Did you know that before modern banks evolved, people stored their money in a type of clay known as “pygg?” This tradition is believed to have emerged in Europe sometime between the 11th and 15th centuries. In the 19th century, people began requesting that artisans craft their pygg banks to resemble pigs, thus the modern piggy bank was born.
One of the largest manufacturers of piggy banks in the world is located in Ráquira, and for good reason, too. This small and colorful town is located in the Boyacà region of Colombia and is renowned for its handcrafted pottery, especially its piggy banks! In fact, Ráquira is known as the pueblo de ollas (village of pottery), and, as such, it is considered the artisanal capital of Colombia.
This past September, I took a weekend trip to Ráquira with my partner who came to visit me. This town is located approximately 3 hours away from my host city of Sogamoso by bus. Together, we explored the handcrafted goods of handmade piggy banks, wind chimes, hammocks and jewelry (and much more) while navigating along the charming cobblestone streets of Ráquira.
