Hidden Menga: Graffiti, Workshops, and Adobe Houses

Hidden Menga: Graffiti, Workshops, and Adobe Houses

If you arrived at Menga thinking it only has shopping malls, gated communities, and trendy restaurants, you missed the neighborhood's true story. Behind the noise of Avenida 3N and the apartment towers, a Menga that few know survives: one of murals that narrate Afro-Colombian memory, blacksmith workshops where iron is still worked by hand, and adobe houses that resist the advance of concrete. In May 2026, this tour is more urgent than ever, because every year two or three of those old buildings disappear. Here I tell you how to find what doesn't appear in tourist guides.

Historical or Contextual Introduction

Menga wasn't always the upper-middle-class neighborhood you see today. Until the 1980s, it was a rural area dotted with farms, pastures, and dirt roads. The families who lived there grew sugarcane, plantains, and cassava, and the houses were built with adobe, clay tiles, and carved wooden doors. The name "Menga" comes from a word of African origin meaning "place of calm waters," referring to the wetlands that surrounded the area.

The real estate boom of the 1990s transformed the landscape: gated communities, shopping malls, and Avenida 3N arrived. But on the streets that are not on the main roads — like Calle 70, Carrera 28B, and La Lomita — you can still breathe that old Menga. The artisan workshops, which were once the livelihood of many families, continue to operate, although increasingly hidden among the new constructions. And the graffiti, which started as a form of resistance by the neighborhood's youth, today is a visual map of that history that no one wants erased.

What to Do

1. Street Art Map: 5 Unmissable Murals

Urban art in Menga is not decoration: it is memory. Since 2018, the collective "Pintando la 70" has brought together local artists to intervene on facades, posts, and walls. These are the five murals you cannot miss, with authors and meaning.

• "La Trenza" (Calle 70 with Carrera 28B, facade of the hardware store El Pueblo). Painted by Cali-born artist Luz Ángela Mina in 2021. It depicts an Afro-Colombian woman braiding her hair while her hands turn into roots that hold up the neighborhood. It is a tribute to the women who kept oral traditions alive during urbanization.
• "El Herrero" (Carrera 29 # 70-12, entrance to Don Miguel's workshop). Work by Carlos "Kako" Rentería, a graffiti artist from the neighborhood. It shows a blacksmith forging an iron butterfly. The mural was painted in 2023 and the butterfly symbolizes the neighborhood's transformation without losing its essence.
• "La Casa de Adobe" (Calle 70B # 28A-15, side wall of an abandoned house). Made by Valentina Paz in 2022. It is a hyperrealistic depiction of an adobe facade with an open window, as if the house itself invites you to look at the past. The detail: the cracks in the mural match the real cracks in the wall.
• "El Río que se fue" (Carrera 28A with Calle 71, side of La Lomita park). Work by the collective Los de la 70, from 2020. A river of colors that flows from the top of the mural to the floor, with fish and leaves. It recalls the wetland that existed there before it was filled in to build the residential complex "Menga Real".
• "Raíces" (Calle 70 # 29-50, facade of the community hall). By Jhonatan "Jota" Mosquera, 2024. A huge tree whose branches are hands holding carpentry tools, hammers, and chisels. It is a tribute to the trades still practiced in the neighborhood.

Tip: the best light for photos is between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., when the sun hits Calle 70 head-on. If you go in the afternoon, the murals on Carrera 28B are lit with side light, ideal for textures.

2. The Blacksmith and Carpentry Workshops That Survive on Calle 70

On Calle 70, between Carreras 28 and 30, there are at least six workshops that still operate as they did 40 years ago. They have no flashy signs or websites. You recognize them by the sound: the hammer against the anvil, the saw cutting wood, the smell of hot iron and varnish.

• Taller de Herrería "El Yunque" (Carrera 29 # 70-18). Don Miguel, 68 years old, has worked iron since he was 12. He makes grilles, doors, and decorative figures. If you ask him, he'll show you how he forges an iron rose in 20 minutes. He doesn't sell to the general public, but if you arrive respectfully and tell him you're doing a historical tour, he might give you a small piece. Open Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Carpintería "El Artesano" (Calle 70 # 28-45). Don Pedro restores antique furniture and makes replicas of carved wooden chairs. His specialty is cedar dining tables. He has a small showroom at the entrance, but the magic is in the back workshop, where he keeps tools from the 1950s. Reference prices: a carved chair from $120,000 COP (May 2026).
• Herrería "La Lomita" (Carrera 28A # 70-52). Specializes in bells and lanterns. The owner, Don Alfonso, is the only one who still knows how to make hand-cast iron bells. He has no fixed hours; you have to call or stop by to ask. If you're lucky, you'll find him working after 3:00 p.m.

Fun fact: at Herrería "El Yunque" they still use a leather bellows dating from 1950. Don Miguel says "the electric bellows doesn't give the same air, the iron cools down too fast."

3. Forgotten Adobe Houses: History of Old Rural Menga

Before the gated communities, Menga was a corridor of farms. Adobe houses, with clay tile roofs and cedar wood doors, were the standard. Today fewer than 15 remain standing, most in a state of abandonment or converted into warehouses. These are the ones you can visit (from the outside, as most are private properties):

• Casa de la Calle 70B # 28A-10: One of the best preserved. It has a carved wooden eave with leaf figures. It is believed to have been the home of the Valencia family, owners of one of the first stores in the area. Today it is uninhabited, but the facade is perfect for photos.
• Casa de la Lomita (Carrera 28A # 71-05): On the climb to La Lomita, this house has a clay oven in the backyard, still visible from the street. It was used to make bread and sweets. The facade is covered in moss, giving it a melancholic air. It is a favorite among photographers.
• Casa de la Carrera 29 # 70-30: Converted into a construction materials depot, but it still retains the original adobe walls. The owner, Don Óscar, allows entry if you ask permission. He will tell you that his grandfather built the house in 1945 with mud from the same land.

For local historians, these houses are a living record of the rural architecture of the Valle del Cauca. The adobe, made from mud, straw, and cow dung, kept the houses cool even on the hottest days. Each one has a unique style: some have windows with wrought iron grilles, others have double doors with bronze knockers.

4. Interview with a Local Artist Who Paints on Facades

We spoke with Carlos "Kako" Rentería, 34 years old, born and raised in Menga. He is the author of the mural "El Herrero" and one of the founders of the collective "Pintando la 70". This is what he told us:

"I started painting on the walls of my house when I was 15. My mom used to hit me because I left everything stained. But in the neighborhood, graffiti was always a way to say 'I am here.' When they started tearing down the old houses to build complexes, I felt they were taking away the memory. That's why I started painting what I saw: the trades, the women, the river that is no longer there. Each mural is both a protest and a hug."

"The blacksmith mural took me three weeks. Don Miguel, the blacksmith, lent me his workshop so I could understand how iron moves. I wanted the butterfly to look like it was about to fly, but also to look heavy, like the trade. People from the neighborhood tell me that when they pass by the mural, they feel the iron sound. That's the best thing that can happen to me."

Kako offers informal guided tours on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., free of charge, but with a voluntary tip. He meets at the starting point, Puente de la 70. He has no social media; information spreads by word of mouth among the neighbors.

5. 2-Hour Walking Route from Puente de la 70 to La Lomita

This route takes you through the key points of hidden Menga. It is approximately 3 kilometers, with stops for photos and chats. Bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. The tour is safe in a group, but if alone, better during daylight hours (between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.).

1. Starting point: Puente de la 70 (Calle 70 with Carrera 30). It is the boundary between Menga and the San Fernando neighborhood. From here, walk east along Calle 70.
2. Stop 1 (5 minutes): Taller "El Yunque" (Carrera 29 # 70-18). Greet Don Miguel and ask him to show you the leather bellows.
3. Stop 2 (10 minutes): Mural "La Trenza" (Calle 70 with Carrera 28B). Take photos from the opposite sidewalk to capture the entire facade.
4. Stop 3 (15 minutes): Adobe house at Calle 70B # 28A-10. Turn left onto Carrera 28B and walk half a block. The house is on the corner.
5. Stop 4 (10 minutes): Carpintería "El Artesano" (Calle 70 # 28-45). If Don Pedro is there, ask him to show you the antique tools.
6. Stop 5 (20 minutes): Mural "El Río que se fue" and Casa de la Lomita (Carrera 28A with Calle 71). Go up Carrera 28A to La Lomita. The mural is in the park, and the adobe house is half a block away.
7. End point: Lomita (Carrera 28A # 71-20). It is a small hill with a view of all of Menga. From here you see the gated communities to the north and the adobe houses to the south. A perfect contrast to end the tour.

Total time: 2 hours walking without rushing. If you stop to chat with the artisans, allow 3 hours.

Where to Eat or Drink

After the tour, hunger strikes. In the area, there are options ranging from traditional to modern, but none are chain restaurants. Here are three recommended stops:

• Panadería "La 70" (Calle 70 # 29-10). A small shop selling pandebonos, almojábanas, and cassava bread from $1,500 COP each. Open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The owner, Don Álvaro, has been there for 30 years. Try the pandebono with costeño cheese, fresh from the oven.
• Fritanga "El Sabor de la Lomita" (Carrera 28A # 71-12). A cart set up from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. They sell chorizo, morcilla, chunchurria, and papa rellena. Prices range from $4,000 to $10,000 COP. It is the meeting point for neighbors after work.
• Café "Menga Esquina" (Calle 70 with Carrera 30, in front of Puente de la 70). A modern place with coffee from Tolima, but with a local touch: they offer "hot champús" (a drink made from corn, panela, and spices) for $6,000 COP. Ideal for resting before or after the route. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

How to Get There and Transportation

Menga is in northern Cali, near Avenida 3N and the Autopista Suroriental. Getting there is easy from any point in the city.

• By bus: Take the routes that pass along Calle 70. The most common are T47 (from downtown) and T62 (from San Fernando station). The fare is $2,800 COP (May 2026). Get off at the "Puente de la 70" stop.
• By taxi or app (Uber, DiDi, InDriver): From downtown, the trip costs between $10,000 and $15,000 COP. From the south (Ciudad Jardín), between $18,000 and $25,000 COP. Ask to be dropped off at Calle 70 with Carrera 30.
• By private car: There is parking on Calle 70, but it is limited. I recommend parking at the "Menga Plaza" shopping center (Carrera 30 # 70-50) and walking. Parking costs $4,000 COP per hour.
• By bicycle: Calle 70 has a bike lane from Avenida 3N to Carrera 28. It is flat and safe during the day. There are no public bike stations nearby, but you can bring your own.

Local Tips

These tips will save your day, especially if you are a photographer or amateur historian.

• Safety: Menga is a quiet neighborhood, but Calle 70 gets lonely after 7:00 p.m. Avoid walking alone on the side streets (Carrera 28A, 28B) after dark. Always carry your camera in a discreet backpack, not hanging around your neck.
• Best light for photos: The murals on Calle 70 receive direct light from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The adobe houses in La Lomita look better in the afternoon, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., when the sun casts long shadows that highlight the textures of the mud.
• Workshop hours: The artisans do not have fixed hours. If you want to see them work, go during the week, before 2:00 p.m. On Saturdays, some close at noon. On Sundays, almost all rest.
• Language: Most artisans only speak Spanish. If you are a foreigner, bring a translator or learn basic phrases like "may I take a photo?" or "how much does it cost?".
• Fun fact: At Casa de la Lomita, neighbors say that during the construction of the "Menga Real" complex in 1998, workers found a clay pot with coins from the 1800s. No one knows what happened to them, but the story remains alive among the old residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to walk alone through Menga during the route?

Yes, during the day it is safe. The main streets (Calle 70 and Carrera 28) have constant movement of neighbors and businesses. However, side streets like Carrera 28A and 28B can be empty in the afternoon. I recommend doing the route in a group or with a friend, and always before 4:00 p.m. If you go alone, stay on Calle 70 and avoid detours.

Do the artisan workshops sell their products to the public?

Some do, but they don't have formal stores. At Carpintería "El Artesano", Don Pedro sells restored furniture and replicas, but prices are by commission. At Herrería "El Yunque", Don Miguel does not sell to the general public, but if you show genuine interest, he might give you a small piece. The best approach is to arrive respectfully, ask, and if you buy, pay in cash.

Is there a downloadable map of the murals and the route?

Yes, the collective "Pintando la 70" has a PDF map that you can download from their Facebook page (search for "Pintando la 70 Cali"). It is also available at Panadería "La 70" and Café "Menga Esquina", where they will give you a printed copy if you ask. The map includes the exact location of the 5 murals, the workshops, and the adobe houses. If you take a photo of your best shot, share it with the hashtag #MengaEsArte so the collective can see it.