Pablo Emilio Escobar's family grave
Pablo Emilio Escobar’s grave is certainly a site of interest for those visiting Medellin, though curiously it was not listed in Lonely Planet’s 2006 Colombia guidebook. The tourism industry in Medellin, and Colombia in general, is still in it’s infancy, so it currently falls upon the intrepid traveler to track down sights of interest.
The Escobar family grave
The grave of the infamous and ruthless Medellin Cartel leader rests in an idyllic setting at Cemetario Jardins Montesacro in Itagui. He was shot and killed by police while trying to escape on the rooftop of a safe house on December 2, 1993.
Fernando Botero's depiction of Pablo Escobar's death
On one of Medellin’s typically beautiful, warm and sunny days, I took the metro to Itagui, and asked a cab driver to take me to Escobar’s grave. Along the way, though he spoke little English, the driver was able to communicate his father worked for Pablo Escobar, and made a lot of money.
The cemetery looked pleasant, and the driver walked me to the Escobar family grave which was clearly well maintained. The Don is buried along with his parents and a few children.
A Colombian couple was there, though I couldn’t tell if they were curious like me or paying their respects. Maybe both. Pablo Escobar was something of a Robin Hood, using his drug money to build homes for the poor and employ them as well. Judging from the uptake of his grave, complete with fresh flowers, he is still revered by some in the region.
Further Reading
Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden
I don’t know if you noticed, but on the other side of the church from the grave of Escobar is a snack shop, the only one I have ever seen in a cemetery. When I first visited him grave in 2007, it was inundated by tourists that day, my last visit was july of 09 and I was the only person there. The grave was not as well kept up as it used to be, there were far more flowers there back in 2007.
Hi Dan,
Interesting observation about the snack shop by Escobar’s grave. I don’t remember it, but I can see how as more time passes, fewer Colombians are concerned with the guy. Much better that they look ahead toward a prosperous, peaceful future.
Hi Dave,
Most people don’t notice it as the snack shop is on the other side of the church in the back. When I was at my former novia’s house in Manrique, I visited a few homes there and they still had photos of Escobar on the wall, almost like a shrine to him. Unfortunately the violence is getting worse again, when I left Medellin in August of 2009, it was no longer safe for me to visit Manrique, there were almost daily shootings in that area due to the drug gangs fighting for control of that barrio. But in spite of this, I still can’t wait to return to Medellin again this year for a month. I really have enjoyed your blog, brings back a lot of memories.