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El Cabrero is a neighborhood northeast of the Old Town of Cartagena. Because it’s usually not visited by tourists, I decided to wander over and check it out.
Introduction to El Cabrero
The neighborhood is heavily associated with Rafael Núñez (1825-1894). He was a journalist and politician who served four terms as president of Colombia and was one of the authors of the constitution. He also wrote the words to Colombia’s national anthem.
Parque del Cabrero
The centerpiece of El Cabrero is Parque del Cabrero, which is a modest space decorated with flowers and shrubs. There are some monuments within its boundaries.
One of the monuments is a circular colonnade that pays homage to the Colombian constitution. It contains busts of its authors in the center. Another is a statue of Rafael Núñez.
Cabrero Hermitage
A small church, the Cabrero Hermitage (Ermita del Cabrero), is also inside the park. It was designed by Mariano de Santamaría and built in 1885 as Our Lady of Las Mercedes (Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes). The church was commissioned by Soledad Román de Núñez, the wife of Rafael Núñez. Both rest in marble tombs inside.
Rafael Núñez House Museum
The Rafael Núñez House Museum (Casa Museo Rafael Núñez) tells the life story of the Rafael Núñez. Admission to the museum is free (as of September 2024), but all information is in Spanish only. You really have to be a lover of Colombian history to want to visit. The most interesting thing about the museum is the architecture.
The house is a beautiful Caribbean-style mansion built entirely out of wood. Many of Núñez’s personal items are on display as well as furniture used during his time living in the house.
