DESCRIPTION

The excessive presence of clay favoured first of all, the construction of "earth houses", then the pots and crocks, as well as the cultivation of a few species of plants such as legumes that are well adapted to the environment. Over time, the interaction between cultivated plants and the soil so clay led to the selection of an ecotype of fava bean very special, surely resulting from spontaneous crossings between favino and broad bean.
The town of Fratte Rosa is also known for the production of "crocks", secular craft enterprise. The name "crocks", clearly popular origin, is referred to objects in terracotta of household that still are produced in this small village. This is an activity deeply rooted in the history of the village: until 1920 there were 12 furnaces.
According to the ancient custom the clay is still extracted in the countryside bordering the ancient Convent of Santa Vittoria. The clay thus obtained is then kneaded and worked to be soft and compact to the turning phase. Once dried, the crocks are placed in furnaces heated with particular firewood, combined in a perfect order so that the kiln can hold as much as possible.
The objects "biscottati" (baked) are then glazed with paints that artisans of Fratte Rosa still prepare directly in their workshops using natural components such as silica.