing and working the fine and elegant material called porcelain. The first manufacture was artisanal, but the world of porcelain was quite vast: the marquis collected pieces, employed craftsmen, developed decorations and new techniques.

A world that found employment and creativity in Doccia: and that since 1737 until today has never ceased to produce majolica, ceramic, porcelain. 
Discovering these places means trying to understand how a model factory can shape a territory.
We inevitably have to mention the Ginori Museum, that is no longer in Doccia but near the current factory: at the moment, however, it is closed as it needs extensive renovation work.

But the Ginori world and the fundamental role of porcelain production can be explored in an itinerary starting from the San Romolo a Colonnata church. The church has original porcelain decor, both internally and externally.

Not far is the area of the former Manufacture of Doccia, currently occupied by residential buildings flanked by remains of the production sites, such as the kilns where pieces were fired. The most interesting building is the one of the current Ragionieri Library, once the real headquarters of the manufacture, where customers were welcomed, where pieces were displayed and where production took place.

Fos some years now the villa, completely restored, has been home to the modern municipal library. Its front is decorated with porcelain tondos (reminiscent of the robbiane) and the interior features illustrative panels and works of art that narrate the functions of spaces in times past.

All the pieces of the Ginori collection, together with drawings, models and the library are found in the Museo Ginori, in the area of the plain; its future reopening will mark the completion of this project, to discover such an important manufacturing tradition.