Casas Coloniales of Villa de Leyva

Location:
Villa de Leiva , Colombia

Historical Building Types:
Colonial architecture

By Lorraine Caputo

Besides those that have been made into museums, you may visit other colonial-era buildings:

• Casa del Primer Congreso is the building where the First Convention of the United Provinces of Nueva Granada was held (Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-5 p.m. Carrera 9 and Calle 13).

• Arquería del Jardín de los Próceres (Calle 13, between Carreras 8 and 9).

• Real Fábrica de Licores (1736) was the Spanish Crown’s first official maker of liquor in Nueva Granada. To see the excavated building, ask at the Telecom office next door (Calle 13, between Carreras 8 and 9).

• Casa don Juan de Castellanos, built 1585-1607, has an art gallery with a permanent exhibit on the second floor (Friday-Sunday, holidays 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Carrera 9 and Calle 13).

• Molina Mesopotamia (1568) existed even before the village was founded and is presently a fine hotel. Ask reception for permission to see the mill (now a restaurant) and pond in the back, where you can also go swimming ($2.65 for non-guests) (Carrera 8, near Vía Arcabuco).

• Molina de Losada was another one of the first mills in town and is now home of the Museo Paleontológico (1 km / half mile from town, Vía Arcabuco).

Several of the classic colonial mansions have been turned into centros comerciales, or malls:

• Casa Quintero, with gourmet restaurants (Wednesday-Monday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., closed the Wednesday after puentes. Carrera 9 and Calle 12)

• La Guaca, with artesanía shops and gourmet restaurants (daily 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Carrera 13-57).

Travel Tips: Bring water, money enough for museum entries, hat, sunblock, camera.

Price Description: Most of the buildings are free to enter.

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Bring water, money enough for museum entries, hat, sunblock, camera.

The museums and churches in Villa de Leyva; Monasterio Santo Ecce Homo, El Infiernito and other sights along the road to Santa Sofía; Ráquira and the monastery at La Candelaria; the waterfalls, caves and other natural sights past Santa Sofía and towards Gachantivá.

Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso