Aracataca

Aracataca
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Nickname:  Cataca
Location of the town and municipality of Aracataca in the Department of Magdalena.
Country	Colombia
Region	Caribbean
Department	Magdalena
Foundation	1885
Area
• Total	1,755 km2 (678 sq mi)
Population  (2020 est.)
• Total	41,872
Time zone	UTC-5
Climate	Aw
Website	www.aracataca-magdalena.gov.co
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Aracataca (colloquially sometimes referred to as "Cataca") is a town and municipality and town located in the Department of Magdalena, in Colombia's Caribbean Region. Aracataca is a river town founded in 1885. The town stands beside a small river of the same name, the Aracataca river, that flows from the nearby Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range into the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, a lagoon of the Caribbean Sea. Aracataca is 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of the Department capital Santa Marta. The town is best known as the birthplace of Nobel literature laureate Gabriel García Márquez.

Geography and climate

The municipality borders to the north with the municipalities of Zona Bananera, Santa Marta and Cienaga, to the east with the Cesar Department, to the south with the municipality of Fundación, and to the west with the municipalities of El Retén and Pueblo Viejo.

Aracataca's climate is tropical: warm and humid year-round.

History

Aracataca was founded in 1885. It achieved the status of municipality on 28 April 1915, when it separated from the municipality of Pueblo Viejo. In the late 19th century, companies that would later merge into the United Fruit Company colonized the land and started to cultivate bananas in the wide region. After some decades, the downfall of the company initiated and completed soon after, partly because of the worldwide recession and the war soon after.

Aracataca is the inspiration for the fictional town of Macondo in Gabriel García Márquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. On June 25, 2006, a referendum to rename the town "Aracataca-Macondo" failed due to a low turnout.

Economy

Aracataca relies heavily on agriculture, mainly producing Oil palm, rice, cotton, sugar cane, common bean, plantain, bananas, yuca, tomato and on livestock raising like cattle, equines, mules, donkeys, domesticated birds, goats and pigs. Commerce represents another form of income and is mostly done informally, especially along the main highway to Santa Marta where large lines of stands selling beach towels are placed.

Transportation

There are several companies that offer inter-municipal and inter-departmental transportation on medium-size buses, minivans and taxi cabs. Most tourists and locals use Berlinas del Fonce which has busses leaving the Santa Marta terminal every 30 minutes between 5am and 6pm. $9.000 p.p. From the transportation office in Aracataca you can get almost everywhere using a ciclotaxi for just $1.000 p.p. The rivers are not navigable and there are a few small rudimentary airfields used by small aircraft for agricultural fumigation. The municipality and town are crossed by the Highway 45 that extends from Santa Marta, crosses Aracataca, Fundación, El Copey, Bosconia, Curumani into the Cesar Department and turns south towards the Colombian Andean Region. The railway no longer works for public transportation, it is used almost exclusively to transport coal from the region of La Loma Calentura in the Cesar Department to the Port of Santa Marta.

Notable People

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez, affectionately known as Gabo or Gabito throughout Latin America, was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter, and journalist. Born on March 6, 1927, in Aracataca, Colombia, he is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, particularly in the Spanish language. García Márquez received the 1972 Neustadt International Prize for Literature and the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. His acclaimed works include “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (1967), which sold over fifty million copies, “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” (1981), and “Love in the Time of Cholera” (1985). He popularized the literary style known as magic realism, blending magical elements with otherwise ordinary situations. García Márquez’s legacy endures as the most-translated Spanish-language author. Upon his death in April 2014, he was hailed by the president of Colombia as “the greatest Colombian who ever lived".

B Leo Matiz

Leo Matiz (1917–1998) was a Colombian photographer, caricaturist, newspaper publisher, painter, and gallery owner. Born in the small village of Aracataca, Colombia, he shared his hometown with the renowned author Gabriel García Márquez. Matiz traveled extensively, selling caricatures and illustrations to support himself. His gallery hosted the first exhibition of Colombian artist Fernando Botero in 1951. Known for his distinctive style, including long hair, colored jackets, and a gangster-style mustache, Matiz photographed notable figures such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Louis Armstrong. His work appeared in publications like Life, Reader’s Digest, and Harper Magazine. Despite losing an eye due to a robbery, Matiz continued photographing with an eye patch until his death in Bogotá in 1998. The Foundation Leo Matiz was established to preserve his legacy

Antonio Jaramillo

Antonio Jaramillo, affectionately known as “El Perro Negro”, was a Colombian musician and composer who left an indelible mark on the folklore of his hometown, Aracataca. His life story is intertwined with the soulful rhythms of Colombian folk music, particularly the guaracha style. Let me share a glimpse of his fascinating journey:

• Early Years and Musical Passion: Antonio Jaramillo, nicknamed “El Perro Negro,” discovered his love for music at an early age. By the tender age of four, he had already picked up an accordion and held onto it tightly, setting the stage for a lifelong musical journey.
• The Acordeón del Diablo: Jaramillo’s life became the subject of a captivating documentary titled “El Acordeón del Diablo”, directed by Stefan Schwietert. This 90-minute masterpiece delves into the life of Pacho Rada, a master accordionist from Aracataca. Rada’s music resonated with the soul of the Colombian people, and his legacy endures.
• A Crowded Farewell: When Antonio Jaramillo passed away on March 20, 2012, Aracataca mourned him like no other. His funeral drew a massive crowd, filling both the church and the town square. People dressed in mourning attire, tears flowing under the intense sun. Jaramillo’s music, reminiscent of Guillermo Buitrago’s style, had touched countless lives.

Culture

Festivities

Aracatacans celebrate the Roman Catholic tradition of Three Kings on January 6 of every year, Carnivals and the Holy Week between February and March, a cultural week, The Festival of the Unedited Song (Festival de la Canción Inédita), The municipality's anniversary in April and the River Festival (Festival del Río). The Fiestas Patronales which consist of large outdoor concerts and semi bullfights this year is being held from 15 July till the 24th.

Aracataca train station, one of the literary settings of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel.

Tourism

Tourism in Aracataca is growing, but still at a low level. The most famous attraction is the house in which Gabriel García Márquez grew up, now the Casa Museo (Museum House). Another museum, Casa del Telegrafista, is also popular. In addition, the recently renovated train station will serve as an exhibition hall for photographs by Leo Matiz, a native of Aracataca.

Places of Interest

1. Aracataca Train Station: The Aracataca Train Station holds significant cultural and historical importance, particularly because Gabriel García Márquez wrote about it in his novels and visited many times when he was little. The train station is often visited by literature enthusiasts and fans of García Márquez's work, as it's a tangible connection to the setting that shaped his storytelling. While it may not be a bustling transportation hub, its allure lies in its literary significance and its role in preserving the memory of one of Colombia's most celebrated authors.

2. Plaza de Bolivar: This central square features a statue of Simón Bolívar, the prominent leader in the South American independence movement, as is common in many towns and cities throughout Colombia and other Latin American countries. The park hosts a coffee shop, a playground, and is surrounded by the central church, billiards' establishments and stores.

3. García Márquez House Museum: The García Márquez House Museum, located in Aracataca, Colombia, is a significant cultural landmark dedicated to honoring the life and work of Gabriel García Márquez, one of Latin America's most celebrated authors. The museum is housed in the author's childhood home, where he spent his early years and was deeply influenced by the stories, people, and landscapes of the region. Visitors to the museum can explore the rooms of the house, which have been preserved to reflect the period when García Márquez lived there. Exhibits include personal belongings, photographs, manuscripts, and other memorabilia associated with the author's life and literary career. The museum offers insight into García Márquez's upbringing and the real-life experiences that inspired his iconic novels, including "One Hundred Years of Solitude.

4. Casa del Telegrafista: The Casa del Telegrafista, or Telegraph Operator's House, is a historic site located in Aracataca, Colombia. This house holds significance as it is where Gabriel García Márquez, the Nobel Prize-winning author, spent part of his childhood. García Márquez often referenced this house in his works, including his masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude," where it served as inspiration for the Buendía family home. Today, the Casa del Telegrafista has been restored and transformed into a museum dedicated to García Márquez and his literary legacy. Visitors can explore the house and learn about the author's early life, his connections to Aracataca, and the influences that shaped his writing. The museum provides a glimpse into García Márquez's upbringing and the magical realism that permeates his novels, making it a must-visit destination for fans of his work and literature enthusiasts alike.

5. Melquiades Tombstone: In Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude," Melquiades is a mysterious and enigmatic character who plays a pivotal role in the story. Melquiades is depicted as a wandering gypsy and a bringer of knowledge and mysticism to the town of Macondo. His presence is felt throughout the narrative, even after his death, as his writings and inventions continue to influence the characters and events in the story.

Because Melquiades was the first person to die in Macondo, to increase the sense of belonging for the local townspeople related to the legacy of Garcia Marquez, it was decided to erect a tombstone to this 'greatest benefactor of Macondo'.

Politics

Administrative divisions

Rural

Corregimientos

• Buenos Aires, Cauca, Sampues, La Fuente

Veredas

Aracataca contains 13 veredas:

• Tehobromina, El Torito, Macaraquilla, La escondida, Bocatoma, La Ribiera, La Fuente, Cerro Azul, El Volante, El porvenir, Marimonda

Caserios

Aracataca has 3 caseríos:

• Serankua, Yechikin, Dwanawimaku

Urban

Neighborhoods

The town of Aracataca has 33 Barrios: La Esperanza, La esmeralda, Zacapita, 2 de febrero, 20 de Julio, Ayacucho, Nariño, Loma Fresca, 7 de Agosto, El Carmen, Cataquita, Macondo, El Suiche, El Pradito, 11 de Noviembre, 7 de Abril, Ciudadela macondo, San José, Base, Marujita, Las delicias, Centro, Boston, El Porvenir, 1 de Mayo, Galán, San Martín, Bello Horizonte, Raíces, Macondo, Villa del Río I y II.

"Macondo"

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most influential authors of the 20th century. With works like: Love in the Time of Cholera, One Hundred Years of Solitude, and Chronicle of a death Foretold, "Gabito" not only excels in storytelling, he is a master of conveying perspective, love and identity. Born in town in 1927 as grandson of the great Colonel Nicolas Marquez, he witnessed quintesential events since he were a little baby and he went through the unique experiences of life in a way that Forest Gump looked like a nobody.

Aracataca was Garcia Marquez's first stomping grounds and his childhood home, now the Casa Museo, and the church where he was baptised are both major tourist attractions.

Gallery

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  Gabriel García Márquez's Birthplace Museum
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  García Márquez Wall
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  Billboard of Gabriel García Márquez in Aracataca. The billboard reads: "I feel I am an American from every country, without never renouncing to the nostalgia for my land, to which I returned one day and discovered that between the reality and nostalgia was the Feedstock for my work". - Gabriel García Márquez
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  Riverlife
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  Schoolkids
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  Freemason lodge
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  Oil palm plantations in the municipality of Aracataca
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  African palmtree forest, from which palm oil is being won
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  The house of the Telegrafist
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  Aracataca railway
• 
  Train passing by the station

External links

• Alcaldia de Aracataca
• Tourist Informacion