In this guide
Itá, about 37 km from Asunción, is Paraguay's pottery town: clay workshops, the CAPICI crafts centre and the figures that earned it the nickname "city of the clay jug and honey". Add the caiman lagoon right in the centre, the San Blas church and, in February, the patron saint festival. The whole town centre is walkable in a morning.
Where to see and buy pottery
- CAPICI (Itá Artisans and Small Industries Centre). A permanent pottery and crafts showroom on route D027, close to the church (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab); InfoNegocios, 2019 (opens in a new tab)), showing work by more than 30 local artisans (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Tip: if you only have an hour, this is where to compare styles and prices.
- Casa Museo Arte en Barro (Juana Marta Rodas and Julia Isidrez). A museum devoted to two of Itá's best-known ceramicists (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Julia Isidrez opened her workshop there to keep the craft alive (Hoy (opens in a new tab)), and in 2024 it hosted the closing of the Pinta Sud ASU art week (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)). Tip: it's a working studio, so message or call ahead to arrange a visit.
- Rosa Brítez's legacy. Itá's most famous potter died in December 2017; her house is on Route 1, just before the town centre when coming from Asunción (ABC Color, 2017 (opens in a new tab)). Her son Pedro Brítez carries on with his own clay figures; in 2022 his pieces cost G. 200,000 to G. 800,000 (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
- Lucky hens (gallinitas de la suerte). Itá's signature figure: by tradition, black ones for work and white ones for love (ABC Color, 2017 (opens in a new tab)). Small, cheap and easy to pack.
Bring cash in guaraníes and ask for good wrapping: fired clay chips easily in a suitcase.
What to see in the town centre
- Lagoon Park. A lagoon in the middle of town with a park, viewpoints and about 80 caimans (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab); La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)). Locals say it has never dried up (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Tip: watch from the viewpoints and don't feed the animals.
- San Blas church. Built by the Franciscans, known for its woodwork and the altarpiece at the back (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)), with a large courtyard where you can rest in the shade (InfoNegocios, 2019 (opens in a new tab)).
- Teatro Municipal Dr. Celso Bazán. Besides shows, it has a gallery of local pottery and a museum of Itá's Chaco War veterans with photos and relics (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Ykua San Blas and Plaza Domingo Martínez de Irala. The ykua is a park around a spring locals consider sacred; the plaza is the main green space in the centre (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
Nature outside the centre
- Arrua'i, Ñandu'a and Hovy hills. The highest points in the district (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), used for walks with panoramic views (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Tip: go early with water and closed shoes; summer highs can reach 40 °C (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
- Costa Alegre bridge. A metal bridge over the Yhovy stream and one of the district's photo icons (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
- Sugar-cane honey. Itá is also the honey town: in 2019 the municipality pointed to honey-cake making in the Calle Yvate area and a honey mill in Posta Gaona (InfoNegocios, 2019 (opens in a new tab)). Ask in town where to buy it that day.
When to go: the San Blas festival
The patron saint's day is 3 February, and celebrations start nine days earlier with prayers, church bells and fireworks (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). The festival runs about 10 days with craft and food fairs and draws around 10,000 visitors a day (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). At the same time the Festival del Cántaro y la Miel takes over the Don Prisciliano Villalba amphitheatre by the lagoon, with local food, fairground rides and live music (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)).
For quiet workshop visits, pick another month; for atmosphere and fairs, February is the time.
Getting there and where to stay
From Asunción, take route PY01 or the Acceso Sur (La Nación, 2022 (opens in a new tab)); from San Lorenzo, route D027 runs straight into town (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
Itá has around 50 guest beds. La Nación names Hotel Platinum, Hotel Santa Isabel and the lodging at Granja Ecológica Arapoty (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)); the hotels also appear in the municipality's 2019 tourism list (InfoNegocios, 2019 (opens in a new tab)) and the farm in Wikipedia (opens in a new tab).
A morning plan: CAPICI and the church early, walk to the lagoon, the Teatro Municipal and, if you booked ahead, the Casa Museo Arte en Barro before lunch.
FAQ
What is there to do in Itá, Paraguay?
Shop for pottery at CAPICI and local workshops, visit the Casa Museo Arte en Barro, see the caimans at Lagoon Park, step into San Blas church and the Teatro Municipal, and in February join the San Blas festival.
How many caimans live in Itá's lagoon?
About 80, according to La Nación (2025). You can watch them from the park viewpoints in the town centre.
When is the San Blas festival in Itá?
On 3 February, with celebrations starting nine days earlier. The Festival del Cántaro y la Miel runs at the same time by the lagoon.
How far is Itá from Asunción?
About 37 km, via route PY01 or the Acceso Sur, or route D027 from San Lorenzo.
