A Stroll through Villa de Leyva on 30/06/10 by Alexandria Prain

When you have tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, take a step back in time and stroll along the charming streets of the colonial town of Villa de Leyva, nestled just a short distance from Bogota. Founded in 1572, as Villa de Nuestra Senora de Santa Maria de Leyva, this beautiful quaint village has lost none of its charm, offering cobblestone streets, red-tiled roofs, spanish balconies and private courtyard gardens. Today, the village is a popular place for artists and famous Colombians who want a break from the capital of Bogota and wants to enjoy a much more tranquil and inspiring surrounding, complete with beautiful mountains and dense forests.

If you have the time visiting the area is definitely worth the effort. There are buses that run from Bogota to Tunja, the capital of Boyaca, from which you take a colectivo into the village. The trip takes around four hours. If you have a little extra money, you may want to look into flying to the area from Bogota or a number of other locations in Colombia.


When in town make sure to walk through the colonial streets and enjoy the simplistic colonial architecture of the white-washed homes, with wooden shutters, flower laden balconies and stunning spanish courtyards that features massive plantings and fountains, all of which provide for a romantic and picturesque setting. For a spectacular view of the city, head up the tiny and steep path that will lead you to the statues of Jesus, with his arms stretched out to protect the region. If art is more you fancy, there are a number of wonderful galleries in town, as well as Raquira, the kiln where the women of the town through handmade pottery. Another fun place is the towns main market, which along with local goods, gives light to the traditional attire, a wool ponchos and hats for men and a traditional black hat for women. If you are feeling a little frisky, their is even a vendor who sells shot glasses of hard liquor at 8:00 in the morning.

Come nestled into the tranquil and historic life of Villa de Leyva, you won't be disappointed.