In his 1865 book about the history of the local Grue family – which between the 17th and 19th centuries included many fine maiolica painters – expert Gabriello Cherubini wrote about the famous ceramics traditionally produced in Castelli, a beautiful medieval town in the province of Teramo:

“It is a small town in the area of Teramo in Abruzzo, founded in the middle ages over the ruins and remnants of some other town in the famous Sicilian Valley, where pottery was taken up because there were no better crafts to make a living out of. At first outcomes were rough, with nothing but coarse kitchen vases, plates, amphorae and similar items.”