Less than a three-hour drive from the Colombian capital, bogota, located in one of the most quaint and charming historic towns in the country. Although still unknown to international audiences, Villa de Santa María de Leyva was declared a Colombian National Monument as early as 1954 as the town’s official name. This has resulted in a large part of its historic center, much of which dates back to the town’s founding by the Spanish in 1572, and is still in pristine condition. Even the newly built parts reflect this Spanish colonial heritage, with local architecture dominated by two-storey townhouses with wooden balconies and wraparound square inner courtyards.
The Plaza Mayor is the focal point of the town, covering over 14,000 square meters, it is one of the largest public squares in the city South America. This pedestrian area has an 18th-century fountain in the center and the 17th-century Parish Church of Our Lady of the Rosary on the north side. The many restaurants, bars and shops on its fringes are followed by a constant hive of activity, but its crown jewel is the richly decorated Town Hall, which is open to the public – its courtyard is also a fine example of 17th-century Spanish colonial architecture.
