Antica Fornace Agresti

The Antica Fornace Agresti is a historic terracotta kiln complex in Impruneta, a town long associated with fired clay. Its preserved kilns and work spaces now document the craft and its place in the local economy.

Why it matters

Impruneta's terracotta tradition reaches back to the medieval period. The Agresti kiln makes that history tangible through the industrial spaces and equipment used in production. The municipality owns the complex and presents it as a museum and cultural venue.

What to notice

The buildings follow the slope of the former clay works. Two wood-fired kilns stand above the firewood deposit, whose tall arched chambers occupy an old clay mine. Moulds and models preserve traces of the products made here, while the arrangement of rooms and courtyards reflects the different stages of kiln work.

Context and history

The site dates to the seventeenth century, with the present buildings taking shape in the early eighteenth century. The Agresti family operated the kiln; the Lottini family had an earlier connection to local production. After industrial use ended, the complex was restored for cultural purposes and now serves as a documentation centre and venue for exhibitions and concerts.