Jaimalalatete · CC BY-SA 4.0Quiindy leather footballs
The town that stitches soccer balls by hand.
What it is
Quiindy is famous nationwide for its leather balls: entire families cut the panels, stitch them by hand and assemble balls that are sold in shops all over Paraguay. The town also does saddlery and produces cane liquor. For soccer-loving travelers it's an unusual souvenir: a handmade ball from a country where football is a passion.
History
In Quiindy, leather crafts — balls and saddlery — coexist with sugarcane liquor production, concentrated in the rural district of Costa Irala.
Did you know…?
Quiindy lies on Route PY01, the same road that leads to Carapeguá, San Miguel and the missions, so it's easy to stop on the way.
Where to buy
Workshops and shops in Quiindy, about 100 km from Asunción on Route PY01. Ask whether the ball is real or synthetic leather and whether it's hand-stitched.