Cerro de Las Tres Cruces, Monument of three crosses in Montebello district, Colombia.
The Cerro de Las Tres Cruces is a monument featuring three large concrete crosses on a hill in the Montebello district of Cali, Colombia. The central cross reaches a height of 26 meters and a width of 11 meters, while the two side crosses are somewhat smaller.
The engineer Argemiro Escobar began building the concrete crosses in 1937 after an earthquake destroyed the earlier wooden crosses in 1925. The first simple wooden crosses had been placed on the summit in 1837.
The three crosses mark an important place for religious celebrations in the city, especially during Holy Week when many people climb the hill. The name comes from the three crosses that have stood on this summit since the 19th century, recalling the crucifixion of Jesus.
The climb starts from Avenida 10 Oeste at Calle 12N and leads upward along several paths, with the ascent taking around one hour. It is best to visit in the morning or late afternoon when the temperature is more comfortable.
The crosses were built following old local lore to ward off Buziraco, a demon believed to have brought misfortune to Cali for 300 years after being banished from Cartagena. Many people in the city still know this story today and connect it with the monument.
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