Faenza

In the Middle Ages Faenza was the crossroads between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, and the 15th century saw many Florentine artists working in town. In 1509 the Papal States took control, and Faenza became something of a backwater. It did, however, continue its 12th-century tradition of making top-quality ceramic ware. In the 16th century local artists created a color called bianchi di Faenza ("Faenza white"), which was wildly imitated and wildly desired all over Europe. By the 16th century the Frenchified faience, to refer to the color and technique entered the lexicon, where it remains to this day. In the central Piazza del Popolo, dozens of shops sell the native ceramic wares.