The city of Cuenca and its surroundings are privileged with skilled artisans that produce a variety of remarkable handicrafts: pottery, toquilla straw hats (Panama hats), gold and silver filigree jewelry, weavings, basket sewing, smithery, tinsmith, among others.… These handicrafts keep a strong cultural identity alive, which has been transmitted for generations.

Pottery
Pottery is one of the most traditional handicrafts in Cuenca. A place where potters still get together to work is the “Convención del 45”, located at the west side of the city, on the outskirts of the colonial cask area.

Toquilla Straw hats
Most of the “cholas cuencanas” that live in Cuenca and its surroundings still wear these hats with a black hatband. ”Homero Ortega & Hijos” is a company that has a factory, a gallery and a store where you can learn about this traditional product.

Jewelry
Jewelry is also a very important handicraft in this area because Cuenca is located close to gold and silver mines. Jewelry shops are located along the “Gran Colombia” street.

Weavings
Several artisans in Cuenca and its surroundings are dedicated to manufacture traditional clothing such as ponchos, skirts, flannels, dresses, embroidered blouses, wool sweaters and weavings with tie-dyed patterns called “ikat”. Basket sewing
Baskets and other utilitarian products are elaborated mainly in the San Joaquin Parish.

Smithy
The workers keep alive the tradition of working the iron directly with fire. The smithy neighborhood is a recommended place to visit. Tourists are able to watch the working process with iron.

Tinsmith’s
On the way up to the “Vado” area some tinsmith’s workshops are found. The products have designs that tell of the blend of cultures that characterizes Cuenca.

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