Central Cemetery: The renovation of a cemetery with almost 200 years of history

On El Dorado Avenue with Carrera 24, you will find one of the main historical points of the Colombian capital: the Central Cemetery, a 188-year-old necropolis, which is not only striking for its architecture, but because the remains of historical personalities rest there. of the country such as former presidents, mayors, artists, scientists, among others, who chose this site for eternal rest.

Its architecture, its vaults, tombs and mausoleums, as well as the sculptures that seem to watch over the rest of the deceased, led this site to become a national heritage site, which almost daily attracts visitors interested in its history. But are not the only ones. Faithful also pass through the narrow streets and corridors and come to ask for favors.

As is the case with the tombs of the German Leo Kopp, who founded Bavaria, or that of the Colombian astronomer Julio Garavito, which are constantly visited by people who come to perform spiritual, religious and social rituals, with the aim of honoring these characters or making requests. When visiting this place you can feel a different aura, which adorns the environment with several visitors, who come with candles, beers, offerings and faith that their requests will come true.

“Mr. Leo Kopp fulfills the wishes that one comes to ask of him. You whisper into his left ear what you want to ask for and to thank him he has to do it in your right ear. I bear witness, because precisely yesterday I came and when he went to the bank, a deposit arrived that he did not expect. I had $600,000 in the account and when I went I had $1,160,000,” said Juan Carlos Vanegas, a citizen who returned to thank Kopp’s sculpture.

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During guided tours organized by the mayor’s office, visitors have the opportunity to witness how others not only come to ask, but also to express gratitude or pay homage, some transcending the purely religious. There the phrase that death has no distinction is evident, since in the same space people from different social classes, cultures and origins can be observed.

When visiting the western side, outside the ellipse, you will find the famous Caracol, a place associated with satanic rituals. Due to this reputation and the deterioration of its structure, access is prohibited. This house-shaped building with multiple levels, both underground and elevated, houses hundreds of commemorative plaques dedicated to the people buried in this place.

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Currently, the administration is carrying out restoration work, but only on the façade, which is 70% complete. “The intervention is carried out by eight people, both staff and construction masters, a professional in workplace safety, and a resident architect. Behind them, there is a technical team made up of architects, restorers of movable property and other administrative support,” explains Martha Trigos, resident of the heritage intervention brigade.

And he adds: “At this moment the façade is 70% complete, we are currently finishing the scraping and restoration of the panels and we are close to starting the lime painting of the entire façade. We hope to finish the work on approximately May 18.”

The renovations have been aimed at recovering the surfaces and eliminating anthropogenic or physical injuries, which have been occurring in the property for a long time. The interventions are based on the recovery of the mortars, the cleaning of graffiti, and the elimination of biodeterioration, which is what has been affecting it in recent times.

“These injuries have caused a loss in the original materiality of the facades, something that has also been affected by the graffiti with the bricks and these chemicals that have affected them over time and recovery is becoming more and more complicated,” says Trigos.

However, the task is to change the face seen by the thousands of citizens who pass through El Dorado Avenue, since inside there are structures in poor condition, which raises questions about the maintenance work of the premises. But, according to the authorities themselves, due to the age of the structures, recovering them is not an easy task.

The façade, as is well known, is expected to be delivered in its entirety in mid-May. Then, it is expected that the local administration can intervene on the roofs of the ellipses, platforms, walls and columns that are in a deplorable state and that do not allow citizens to enjoy the route in its entirety.

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