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Private session · 90 minutes · Montelupo Fiorentino
Throw Like a Pro: a Private Pottery Wheel Lesson in Florence
One wheel, one master, ninety minutes. My father Salvatore has been throwing clay for fifty years, and in this private session all of that time is for you: how to center, how to open, how to raise a wall that does not collapse. You will be amazed at the progress you can make.
Who This Session Is For
In the group Masterclass everyone gets their turn at the wheel. Some guests leave wishing they had more of it – more time, more questions, more tries. This session was born for them.
- Beginners who want to really learn to throw, not just try it once
- Potters who already work at home and want to see how a Tuscan master centers, opens and pulls the clay
- Couples or friends who prefer a quiet, private moment in the bottega instead of a group
What Happens at the Wheel
Salvatore does not teach from a manual. He learned from his father Sebastiano, a potter from Santo Stefano di Camastra in Sicily, and he teaches the same way: hands next to your hands, until you feel the clay instead of fighting it. He reads your level in the first minutes and works with it – from your very first centered lump of clay to the details that separate a good form from a beautiful one.
Good to Know
- Duration: 90 minutes, private
- Teacher: Salvatore Mirenda, master potter, fifty years at the wheel
- Languages: English and Italian
- Included: clay, working clothes, tools and the wheel
- Meeting point: La Galleria, Corso Garibaldi 74, Montelupo Fiorentino – 20 minutes from Florence Santa Maria Novella by direct train to Montelupo-Capraia
Private Session or Masterclass?
If you are still deciding between the two, here they are side by side.
| Private Wheel Session | Factory Tour & Masterclass | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes of only wheel | About 2 hours |
| Group | Private: only you and the people you bring | Small group, up to 8 guests |
| Factory tour | Not included – all the time is at the wheel | Included, with transport from our shop |
| At the wheel | One-to-one with Salvatore | Lesson with master potter Salvatore |
| Included | Clay, working clothes, tools and the wheel | Clay, working clothes, double firing, hand-glazing and worldwide shipping of your piece |
| Price | See dates and price | €120 per person for two – price changes according to group size · See the Masterclass |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference from the Factory Tour & Masterclass?
The Masterclass is a 2-hour small-group experience that combines a tour of a working ceramic factory with a lesson at the wheel. The Private Wheel Session skips the tour and gives you 90 minutes of one-to-one time at the wheel with Salvatore.
Do I need previous experience?
No. Salvatore adapts the session to your level, whether you have never touched clay or you already throw at home.
How do I get there from Florence?
Take a direct regional train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Montelupo-Capraia (about 20 minutes), then walk a few minutes along the river to Corso Garibaldi 74. By car, there is free parking next to the Ceramics Museum, two minutes from the workshop.