The best Valencia day trip for pottery lovers is the ceramic town of Manises – here’s everything you need to know, including the top places not to miss and how to fit it into your Spain itinerary.
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Visiting Manises, a Ceramics town near Valencia
Where is the best place in Spain for ceramics?
If you love Spanish ceramics, check out my full article featuring the top destinations. However, if I had to highlight just three, I’d recommend Talavera de la Reina in Castilla-La Mancha, Manises near Valencia, and Seville. Each of these places is known for its unique ceramic heritage, with excellent museums and exhibitions that any pottery enthusiast shouldn’t miss.
Where is Manises, and what is it known for?
Manises is a small town near Valencia known for over 700 years of ceramic craftsmanship. Often considered one of the hidden gems of the Valencia region, Manises is renowned for its rich history in ceramics.
The town is particularly famous for its golden and blue pottery from the 14th and 15th centuries (which I even spotted at the Cluny Museum during my trip to Paris), as well as its polychromatic earthenware and tiles from the 19th and 20th centuries. You can easily visit Manises on aday trip from Valencia, as part of a Madrid-to-Valencia road trip, or include it in any Valencia road trip itinerary.
How to get to Manises
Manises is located just 8 km from Valencia city and right next to Valencia Airport. You can easily reach it by metro (lines 3, 5, and 9), bus (routes 90 and 150), or taxi.
If you’re planning to explore Spain by car, even better – this makes it easier to discover hidden gems. In addition to visiting Manises as a day trip from Valencia, you can also include it in a Valencia road trip itinerary or stop by on your way to Madrid.
Best time to visit Manises
You can visit Manises all year round, but there are also quite a few unique local celebrations you might have a look at. For instance, Fiesta de Ceramica (July 16-17) and Calalcada de la Ceramica (July 18) a local parade with a giveaway of ceramic pieces taking place since 1900. Usually, around September 17 there is an open day with workshops (check the exact date, it might slightly change every year).
Best places to visit in Manises on a day trip
Edificio el Arte
Once in Manises, you should start your visit at the local tourist office (and be sure to grab a free map or city guidebook). The building housing the tourist office is simply gorgeous; it’s called Edificio El Arte. Built in 1922, it was once a ceramic factory. On the second floor, you’ll find the permanent MUMAF exhibition, featuring a collection of old photo cameras, as well as various temporary exhibitions.
Mercado Municipal Els Fitres
Right next to Edificio El Arte, you will see the impressive facade of the local market Mercado Municipal Els Filtres (1974), adorned with ceramic decorations depicting the customs and traditions of 18th-century Manises.
Parque el Filtres
Right near the local market, you’ll find Parque Els Filtres, a park filled with ceramic decorations, as well as an impressive Modern Art & Ceramic exhibition showcasing the participants of the Bienal Internacional de la Cerámica, an international ceramics contest.
Avenida Blasco Ibañes
Take a stroll along the central avenue of Manises, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez, which is adorned with ceramic decorations depicting scenes from the daily life of its citizens. If you have an extra moment, be sure to admire the nearby peculiar facades of the Antigua Escuela de Cerámica and the Antigua Fábrica de Francisco Valldecabres.
Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista
The dome of the Church of St. John the Baptist (1734-1751), or Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista in Spanish, is adorned with lustre ware tiles. Inside, you’ll also find numerous 20th-century decorations. Be sure to check the opening hours before visiting, as during my visit in August, it was open only from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Museo de la Ceramica de Manises
To explore the highlights of the ceramic history in the region of Manises, you must visit the Museo de la Cerámica de Manises. Housed in an 18th-century building, the museum showcases unique ceramic pieces produced in Manises from the 14th century to the present day.
AVEC-Gremio
AVEC – Gremio is the headquarters of the Valencian Ceramic Association. Here, you’ll find a shop featuring a collection of ceramic pottery and decorations created by local artisans. During my visit, there was a small temporary exhibition showcasing Manises pottery, including a wall dedicated to the ceramic creations of local artist Antonio Cordero.
Nearby, you can visit the excellent workshop La Cerámica Valenciana de José Gimeno Martínez, but note that you need to book your tour in advance, as it’s closed on weekends. In fact, most local workshops operate in the same way, unless you visit Manises during its Open Day (usually held around September 17 each year). Other notable workshops in Manises include Cerámica Artesanal Creativa Domanises, Arturo Mora La Cerámica de Reflejo Metálico, Taller de Cerámica Artesanal Pepe Royo, EncisAR-TE, and Cerámicas Palanca.
Casa de Cultura
The Casa de Cultura (1923), or House of Culture, is housed in a beautiful Neo-Gothic building and hosts both local and temporary exhibitions. During my visit, there was an impressive modern art exhibition titled Casa 8 by Uxue López from Bilbao.
Manises is a unique destination for all fans of ceramic art in Spain, and I highly recommend it to art lovers. For more Valencia day trip ideas, check out my articles: Top Valencia Day Trips and Valencia Hidden Gems.
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I always love to check out day trips from places like Valencia we would use as a base. The small town of Manises looks like a lovely spot for people who like local arts and crafts. We would certainly be on the lookout for all the beautiful tile work. One for our planning list for sure.
I wanted to go to Manises when I visited Valencia but I ended up not having enough time, unfortunately! Seeing this article makes me want to come back to take the chance to go to see the ceramics and the town! Thanks for sharing this hidden gem!
The arts and talent on display is amazing. I love how colorful and artistic the ceramics are and it is one of my favorite things to see in the Spanish culture.
As a culturally inclined traveller, I seek out such sites when I travel, I love the tiles and the colourful urns they are absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing
I’ve never been to Valencia before. The ceramics look really beautiful, and I would love to visit one day.
Wow, Manises is an art lovers’ destination! I love ceramics and tiles. I particularly love how they incorporate their colorful and beautiful pieces into everything…walls, roofs, decorative items, and functional items.
Thanks for sharing, this looks a lovely place to visit with the bright colours of the ceramics, and the history behind them 🙂