experiential travel – My Dear Italia

Pottery is an ancient art, often passed down from generation to generation. Let’s explore together Koumaradei, the so-called “ceramic village” of Samos, and learn about the Pythagorean Cup, the souvenir symbol of the island.

For those of you who will choose the emerald island of Samos for their summer holidays, a great way to try a bit of experiential travel is through a visit to the “ceramic village” named Koumaradei where you can put into practice some of your best Ghost’s moves at the potter’s wheel.

Remember Patrick and Demi? Pottery can be quite sexy…

The village of Koumaradei, located in the hinterland of Samos, has a long tradition of potters: the development of this art is directly related to the ideal raw material offered in the area.

Here you can find plenty of laboratories with annexed shops: they are the ideal spots where to see artisans at work, try to mold something on your own and even buy for a moderate price the Pythagorean Cup, Samos’ most famous souvenir.

The Pythagorean Cup, also known with the bizarre name of “greedy cup”, is a ceramic goblet that serves as a practical joke device, but that, according to the legend, was invented by Pythagoras in order to punish the avid ones who wanted to drink more than their fair share of wine. Following the Pascal’s principle of communicating vessels, once the level of the liquid rises beyond a certain level, it spills out of the bottom. If the liquid stays below the level, the cup functions normally.

Inside the Pythagorean Cup