SAN BASILIO de PALENQUE
Living History
Communities founded by men and women who had escaped from slavery, throughout the Americas, were called palenques, and San Basilio de Palenque is the most popular palenque that has survived to present day. It was also the first palenque, or "free" town/community, formed in the Americas.
This village is still located in the foothills of the Montes de María, in the Colombian municipality of Mahates, in the department of Bolivar, southeast of Cartagena.
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Cultural Preservation:
A UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site
For many Afro-Colombian communities, San Basilio de Palenque has come to symbolize the struggles for the abolition of slavery, coexistence, ethnic validation, and recognition of cultural diversity in Colombia. To recognize this cultural heritage and historical significance, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared this palenque a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, in 2005.
Palenque's rich cultural heritage can be seen in all aspects of Palenquero life: religious ceremonies, the Palenquero language, social structure, music, cuisine, folk medicine, literature, art, and more.
At the Village
In addition to tours of Casa Museo Palenque, the village museum, marketplaces for locally-made products are available throughout the village.
A list of shops, cafes, and activities will be provided here as they are obtained. Please check back!
