This picturesque people, nestled in the mountains of Caldas, Colombia, He is known for his beauty and his rich mining history. It also stands out for its houses built on the hillside of the Cerro El Guamo, challenging gravity and offering impressive views. However, under its charm and splendor, this site keeps a treasure that many of its inhabitants do not know: a gold -rich mountain, exploited by various companies over the centuries.
Its history is closely linked to mining, especially to the extraction of gold, an activity that has marked the fate of its inhabitants for centuries and became a pillar of its cultural and economic identity. Surrounded by mountains, Marmato stands out for its abrupt geography and a natural environment rich in biodiversity.
The urban center is recognized by their homes raised on the slope of the El Guamo hill, which challenge gravity and give unique panoramic views of the landscape. Its steep and narrow streets, many still paved, refer to a colonial past that coexists with contemporary life. This peculiar urbanism symbolizes the ability to adapt and the resilience of the community against the surrounding mountain land.
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Marmato in Caldas
Source: Marmato Municipal City Hall in Caldas
Beyond its architecture and ancient mining activity, Marmato protects a valuable cultural heritage. Traditions, popular celebrations and regional music are integrated into daily life, transmitting the legacy of generations linked to gold and work in the mountains.
Despite current changes and challenges, The community maintains a deep sense of identity and attachment to its territory. In short, this place reflects the contrast between natural beauty, historical inheritance and social complexities.
Its value is not limited to the extraction of minerals: it represents the tenacity and creativity of its inhabitants, capable of overcoming the difficulties that occurred and that tested the community, in addition to conserving their roots and maintaining in force a town full of memory and tradition in the heart of the Central Mountains of Colombia.
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How is the history of the people?
As indicated by the University of Los Andesthis place supports its economy in the artisanal extraction of gold, active tradition since 1536. Its people come from the mixture between indigenous communities, African descendants and European settlers who came attracted to mining wealth.
The current landscape is the result of manual mining centuries, an activity that has shaped both the territory and local customs. On the other hand, the dawn exploitation became an essential part of social and cultural life.
Since 2006, large -scale companies tried to move to the population to open an open -pit mine on the El Burro hill. Citizen resistance and the fall in the price of gold managed to stop the plan.
In 2017, the Constitutional Court definitely arrested the project due to lack of prior consultation to indigenous and Afro -descendant peoples. The victory reflected the union of the mining community, which preserves a living heritage based on ancestral practices and its link with the mountain.
What can be done in Marmato?
This picturesque mining people offer unique experiences that allow to know their historical wealth and enjoy impressive landscapes.
Tour the Minercol Park: A space dedicated to the mining history of the region, where you can learn about gold extraction techniques and the life of miners over time.
Visit the gold mines: Explore the traditional mines allows you to know artisanal mining closely and understand the importance of this resource in the local economy and culture.
Discover goldsmith workshops: Marmato is famous for his artisans; In the goldsmith workshops you can see the techniques to create gold jewels and take unique handmade memories.
Know the Temple of Santa Barbara and El Guamo hill: The temple is a religious and cultural icon of the municipality, while the Cerro El Guamo offers panoramic views of Marmato and its surroundings, ideal for photographs and walks.
Explore Cueva Stone and the Ruins of Clear Water: These archaeological and natural sites are perfect for hiking and history lovers, offering unique landscapes and a look at the past of the territory.
