Mompós Overview

By Richard McColl

To visitors and locals alike, Mompós represents an older, forgotten Colombia – one of tradition, family ties, and a mix of Garciamarquian myth and religious piety – that remains largely untouched by the conflict found throughout the rest of the country.

Colonial Mompós, a section of the city that has been protected by UNESCO, comprises three long, whitewashed streets running parallel to the River Magdalena and their crossroads. Mompós' stifling heat and backwater status make this a difficult place to visit, but one that anyone interested in colonial Colombia and the European Diaspora or in observing one of Latin America's most austere Semana Santa celebrations should seriously consider.