Nabeul's pottery tradition is one of the oldest continuous craft industries in North Africa. The distinctive blue-and-white glazed ceramics — bowls, plates, tiles, and decorative pieces — have been produced here for centuries, and the town still has dozens of active workshops where you can watch potters at the wheel and tiles being hand-painted. The techniques and patterns draw on a mixture of Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and Andalusian influences accumulated over millennia of coastal trade.
The Friday market is the best time to visit — traders come from across the region and the range of goods expands well beyond ceramics to include textiles, spices, and local food. Even on other days, the streets around the market area are lined with workshops and shops. Prices are negotiable and the initial ask is often double or more the eventual selling price; this is understood and expected. If you are buying for transport, thicker pieces survive better than the thin decorative plates. Many workshops will pack purchases carefully for travel.