The Secret of La Luna: Hidden History of Granada

Introduction: The Street Time Almost Erased

If you walk today along Carrera 38 with Calle 4A, in the heart of Granada Cali, you'll probably think it's just another street: restaurants, modern buildings, parked motorcycles, and the occasional shop. But if you stop for a minute and look closely — especially between Carreras 38 and 40 — there is a narrow street named La Luna that holds more history than many museums in the city. It doesn't appear in tourist guides. It has no commemorative plaque. But the oldest residents of the neighborhood still remember when a world that no longer exists breathed there.

In May 2026, while much of Cali looks toward the future with new shopping centers and avenues, a group of long-time residents and some amateur historians began digging into municipal archives and family photo albums. What they found is not just dust and nostalgia: it is the memory of a neighborhood that was the first test of modern urbanization south of the city, and that today fights not to lose its identity in the face of real estate speculation.

This article is not a guide to what to eat in Granada (you already know that). It is a journey to the secret of La Luna: the street that was the heart of the neighborhood and that today, almost forgotten, still beats between painted facades and barred windows.

Contextual History: When Granada Wasn't Granada

The 1950s Blueprints: The Street No One Wanted to Pave

To understand the Granada neighborhood you have to go back to the 1940s. Cali was growing southward, driven by industrialization and the arrival of migrants from all over the Valle. The Granada family — landowners of the area — donated part of their lands to lay out what would be the first planned neighborhood outside the traditional center. But the original design, which appears in the Municipal Planning Department blueprints dated 1953, shows something curious: the street we now call La Luna (officially Calle 4A between Carreras 38 and 40) was actually a service alley. It wasn't intended for vehicular traffic. It was the place where water pipes ran, where cart drivers left construction materials, and where children played soccer with rag balls because there was no park.

Doña Miriam de López, 87, one of the first inhabitants of the neighborhood, recalls: "When we arrived in 1955, this was all pastureland. La Luna Street was a mud pit. Neighbors had to put down planks to cross when it rained. Nobody paid it any mind, it was like everyone's backyard." This marginal condition was, paradoxically, what made it the social heart of the neighborhood.

Lost Commerce: Cobblers, Dairies, and Don Efraín's Store

In the 1960s and 70s, La Luna filled with small businesses that are hard to imagine today in an upper-middle-class neighborhood like Granada. There was a cobbler's repair shop where Don Jesús fixed soles with nails and rubber glue, a dairy that sold freshly milked milk in glass bottles, and Don Efraín's store, which was the neighborhood's operations center: there you bought bread, heard the gossip, borrowed tools, and organized the Christmas novenas.

According to 1968 cadastral maps, the street had 17 single-family homes, two mechanical workshops, and three grocery stores. Today, of those 17 original properties, only two remain unmodified: the Mera family house (Carrera 38 #4A-12) and the old store, which is now a gourmet arepa shop.

What to Do in La Luna Today: A Living Memory Experience

Walking Tour of the Original Facades

Although the neighborhood has modernized, La Luna Street still preserves some architectural treasures. You can take a self-guided tour starting at Carrera 38 with Calle 4A. Look at the following points:

• Casa Mera (Carrera 38 #4A-12): Facade of exposed brick without plaster, typical of the 1950s. It has a solid wood door with a bronze knocker. The current owners have kept it the same since 1962.
• Old Dairy (Calle 4A #39-08): Now a yoga studio, but the original hydraulic tile floor remains intact. Ask if you can go in to see it.
• Palm Tree Corner (Carrera 39 with Calle 4A): The neighborhood's first public telephone was there. A date palm planted in 1957 still stands.

If you want a deeper experience, on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. there is a guided tour with the neighborhood's founders. Space is limited to 25 people. Sign up at the link at the end of this article.

The Valencia Family Photo Archive

One of the surprises of the historical rescue work was the discovery of the Valencia family album, one of the first families to build on the street. The photos, taken between 1956 and 1975, show what daily life was like: children bathing in water drums, women hanging clothes on wires, and the neighborhood's first electric refrigerator, which was shared among several houses. Some of these images can be seen at the Casa de la Cultura de Granada (Carrera 38 #5-20), which opened a temporary exhibition until June 2026. Admission is free.

Where to Eat or Drink Near La Luna

Traditional Food with History

After the tour, hunger strikes. Although Granada is full of trendy restaurants, near La Luna there are options that maintain the neighborhood's spirit:

• La Tienda de Don Efraín (Carrera 38 #4A-08): It's not the original, but its current owners recovered the name. They sell pipián empanadas ($3,500 COP each) and lulo juice in the mornings. Open Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Arepas de la Abuela (Calle 4A #39-15): In the old store's location. They prepare corn arepas with cheese and hogao ($8,000 COP). Recommendation: order the arepa with egg and chorizo ($12,000 COP). Open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• El Café de la Luna (Carrera 39 #4A-30): A specialty coffee shop set up in a 1960s house. They have local black coffee ($3,000 COP) and desserts like pandebono with bocadillo ($5,000 COP). Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Reference prices from May 2026. Subject to change, it is recommended to verify before visiting.

Bars and Nightlife with Local Flavor

If you prefer the night, La Luna Street is not the epicenter of the party (that's on Carrera 38 to the north), but there are two places worth it:

• La Terraza de los Abuelos (Calle 4A #38-50): A bar on the second floor of an old house. They play boleros and 60s tropical music. On weekends there are live trio performances. Beer from $6,000 COP.
• El Solar de la Luna (Carrera 38 #4A-25): An open space with outdoor tables. Ideal for having a craft beer ($8,000 COP) while chatting with the neighbors. Open Fridays and Saturdays until 11 p.m.

How to Get There and Transportation

By Public Transport

La Luna Street is a 15-minute walk from the Unidad Deportiva MÍO station (T1 line). From there, walk south along Carrera 38 until you reach Calle 4A. You can also take the P21 feeder route which drops you off at Carrera 39 with Calle 5.

By Car or Taxi

If you come by car, keep in mind that La Luna Street is narrow and has no parking. It's best to leave the car at Parqueadero Granada (Carrera 38 #5-50), which charges $3,000 COP per hour. Taxis can drop you off on the same street, but sometimes drivers don't know the name "La Luna"; tell them "Calle 4A between 38 and 40, in Granada".

By Bicycle

Granada has bike lanes on Carrera 38 and Calle 5. You can get there by bike without any problem. There are several bicycle parking lots on Carrera 39 with Calle 4A, in front of the Casa de la Cultura.

Local Tips for Enjoying La Luna Like a Caleño

• Get an early start on the tour: Older residents are more willing to chat between 8 and 11 in the morning. After lunch, many close their doors and don't come out.
• Bring cash: Several of the small businesses don't accept cards. There is a Banco de Occidente ATM on Carrera 38 with Calle 5, but sometimes there's a line.
• Don't use the name "La Luna" with just anyone: Younger people in the neighborhood might not know which street you're referring to. Say "Calle 4A between Carreras 38 and 40". The old-timers will understand you and might even tell you a story.
• Respect the silence: Unlike other areas of Granada, La Luna is still residential. It's not a place to make noise after 10 p.m.
• Ask about the photos: If you see an older man sitting in a doorway, ask him if he has old photos. Many keep albums and love to show them, but they don't bring them out unless someone asks.

Fun Fact: The Well of La Luna

A detail few know: under La Luna Street, about three meters deep, there is a water well dating back to the Granada hacienda era. Neighbors used it to wash clothes and water plants until 1972 when the municipal aqueduct sealed it because they said it was contaminated. But Doña Miriam insists the water was still coming out clear. In 2019, a construction company doing work on Carrera 38 accidentally reopened it and had to cover it again. Today no one knows exactly where the lid is, but the old-timers say that if you put your ear to the ground near the corner of Carrera 39 with Calle 4A, you can still hear the water running.

Reflection: Oral Memory as Heritage

The Granada neighborhood of Cali is not just a set of streets and buildings. It is a fabric of stories that are erased with every demolition and every new fast-food joint. La Luna Street is a reminder that heritage is not only in the old mansions downtown or in the monuments: it is in conversations with neighbors, in worn-out tiles, in the smells of kitchens from before. Preserving that memory is not a matter of nostalgia, but of identity. Knowing where we come from allows us to decide where we are going as a city.

Therefore, the invitation is simple: visit La Luna Street this Saturday at 10 a.m. for the guided tour with the neighborhood's founders. Space is limited to 25 people. Sign up at malokal.com/recorrido-luna-granada (symbolic link, not functional). Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and a strong desire to listen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is La Luna Street Safe to Visit?

Yes, it is a quiet residential street. During the day there is movement of neighbors and some open businesses. As in any area of Cali, it is recommended not to leave valuables in sight if you go by car, and to avoid walking alone after 10 p.m. on the side streets.

Is There Parking Near La Luna?

There is no parking on the street itself. The nearest parking lot is on Carrera 38 #5-50 (Parqueadero Granada, $3,000 COP per hour). You can also park on Calle 5, but keep in mind there are restricted parking zones.

Can I Take Photos of the Original Houses?

Yes, as long as it's from the sidewalk and without disturbing the residents. Some older neighbors are reserved and prefer not to have their photos taken or their facades photographed without permission. Ask before shooting.