Art and clay: An immersion into the ceramic traditions of Belém
A sensory and ancestral journey through the pottery workshops of the Icoaraci neighborhood, where clay comes to life through the hands of master artisans from Pará
Belém, the capital of Pará bathed by the waters of Guajará Bay, is one of the most vibrant cultural centers in the Amazon. Between historic alleys and century-old markets, the city preserves traditions where indigenous heritage intertwines with Portuguese, African, and caboclo influences. Recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy, Belém also breathes art in its ceramic expressions, whose ancestral techniques echo the knowledge of millenary peoples.
Marajoara ceramics, originating from Marajó Island and dated from 800 to 1400 A.D., impress with the complexity of their geometric graphics, while Tapajonic ceramics, developed by the peoples of the Tapajós River, stand out for zoomorphic forms and the use of natural pigments. Beyond beauty, they carry meanings that transcend time, linking the present to a past of wisdom and connection with the sacred.
In the Icoaraci neighborhood, whose name in the Tupi-Guarani language means “mother of all waters,” this tradition comes alive in the hands of master potters. And it is in this setting that you will live an enriching cultural experience and even shape your own piece, feeling the transformation of matter into art.
CLAY, MEMORY, AND ART
The experience starts at 11 a.m. at Olaria do Espanhol, in Icoaraci. You will be welcomed by master Ciro Croelhas, heir of the pottery founded in 1924 by his father, José Espanhol — an immigrant who brought European techniques and adapted them to Amazonian raw material.
On a tour through the workshop, Ciro tells moving stories about his family’s legacy and reveals each step of the ceramic production process. It begins with the extraction of clay from local streams, passes through the use of the traditional wheel — a wooden pedal-powered wheel that challenges physics and the patience of beginners — and ends with firing in masonry ovens.
Then, it’s time for you to get your hands dirty and shape your own piece on the traditional wheel. Master Ciro will guide you through this process while you try to tame the clay and transform it into art.
After this immersion, the pottery shop surprises with its utilitarian and decorative pieces. You will find everything from water jugs and pots to sculptures that reinterpret Marajoara motifs with contemporary techniques. It’s time to choose a piece to take home!
CRAFT FAIR AND SUNSET
Leaving Olaria do Espanhol, it’s time to enjoy a typical lunch on the Icoaraci waterfront. Every bite is a discovery: pato no tucupi, with its seasoning that spans generations; maniçoba, a Pará feijoada that takes days to prepare, like a well-kept secret; tacacá, that warms the soul; or fresh freshwater fish, as fresh as a river’s embrace. All of this accompanied by the river breeze, which brings with it the murmur of the tides and the smell of wet earth.
The afternoon unfolds in colors at the Craft Fair, a labyrinth of dreams woven in clay and tradition. Among ceramic pots and sculptures that seem to whisper ancient legends, your hands instinctively follow Marajoara and Tapajonic traces, as if the memory of ancestors guides your gaze.
And then, as the sun begins to say goodbye, you surrender to the simplest and deepest ritual: a chilled coconut water in your hands, bare feet on the waterfront, while the sky blazes in shades of honey and amber. Fishermen’s boats cut the horizon, leaving behind the certainty that some moments are unforgettable.
The return to the hotel happens at 6 p.m., leaving in memory not only pieces acquired but the texture of clay, the smell of burning firewood, and Master Ciro’s voice repeating that ceramics is memory made of earth.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The experience lasts 7 hours, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The package includes round-trip transportation from your hotel in Belém, guided visit to the pottery with technique demonstrations, practical lesson on the traditional wheel, and a tour of the craft fair. Wear light-colored and lightweight clothes, since the heat can exceed 30°C, as well as closed, slip-resistant shoes, sunscreen, and a cap. Don’t forget your water bottle.
Unlike museums, in Icoaraci you touch the still-wet clay from the streams, learn graphics, and talk with masters who keep alive an endangered tradition. The clay holds the wisdom of those who shape it and of those shaped by this land!
HIGHLIGHTS
UNESCO – Creative City of Gastronomy – Belém
Visit Brasil Showcase Experience: From Clay to Wheel: Icoaraci
HOW TO GET THERE
Belém International Airport