Central Cemetery

The Central Cemetery of Bogotá, founded in 1836, is one of the oldest and most important cemeteries in Colombia. Covering approximately 20 hectares, it holds a rich history and numerous tombs of prominent figures in Colombian society.

It is said that Charles III ordered the cemetery's construction in 1781. In April 1791, Domingo Esquiaqui drew the first plan of the site, and it wasn't until 1827 that Simón Bolívar signed a decree again prohibiting the burial of corpses in churches, chapels, or vaults, ordering the construction of cemeteries on the outskirts of towns. This construction was completed in 1836.

The cemetery is characterized by its neoclassical architecture and its imposing mausoleums and funerary monuments, many of which are works of art in themselves. 

Among the prominent figures buried in the Central Cemetery are politicians, writers, scientists, and military personnel, whose tombs bear witness to Colombia's history. Notable among them are the graves of independence general Francisco de Paula Santander, whose tomb is the largest in the cemetery, as well as those of 30 former presidents and even victims of some of the most shocking assassinations in recent Colombian history: Luis Carlos Galán, Carlos Pizarro, and Jaime Pardo Leal.

The section known as Globe B is called the Cemetery of the Poor. In 1948, the cemetery's columbariums (funerary structures composed of small niches, specifically designed to hold urns containing human ashes) were designated in four funerary pavilions with 8,957 empty tombs for the victims of the Bogotazo riots. The artwork “Anonymous Auras” was inspired by the artist Beatriz González and consists of screen prints on the tombs, depicting men carrying corpses—a recurring image in photographs of the conflict..

Due to its historical, architectural, and cultural significance, it was declared a national monument in 1984. Although admission is free, it is sometimes restricted to specific hours.