Every visitor photographs Guatapé's colorful buildings. But most snap a few pictures and move on without understanding what they're looking at. The painted bas-relief panels along the base of every building — called zócalos — aren't decorative afterthoughts. Each one is a deliberate artistic statement by the family or business that owns the building, telling a specific story about who they are and what they value. Understanding the zócalos transforms a pretty street walk into a cultural experience.
How It Started
The zócalo tradition in Guatapé dates back to the mid-20th century and is largely credited to a single resident. The practice of decorating building bases with painted concrete relief panels began as a way for families to distinguish their homes and businesses in a town where most buildings looked similar. What started as a few buildings became a movement — encouraged by local leaders and eventually adopted as a town-wide identity project.
Over the decades, the tradition spread until virtually every building in the town center participated. Today, the zócalos are legally protected as cultural heritage, and new construction in the center is expected to include them. The tradition is alive — you'll see both historic panels from decades ago and fresh ones on recently built or renovated properties.
What the Designs Mean
Each zócalo is specific to its building. The designs are not random — they represent the family's identity, profession, or values:
Farming and agriculture: Panels depicting cows, horses, crops, and plows are common — reflecting Guatapé's roots as an agricultural community in the Antioquia highlands.
Fishing: Fish, boats, and nets reference the reservoir and the fishing traditions that predated tourism as the town's primary livelihood.
Religion: Crosses, churches, saints, and biblical scenes reflect the deep Catholic heritage of the paisa (Antioquia) culture.
Trade and profession: A carpenter's house might feature tools and wood. A baker's shop might show bread and ovens. A musician's home might depict instruments. The zócalo functions almost like a family coat of arms.
Nature and wildlife: Flowers, birds, butterflies, and local plants appear frequently — celebrating the natural environment of the region.
History: Some panels reference specific historical events: the founding of the town, the construction of the reservoir, or significant moments in Guatapé's past.
Where to See the Best Examples
Plazoleta de los Zócalos. The most concentrated display. A small plaza where multiple buildings showcase elaborate, well-maintained panels. This is the obvious starting point and the most photographed spot in town.
Calle del Recuerdo. A pedestrian street specifically preserved to showcase the zócalo tradition. The panels here tend to be larger and more detailed than on residential streets.
Back streets off the main plaza. The less-visited residential streets often have more personal and idiosyncratic zócalos — the ones that feel like genuine family expression rather than tourism displays. Wander without a map and look at building bases as you go.
The church area. The buildings surrounding the main church feature some of the most religious-themed panels and some of the oldest examples in town.
The Flooded Connection
The zócalo tradition gained additional emotional weight after the creation of the reservoir in 1978, which flooded the original town of El Peñol nearby. As communities were displaced and resettled, the zócalos became a way of preserving identity and memory — a painted record of a way of life that, in the flooded zones, literally disappeared beneath the water. Many of the agricultural and pastoral scenes you see on Guatapé's buildings reference a landscape that no longer exists above the surface.
Visiting Tips
Go in the morning or late afternoon for the best light on the painted surfaces. Midday sun washes out colors in photos.
No guided tour needed, but walking with someone who can explain individual panels adds a lot. Some local guides offer zócalo-focused walking tours for COP 30,000–50,000 per person.
Allow 1–2 hours if you're genuinely looking at the zócalos, not just walking past them. There are hundreds of unique panels across the town center.
Don't touch the panels. The painted concrete is durable but not indestructible. Respect the artwork — these are people's homes.