Explore a House Made of Clay at Casa Terracota
One day, ceramicist and architect Octavio Mendoza Morales was chatting with one of his nieces. She suggested that he combine his passions by building a house out of clay. Captivated by the idea, Morales set out to turn this whimsical concept into reality.
Casa Terracota, located in Villa de Leyva, Colombia, is entirely made of clay, without a single metal or wooden support beam. Morales often describes it as the largest piece of pottery in the world. He crafted the house from clay and then spent months ‘baking’ each room, using coke coal to harden the walls.
Initially intended as a private residence, Casa Terracota attracted so much public interest that Morales opened it to visitors. He built a small artist’s residence for himself and now welcomes guests Monday through Thursday, charging a small fee to tour this unique home, akin to a residence of a benevolent wizard.
Casa Terracota’s design features countless curved lines and rounded shapes reminiscent of waves. Its interior boasts metal sculptures and furniture, including a snake-shaped banister, a ceiling-suspended fish, and a dragon-shaped chair, along with several colorful mosaic accents. The house is furnished with immovable clay chairs, tables, and even a bed.
Morales takes pride in the fact that Casa Terracota utilizes solar energy and harmonizes with its surroundings. He hopes it inspires visitors to consider environmentally friendly building materials, advocating for the use of literal earth in construction.
Blending with Villa de Leyva’s natural beauty, Casa Terracota‘s wavy exterior appears almost fantastical. It may leave you wondering if it was designed by a human or a whimsical wizard with magical building materials. For those interested in architecture and sustainable living, visiting this impressive clay house is a must.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Casa Terracota, Vereda Monquirá, Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia
- Coordinates
- 5.6348049, -73.5365249
- Access
- About 10 minutes by car or a 1.9 km / roughly 22-minute walk from Villa de Leyva Plaza Mayor; the final turn is onto an unpaved road. Limited capacity: book online at least two days ahead or ask at the ticket booth on the day. Tickets allow one entry; children must remain with an adult.
- Admission
- Paid. The operator’s Spanish 2026 table lists self-guided adult entry at COP 33,000 (low-season weekdays), COP 37,000 (low-season weekends/holidays), COP 40,000 (high-season weekdays) and COP 43,000 (high-season weekends/holidays); guided tours cost more. Under-7s enter free. The English 2026 table currently disagrees, so confirm the price with the operator before travel.
- Time needed
- Maximum 1 hour 30 minutes inside; the operator sets a one-entry visit window.
- Best season
- The operator names year-end holidays, Holy Week, mid-year vacations and October school break as high season. A low-season weekday is a planning choice for lower posted prices and potentially lighter crowds, not an operator-published crowd forecast. Bring sun/rain and insect protection.
- Opening hours
- Self-guided visits: Thursday–Sunday and holidays 09:30–16:30; non-holiday Monday 10:00–16:50. The operator says visits are normally unavailable Tuesday/Wednesday except on special dates. Its separate visit-protocol page has conflicting schedule wording; confirm the date and last entry with Casa Terracota.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-25
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-17
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