How to Visit Casa Terracota Villa de Leyva, Colombia

Casa Terracota in Colombia is the largest piece of pottery in the world, making the house itself an intriguing masterpiece. But the fascination continues on inside where curved clay walls seamlessly flow from one room to the next.
As you approach Casa Terracota from Villa de Leyva, the unusual bubbly shape and orange color comes into view. And you start to question its history and reason for existing outside the small town in Colombia.
Everything is made of clay from the furniture to the floors, with various artistic touches forged in metal throughout the home. Most of the metal figures in the house are animal representations.
A pendant light in the form of a fish hangs over the kitchen sink. On the stovetop made of clay, each knob depicts a different insect. And the body of a dragon wraps around the dining room table in the form of a bench. It’s clear that the creator of Casa Terracota had a vision for living as one with nature.
Where is Casa Terracota Colombia?
Casa Terracota is located just outside the small town of Villa de Leyva Colombia. And it’s one of the best things to do in Villa de Leyva.
How to Get to Casa Terracota from Villa de Leyva
To get to Casa Terracota from Villa de Leyva you need to decide if you will walk, take the bus, or drive yourself. The walk is about 30 minutes from town on a fairly flat road. To get to Casa Terracota by bus, go to the bus stations or look for a bus with a sign in the windshield that says Casa de Barro. To drive, simply follow the directions on maps and local signage.
Hours and Cost of Visiting the Terracota House
Casa Terracota Colombia is open Thursday – Monday from 10 am – 5 pm with an entrance fee that varies from 23,000-50,000 pesos depending on the season, day of week, and visitor’s age. Your ticket is for a self guided tour with audio and QR codes where you will learn more about La Casa de Barro and its creation.
You can buy tickets online or when you arrive.
History of Casa Terracota
Visiting Casa Terracota Colombia is more deeply appreciated when you know the history of the house, its creator, and its conception. I only learned the story behind Casa Terracota after my visit, but I found it so intriguing I wanted to share it with you.
The concept of Casa Terracota was born when Colombian architect, Octavio Mendoza Morales, was having a conversation with his niece. She inquired if it was possible to blend his loves of pottery and architecture.
After that conversation, he developed a dream to use the four elements – earth, air, water, and fire – to transform the earth into a piece of architecture. He wanted to create an alternative way of living that was in touch with the surrounding environment.
The building of Casa Terracota took over 15 years to complete, beginning in 1999.
How was Casa Terracota Built?
All 5,400 square feet of Casa Terracota was built using only clay. There is no rebar, no concrete, or other materials used to reinforce the structure. Just the earth. Even the kitchen counters, the seating areas, the bed, the bathrooms. Everything is made from clay. Powered by solar energy, it is the ultimate sustainable home.
Many people assume the house was cooked by the sun, but as Morales explains, the sun and air only helped to dry the layers of clay as it was being built. Using the element of fire, he ‘cooked’ the house, room by room by burning coke coal, which he claims is better for the environment than coal from wood.
Each room was burned for 30 days and then allowed to cool for 30 days. The burning of the home helped to strengthen its thick walls. In fact, Morales says the best thing that could happen to Casa Terracota is for it to have a fire, for the house to burn and thus even further fortify the structure.
The best thing that could happen to the house is for it to have a fire. To burn and further fortify the structure.
– Octavio Mendoza Morales, Casa Terracota Architect
Why Did Morales Build Casa Terracota?
As an architect, Morales became frustrated with the traditional man-made building materials when the Earth is rich in natural materials. He built Casa Terracota because he wanted to live in an alternative space more similar to the adobe house his grandmother lived in.
He intended to live in the house, but as its oddity and Villa de Leyva itself became more popular with tourists, he found strangers arriving at his house unannounced. Rather than get angry, he opened the house to inquisitive tourists and built a smaller ‘artist house’ in which to live.
Today Casa Terracota is used as a space to talk about art and host other lectures about various trades. In addition, the artist house welcomes an artist in residence each year. In exchange for their time and experience in Villa de Leyva, the artist is asked to create something of note of which to remember them.
Final Thoughts About Casa Terracota Colombia
If you’re visiting Villa de Leyva, Casa Terracota is an obligatory stop. From the clay house itself to the artistic metalwork, it’s truly a marvel that allows you to see what’s possible when you think outside of the box.