Fajalauza: The handmade pottery from Albaicín that keeps Granada’s tradition alive.
Fajalauza: Five Centuries of Granada’s Ceramic Heritage
There is nothing more quintessentially Granadan than Fajalauza. This artisanal pottery has shaped the identity of the city of the Alhambra for five centuries, tracing its origins back to the Mozarabic period. Today, more than ever, it is vital to value this craft—preserving it so that an art so deeply tied to this land endures for centuries to come.
A Cultural Treasure at Risk
Recently, the media outlet El Independiente de Granada published an outstanding report titled “Fajalauza, Five Centuries of the Most Granadan Ceramics”. It revealed how one of Granada’s last great cultural symbols is in danger and urgently needs institutional support to safeguard its legacy.
From the Gate to the Workshop
The name “Fajalauza” comes from the Fajalauza Gate, an entrance around which pottery workshops flourished in the 19th century—most notably that of Cecilio Morales Moreno. To preserve his life’s work, his nephews established a foundation dedicated to protecting and promoting this clay tradition, considered the most iconic in Granada. The Morales family’s connection to the craft dates back to the Christian conquest of the city.
What Makes Fajalauza Unique
Hand-painted pieces for both interior and exterior decoration and architecture—this is Fajalauza, also known as loza. Dating from the early 16th century, it is traditionally made with glazed, decorated clay in blue-gray or green, adorned with floral motifs. Birds, lace-like designs, and heraldic emblems such as double-headed eagles are also common.
The Historic Fajalauza Gate
The Albaicín wall once had six gates, one of them being the Fajalauza Gate. Built in the mid-14th century by ḥājib Ridwan, minister to Yusuf I of Granada, its role was to protect the early suburb of the Halconeros (Albaicín) and connect it to the potters’ quarter. Since 1517, workshops have been based there—later forming the 19th-century Fajalauza pottery district.
Art historian and ethnographic researcher Natacha Seseña notes the strong parallels between Fajalauza ceramics in Granada and those in Teruel. Together, they represent the Iberian Peninsula’s greatest bastions of Moorish ceramic tradition.
Techniques: Tradition and Modern Adaptations
For centuries, Fajalauza pottery maintained its hallmark features: low-tin glaze, green or bluish-gray tones, and designs featuring pomegranates and heraldic motifs. However, from 1975 onward, industrial dyes altered the colors. Despite widespread commercialization—including exports to Japan—only the Cecilio Morales workshop continues to employ traditional techniques, with the sole addition of electricity for filtering, machine kneading, electric wheel shaping, and firing in electric or gas kilns.
In the Life of Granada
Fajalauza ceramics have touched many aspects of daily life: transporting liquids, decorating homes, preserving food, marking streets with ceramic plaques, and commemorating people. Remarkably, many tiles in the Patio de los Arrayanes were replaced with Fajalauza tiles in the mid-20th century.
Preserving the Craft
This tradition is worth protecting. The newly founded Cecilio Morales Foundation seeks to safeguard authentic Fajalauza ceramics through training programs, artisan schools, and cultural outreach.
Further Reading
To learn more, explore the detailed report from El Independiente de Granada and additional resources such as Wikipedia, which contributed to this overview.
