Since 1968, Porches Pottery has become a unique and famous institution in what is now a well-loved corner of Europe – the ancient kingdom of the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost province.

This working pottery creates the most distinctive ceramics to be found in Algarve, and began as the idealistic dream of two artists, Patrick Swift and Lima de Freitas, one Irish and the other Portuguese. The two were determined to demonstrate that old crafts, and artistic traditions, need not be lost to the modern plastic age.

That was fifty years ago and Porches Pottery has proved that it is possible for hand crafted works to survive on their own merit. To this day, many of the artisans that Patrick Swift taught are here continuing a tradition that is thousands of years in the making.

At Porches Pottery you can see these artisans at work, acquire a truly unique souvenir of Algarve, and enjoy a light lunch in our Bar Bacchus café.

Throughout the year, Porches Pottery is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 until 18:00, and on Saturdays from 10:00 until 14:00.