Painted houses
Bright facades.
Marvin David Del Cid — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andreasuescun — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Petruss — CC BY-SA 3.0 · JuanitoCISF — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jorge Mahecha — CC BY-SA 3.0
Ráquira is a small town in the Colombian Andes known for its pottery and colourful houses. Facades are painted red, yellow, green and blue, wooden doors and windows are bright, the main square holds large clay figures, and shops overflow with pots and jars. The town stands on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at 2,150 m. Its name in the Muisca language means «village of the pots». It was already famous for pottery before the Spanish arrived, thanks to the local clay, and the present town was founded on 18 October 1580. About three-quarters of its economy comes from crafts, as its artisans make traditional pottery and hand-woven goods. You walk the streets between the painted houses, step into pottery workshops and shops, and watch artisans shaping the clay. The Sunday market is the most popular time to visit. The town is about 16 km in a straight line southwest of Villa de Leyva, so you can see both in one day. Ask before photographing artisans in their workshops.
Bright facades.
Local clay.
Clay figures.
Ricaurte Province, Boyacá Department
On Sunday, for the market.
Yes, they are close.