Veronica83 · Public domainAtyrá leatherwork
Handmade leather wallets, purses, belts and briefcases from a town of Franciscan origin.
What it is
In Atyrá, leather is worked by hand into wallets, purses, briefcases, belts, covers for tereré thermoses (tereré being Paraguay's iced yerba mate) and decorative objects. The town, with its well-kept streets and founded as a Franciscan mission, also offers carved saints, musical instruments, brooms and masks. It's just a few kilometers from Caacupé, so it's easy to combine with a visit to the basilica and Tobatí.
History
Irala founded the town in 1538 as a meeting place (atyha in Guaraní). Around 1580, Franciscans led by Friar Luis de Bolaños carried out the religious founding of Altos, Atyrá, Tobatí and Yaguarón, and Atyrá's patron saint is Saint Francis of Assisi (October 4).
Did you know…?
Atyrá is known as the cleanest town in Paraguay and calls itself the 'ecological capital'; it has been recognized by PAHO/WHO as a healthy municipality.
Where to buy
Workshops and shops in central Atyrá. Ask whether the leather was tanned in Paraguay and check the stitching and finish.