AVANOS, Türkiye, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- As the wheel spun beneath her hands, Filiz Gok, a visitor from Istanbul, shaped Avanos's famed red clay -- an art form practiced for centuries that has made this Cappadocian town one of Türkiye's pottery capitals.
"Creating something from this clay made me feel part of history," she said.
The scent of wet clay and the rhythmic hum of spinning wheels fill Avanos's workshops, where generations of artisans have kept the craft alive, shaping both the town's identity and its international reputation.
Avanos has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cappadocia since 1985, according to the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency. Its pottery tradition, dating back to the Hittite era around 1600 B.C., thrives on the distinctive red clay of the Kizilirmak River and the skill of local craftsmen. Today, visitors can join workshops, spin the potter's wheel, observe firing processes, and participate in production under the guidance of masters.
"Even a brief 10-minute hands-on experience allows tourists to take home a piece of history crafted entirely by themselves," the agency said.
Efforts to blend tradition with innovation have helped Avanos evolve into a thriving cultural tourism hub. Irfan Karsli, head of Ligarba Tourism Agency, noted that festivals, collaborations with universities, and cultural initiatives preserve the town's stories and skills while bolstering its reputation as a center of ceramic artistry.
"Through global exhibitions, social media campaigns, and curated experiences, Türkiye aims to put Avanos's ceramic heritage on the world stage," Karsli said.
The European Route of Ceramics, certified as a Council of Europe Cultural Route since 2012, celebrates both the tangible and intangible heritage of ceramic production. Türkiye joined in 2018, showcasing Avanos alongside Iznik, Kutahya, and Canakkale.
From Oct. 22 to 24, Cappadocia hosted the 14th Annual Advisory Forum on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, bringing together member states, experts, and officials to discuss sustainable tourism.
During the forum, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan highlighted Türkiye's 11 certified cultural routes, citing local initiatives like Avanos as central to the country's ambitions to become a global hub for ceramic artistry and cultural tourism. ■
