Villa de Leyva

About

While the Spanish founded Villa de Leyva in 1572, the area has been inhabited since the Pre-Herrera period, 3000 years ago. The town has remained largely unchanged since Colonial times, and its main square one of the largest in South America. Surrounded by white-washed buildings, and watched over by a charming church, the 14,000 square meter plaza is the perfect place to admire the town’s historic buildings, backed by rolling hills. On the outskirts of town, is the El Infiernito archaeological site. A Muisca astronomical observatory and religious site, the Spanish were so affronted by the phallic statues that they called the place “Little Hell”. Also nearby Villa de Leyva is the Casa Terracota, an unusual, two story home built entirely from clay (there aren’t even supports), that the owner likes to call the largest piece of pottery in the world.