Manises, Valencia

We rang the doorbell of La fábrica Museo de José Gimeno Martínez . No answer—welcome to Spain. The sign instructed us to try the doorbell by the stairs if no one responded. We found the second doorbell and rang it. Finally, the door buzzed open. A man greeted us with a gruff “hola,” his tone suggesting “what do you want?” He looked like someone who had either woken up on the wrong side of the bed or hadn’t had his morning coffee—probably both. When Lauren asked about visiting the factory, he replied curtly, “No, you have to go upstairs.”

We climbed the tiled steps and waited. Just as we were beginning to doubt anyone would come, he opened the door. We stepped inside, set our backpacks down, and I was immediately stunned. The place was breathtaking—a ceramic tile lover’s paradise. The rooms were covered floor to ceiling in tiles, with beautiful terracotta floors punctuated by small ceramic pieces. Vases, plates, and tiles adorned every surface, including the ceilings. Color and pattern filled every corner, from tiled signs to artistic murals.

This was what I consider a true source of inspiration. While Pinterest has its place, nothing compares to experiencing these primary sources firsthand. I often find these treasures by combing through clunky tourism websites, reading obscure travel blogs about Spain, and collecting recommendations from friends. Learning that Manises was part of UNESCO’s European ceramics route particularly intrigued me. The route connects fascinating cities like Delft, Netherlands; Limoges, France; Talavera de la Reina, Spain; Caldas da Rainha, Portugal—and various other European towns I dream of visiting.

Though the factory itself was closed to visitors, the upstairs showroom was a genuine treasure. This was our first stop in Manises, a small ceramic town conveniently connected to Valencia by metro. After making our purchases, the shopkeeper politely but firmly ushered us out. We then visited the ceramic museum—open, airy, and beautifully curated, with free admission. After lunch, we wandered the town spontaneously, discovering tiles decorating building façades, churches, the mercado (partially occupied by Mercadona), other ceramic fábricas, parks, and doorways. Though the town showed signs of wear, its charm was definitely there. We particularly loved the ornate façade of the tourist office, the tiled train station, and the countless murals and decorated doors that revealed themselves as we explored—each new discovery leading to another hidden ceramic treasure.