Some stories start with a walk — and a little bit of Instagram magic.
Cherrye was taking a “passeggiata” in the charming village of Morano Calabro, wandering past stone houses and flower-filled balconies, when she passed a little artisan shop called La Bottega del Pollino. And as it tends to happen when you are in a small town like Morano Calabro, she struck up a conversation with the owner, Nicola.
Cherrye introduced herself and mentioned where she was from and what she did — and that’s when Nicola smiled and said he already knew who she was.
Cue the surprise. Turns out, Nicola had been following us on Instagram for months — our amazing marketing manager, LuLu had come across his profile on Instagram and loved all the beautiful handcrafted pieces on display in his Morano workshop (and on his Instagram feed). So, naturally, she started sharing his posts and stories with our community.
It was one of those endearing, small-world moments, and a beautiful reminder that meaningful connections can start with something as simple as a shared post.
In the storybook village of Morano Calabro, tucked inside Calabria’s lush Pollino National Park, there’s a little shop that’s keeping ancient crafts alive — La Bottega del Pollino. And at the center of it all is Nicola.
Born in 1994 and raised in Morano, Nicola left at 19 to explore the world — Bologna, the Netherlands — but something kept calling him home. Inspired by his father, a master stone artisan, and driven by love for his land, Nicola returned to turn his passion into a purpose.
Now, La Bottega del Pollino is more than a shop. It’s a celebration of Calabrian craftsmanship — handmade ceramics, woodwork, basketry, and more — all available both in-store and online, shipped around the globe. He’s even opened a ceramics lab in the village where locals, tourists, and school kids can get hands-on with tradition.
Nicola’s mission? To breathe life back into his village and share its beauty with the world. And trust us — he’s doing just that.
This beautiful hand-woven wicker bread basket was crafted by local artisans right here in Morano Calabro. Made with natural materials and traditional techniques, each basket is one-of-a-kind — a small but meaningful symbol of the care, history, and heart of this village.
Perfect for serving bread or holding little treasures back home, we hope it brings a bit of Calabria to your table — and reminds you of the simple joys found in handmade things and heartfelt places.