Le Fornaci site in Riva San Vitale

At Fornaci, you will find someone ready to welcome you on the following days (public holidays excluded):

• Monday 9:00–13:00
• Wednesday 9:00–13:00
• Friday 9:00–13:00

for deliveries, pickups and information.

Contact us to arrange an appointment.

The art of ancient Peru takes centre stage in Riva San Vitale: the Le Fornaci Foundation and MUSEC present a major exhibition dedicated to Pre-Columbian ceramics. 

From 19 September at the Town Hall of Riva San Vitale, the Le Fornaci Foundation presents Ceramics of Ancient Peru. From the Pacific to the Andes, an exhibition conceived and produced by the Museum of Cultures Lugano (MUSEC) and curated by Antonio Aimi, former Professor of Pre-Columbian Civilisations at the University of Milan and scientific collaborator of MUSEC.

The exhibition, held under the patronage of the Municipality of Riva San Vitale, will be hosted in the historic rooms of the Municipal Building of Riva San Vitale, Piazza Grande 6, 6826 Riva San Vitale, Switzerland.

from 19 September to 6 December 2026

Opening days:

from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We would like to sincerely thank the many visitors who came to the Fornaci and took part in the workshop The Art of Roof Tiles: Tradition and Creativity on the occasion of the European Heritage Days.

Special thanks go to our valued collaborators:

Rosi Ghielmini

Fondazione OTAF, Sorengo with:

Alessio Longo

Stefano Caraggià

Paula Camacho

Benedetto Ricciardi

Justine Gaberel

Žarko Pupovac

Atelier Aquarius, Turin with:

Maria Teresa Frizzarin

Federico Colbertaldo

Fabio Colaneri

Danilo Pellegrini

Bernardo Bernaschina

Simona Rossi

And to our sponsors:

Danilo Güller, Riazzino

iRezz, Mendrisio

F.lli Puricelli sa, Riva San Vitale

Saturday, 12 September 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Fornaci site in Riva San Vitale will open its doors for a unique experience exploring an ancient craft that has shaped the history of the Ticino region.
In collaboration with the OTAF Foundation and ceramic artist Rosi Ghielmini, participants will have the opportunity to rediscover the traditional craftsmanship involved in the production of roof tiles, a symbol of a tradition that for centuries supported a thriving trade throughout the Canton and especially in Riva San Vitale.
Through a hands-on workshop, adults and children alike will be able to shape roof tiles using the traditional method and contribute to the creation of a large collective art installation that will enrich and decorate the Fornaci site. In addition, every visitor will be able to personalize a miniature roof tile to take home after firing as a keepsake of this special experience.
An opportunity to get your hands into the clay, share creativity, and rediscover together a heritage that continues to tell the story of our region.

We are delighted to host, throughout the summer season, the collective art installation The Ceramic Chicken Coop, conceived by ceramic artist Rosi Ghielmini at her Atelier dell’Inglese in Riva San Vitale, in collaboration with Le Fornaci, using a variety of clays and glazes.

Works created by: Rosi and Aurora Ghielmini, Luigi Santos, Michele Marbach, Yael Fortunato, Cristina Decarli, Chiara and Lucia Polli, and Giuliana Reggi (Faenza).

Metal elements by Bernardo Bernaschina.

On display from 20 June 2026.

At the end of the summer, the installation will be transferred to the Microcosmo residence of the I GIRASOLI Association in Trieste, a venue for social workshops, where, together with other ceramic hens created by various Italian ceramic studios, the real chicken coop will become a social chicken coop.

Visit Le Fornaci to discover the installation and find inspiration to create your own ceramic hen during the Easter course planned for 2027.

We are pleased to host in the Fornaci garden during the summer season the collective artistic frame Art, Sustainability and Participation, conceived by the Riva San Vitale Parents’ Group with the support of the Riva San Vitale School Institute and Carpenteria Larghi of Riva San Vitale.

Using fabric scraps and textile offcuts, pupils from the kindergarten and primary school created a collective composition distinguished by its expressive spontaneity, vibrant colours and originality.

Come and admire the frame in person and strike a pose for your photographic portrait.

We are pleased to highlight the article by Giulia Scotto, Brick Reworked, published in issue no. 1531 of The Architectural Review, dedicated to the restoration project of the Fornaci di Riva San Vitale by architect Enrico Sassi.

With a striking visual impact, the Obvara technique involves the final firing of pre-fired pieces in a small outdoor gas kiln. The objects are removed at around 800°C and immersed in a mixture of water, flour, and yeast prepared three days earlier, then left to cool slowly. Thanks to this process, evocative decorative effects with ochre, brown, and dark tones appear on the surfaces of the pieces, making each one unique and one of a kind.

Do you have ceramic objects you would like to decorate using the Obvara technique?

Come to Le Fornaci di Riva San Vitale on Saturday, May 23, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

To withstand thermal shock, the pieces must meet the following requirements:

fine chamotte refractory clay, smoothed, already bisque-fired.

Maximum dimensions: 25 x 25 x 25 cm

Price: from CHF 20