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If you are a fan of Spanish colonial architecture you will love what you see in Cafayate. The town is full of beautiful red tile roofs and floors that would be the envy of anyone who appreciates the building styles of Andalucia, Spain, Southern California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Here in Cafayate, we are fortunate to have ready access to some of the most beautiful terracotta tiles made anywhere on the planet. Called “baldosas” these hand made earth tiles are part of the very soul of our small town. Baldosas don the floors, roofs, and shade galleries of churches, restaurants, offices, hotels and private homes, indeed, they are everywhere !
Terra cotta tiles - baldosas - are made in the nearby town of San Carlos, a 15 minute drive to the north They are a labor of love and artistry, an homage to the history of the Calchaqui Valley.
These beautiful tiles are made from rich red clay deposits that are dug out of the ground, mixed with the assistance of horses, molded by hand by local artisans, baked on the ground in the high desert sun, and then fired in huge wood fueled outdoor brick kilns at high temperature. Once fired, baldosas are transported by truck to Cafayate where they are carefully installed by craftsmen. It is the tradition to then heavily wax and polish the baldosas to protect the tiles and achieve a highly burnished finish.
Next time you are in Cafayate, be sure and visit the baldosa-makers in San Carlos!
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