Santa Luzia – Fuzeta and Clay factory

Santa Luzia is believed to have been founded around 1577 when a group of fishermen took matters into their own hands and built a chapel in honor of the Sicilian martyr and protector of those suffering from eye ailments – Santa Luzia. The village’s history, elevated to town status in 1999, has been intertwined with the sea since its formation. Initially centered around hook fishing, the town later became known for tuna fishing, a legacy still visible in certain locations like Barril Beach. By the 1920s, octopus fishing became the primary activity, with traditional methods involving the use of clay pots eventually giving way to traps, a type of cage allowing for significantly larger octopus catches.

According to historical records dating back to 1572, Fuzeta was initially known as “Fozeta” (a diminutive of “foz,” meaning river mouth) due to the presence of a stream called “ribeiro do tronco” (trunk stream) that flowed into the area. Fuzeta, a small white village nestled between Olhão and Tavira, features distinctive whitewashed buildings influenced by Arabic architecture, descending towards the sea and sometimes blending with newer constructions. It’s easy to relax and immerse oneself in a calm atmosphere.

Born in a Pottery Born at the Moncarapacho maternity ward in 1958, Francisco Eugénio feels as though he was born in the pottery. Representing the fourth generation of potters in his family, he states, “Clay was my Playstation.” As a child, he rode mule-drawn carts to fetch raw clay, which he helped knead. “I loved playing with the soil,” he says.

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