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Anserma is a town in the Coffee Region of Colombia and part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia. I spent a lot of time in Anserma because Marisol’s parents lived there.
History
Anserma is one of the oldest towns in the country, founded on August 15, 1539, by Spanish conquistador Jorge Robledo. Robledo went on to found Cartago a year later in 1540, and Santa Fe de Antioquia in 1541. The major economy of the town is coffee production.
The Town
The town is built on top of a hill and has some very steep streets running down the sides. The main streets run along the top of the hill and are filled with all kinds of shops, restaurants, and cafés. Homes are on the slopes of the hill down both sides from the main streets, Carrera 4 and Carrera 5. Most of the highlights in this entry run along Carrera 5, which I’ve written about from north to south.
Parque Simón Bolívar
Parque Simón Bolívar is the plaza at the top of the hill. It was established in 1962. Jorge Robledo founded Anserma on this spot in 1539.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
On one side of Parque Simón Bolívar is a church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Nuestra Señora del Carmen). It was completed in 1963 and the interior contains no beams. Pay attention to the large wooden doors at the entrance.
Obelisk
The obelisk across the street from the park honors the former Society of Public Works (Sociedad de Obras Públicas). The entertainment zone of La Avenida also begins there.
Restrepo Public Library
A few blocks downhill is the Arturo y Roberto Restrepo Public Library (Biblioteca Pública Arturo y Roberto Restrepo). It stands on the site once occupied by Ricaurte Park (Parque Ricaurte), which was once the town’s most beautiful park. The building has had several functions, including a branch office for the Red Cross and a night school for young women. It opened as a library in 2005.
Galería
Another block downhill is Galería. It’s a big market building in the center of a square with jeeps lined up around it. Locals go there to shop for all kinds of goods. The jeeps come and go to other nearby town filled with passengers, bags of coffee, and other large items.
Carlos Gardel Marker
On the block past the Galería is a small traditional building with a historical marker placed next to the door. It states that the remains of legendary French-Argentine tango singer Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) spent one night in the building in December 1935 while being transported from Medellín to Buenaventura. Gardel died in a plane crash at the Olaya Herrera Airport (formerly Medellín International Airport) in Medellín.
Plaza Mariscal Jorge Robledo
Plaza Mariscal Jorge Robledo is another plaza sitting a bit further down the hill. It contains the city hall (Alcaldía) and is surrounded by a few colonial buildings. This plaza was once where the market was located, and where locals would come to gather water. Trustee meetings also took place there.
The current square was built in 1850 and named Plaza La Pola. It has been remodeled several times since then and is considered the main plaza in Anserma. Farmers markets and craft markets are often held there.
Church of Santa Barbara
The most beautiful church in town, the Church of Santa Bárbara (Iglesia de Santa Bárbara), sits on Plaza Mariscal Jorge Robledo. It has stood since 1750.
Indigenous Monument
Finally, on the outskirts of town to the north, near a big recreational area, is a monument to the indigenous people of the area, the Ancermas.
