Centenario: the Secret of the Hidden Murals on Its Facades
If you walk through the Centenario neighborhood of Cali with your eyes straight ahead, you will miss the best part. This neighborhood, which many know only for its old houses and auto parts commerce, is actually an open-air urban art museum. But don't expect to find the giant, colorful murals of Calle 9 or the curated graffiti of San Antonio. Here, the art is hidden: on side facades, on rusty garages, on second floors that no one looks at. As of May 2026, these murals remain a well-kept secret, even for the locals who live next door. This article is your guide to finding five uncatalogued murals, learning their history, and getting the perfect photo without having your camera stolen.
Introduction: Centenario as the City's Forgotten Canvas
Centenario was born as a middle-class residential neighborhood at the beginning of the 20th century, with houses in the republican style and tree-lined streets. But over time, commerce invaded: mechanic shops, tire sales, hardware stores. This scared off the original residents and attracted urban artists who saw the neglected walls as a perfect canvas. Unlike other neighborhoods where art is commissioned by the Mayor's Office or galleries, here the murals were born from the need for expression, without permission or budget. That's why many are on facades that no one cleans, in alleys only locals know. It's street art in its purest state, without a tourist filter.
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A curious fact: the oldest mural still preserved dates from 2012 and was painted by a local artist who later moved to Buenos Aires. No one knows his real name, but the neighbors call him "El Gato" (The Cat), because of the signature he left in the lower right corner. That mural, which shows a female silhouette surrounded by gears, is on Carrera 4 with Calle 12, on the wall of a motorcycle shop that has been closed for 5 years. If you don't know it's there, you walk right past it without seeing it.
What to Do: the Route of the 5 Hidden Murals
This route is designed to be done on foot, in a maximum of two hours, starting at 6:30 AM when the sunlight hits the eastern facades directly. Bring water, repellent, and a camera with a wide-angle lens. Don't use your cell phone in plain sight on lonely streets; better keep it hidden until you reach each point.
Mural 1: "The Woman of Gears" (Carrera 4 # 12-35)
Exact address: side facade of an abandoned motorcycle shop, on Carrera 4 between Calles 12 and 13. The mural is 3 meters high by 5 meters wide. It shows a woman in profile with hair made of chains and gears. It was painted in 2012 by an artist known only as "Gato" (possibly Juan Carlos Gaviria, according to a neighbor who remembers him). The motive: to denounce female labor exploitation in the neighborhood's mechanic shops. The best angle for the photo is from the opposite corner, using the shadow of a lamppost to frame the face. The ideal light is between 6:30 and 7:30 AM, when the sun illuminates it from the front.
Mural 2: "The River of Colors" (Calle 11 # 3-48)
This one is on the facade of a recycling warehouse, right next to the store "Donde Mery". It is an abstract mural about 8 meters long, representing the Cali River in blue, green, and yellow tones, but with black stains that simulate pollution. It was painted by the collective "Pinceladas Urbanas" in 2015, after a river cleanup day organized by the Community Action Board. The curious fact: if you stand 10 meters away, the black stains form the word "Agua" (Water). The best time to photograph it is at noon, when the sun is high and there are no shadows distorting the colors.
Mural 3: "The All-Seeing Eye" (Carrera 3 # 11-20)
On the wall of an old theater that is now a tire depot. It is a human eye 2 meters in diameter, with the iris painted like a map of Cali. It was made by the Bogotá artist "Seku" in 2018, during a street art festival that no one remembers. The eye looks east, and if you stand right under it, it seems to follow you. The most striking photo is achieved from below, with the eye in the center and the sky in the background. Caution: the facade faces a street with heavy motorcycle traffic, so be careful when standing on the road.
Mural 4: "The Birds of Memory" (Calle 13 # 4-12)
This is the hardest to find. It is in the inner courtyard of a house converted into a sewing workshop, but it can be seen from the street if you peek through the gate. There are 12 birds in flight, each with a name written on its chest: they are the names of the neighborhood's founders who died in the 1950s. It was painted by a local artist, "Lina R.", in 2020, as a tribute to her grandfather who lived there his whole life. For the photo, you need a zoom or to approach the gate carefully. Light comes in the morning, between 8 and 9 AM. Ask for permission at the workshop; they usually let you in if you explain you are a photographer.
Mural 5: "The Silent Scream" (Carrera 2 # 12-50)
The most recent, from 2023. It is on the facade of an abandoned community hall. It is a distorted human face, with an open mouth but no teeth, painted in black and white on a red background. It was made by the Cali artist "Mono" (Jhonatan Moncayo) as a protest against the eviction of families from the neighborhood. It is huge, 4 meters high, and can be seen from the entire block. The best photo is at night, with a flash that illuminates the face and leaves the background dark. However, go accompanied because the street is lonely after 7 PM.
Where to Eat or Drink
After the walk, you will need to replenish your energy. Centenario is not famous for its gastronomic offer, but there are local options worth trying.
Breakfast: "Panadería El Viejo" (Calle 11 # 3-20)
Open from 5 AM. Try the pandebono with cheese and a coffee with milk. Everything for less than $5,000 COP. The owner, Don Alberto, can tell you stories about the neighborhood while he kneads.
Lunch: "Comedor Doña Rosa" (Carrera 3 # 12-10)
Daily menu for $12,000 COP: soup, main course (rice, meat, salad), and juice. Open from 11 AM to 3 PM, Monday to Saturday. Don't expect luxury, but the food is homemade and abundant.
Something Quick: "Tienda La Esquina" (Calle 12 # 4-30)
They sell empanadas, pastries, and sodas. Ideal for a break between murals. They cost $2,000 COP each.
How to Get There and Transportation
Centenario is in the east-central part of Cali, a 15-minute walk from the Parque de los Gatos. Getting there is easy:
- By MIO: Take the "Centenario" station on the Troncal Oriental line. From there, walk 5 minutes south.
- By taxi or app: Ask to be dropped off at Carrera 4 with Calle 12. The trip from downtown costs about $8,000 COP.
- By bicycle: There are bike lanes on Calle 13. You can rent a public bike from the "Mi Bici" system for $2,000 COP per hour.
- Walking: If you come from San Antonio, it's a 20-minute downhill walk. From Plaza de Cayzedo, 10 minutes.
Important: the neighborhood is not dangerous at all hours, but after 8 PM the streets empty out. Better to do the route in the morning.
Local Tips
- Key time: The golden light for photos is between 6:30 and 8:00 AM. After that, the sun becomes very vertical and shadows are harsh.
- Safety: Do not carry visible valuables. Keep your camera in a discreet backpack. If you see suspicious groups, change your route.
- Permissions: For mural 4 (the birds), you need to ask for permission at the sewing workshop. They are friendly, but they don't like people entering without notice.
- Mental map: There is no signage. Use Google Maps offline, but keep in mind that some streets are not well mapped. Ask the neighbors; they know every mural.
- Ethics: Do not touch the murals or paint over them. Some are in poor condition, but that's how the artists have maintained them.
- Share: Use the hashtag #MuralesCentenarioCali when you upload your photos. It helps to make this hidden heritage visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the murals in good condition?
It depends. The oldest one (The Woman of Gears) has cracks and parts erased by the sun. The most recent one (The Silent Scream) is almost intact. Since there is no official maintenance, the weather and time are deteriorating them. If you want to see them at their best, go soon.
Do you need to pay to see them?
All of them are on public facades or visible from the street. The only one that requires permission is the birds, but it is free.
Are there guided tours in the neighborhood?
There are no organized tours yet. Some independent guides offer street art routes in Cali, but they almost never include Centenario. If you want, you can contact the collective "Pinceladas Urbanas" on social media; they sometimes do free walks.
Can I bring children?
Yes, but with caution. The streets have motorcycle and truck traffic. Better to go in the morning when there is less movement. Children can enjoy the colors, but there are no nearby parks for them to play in.
Is it worth going alone?
If you are an experienced photographer and know the city, yes. But if you don't speak Spanish or don't know how to get around Cali, it's better to go accompanied. The neighborhood is safe during the day, but the streets are confusing and you can easily get lost.