San Antonio: 5 Colonial Gates That Are a Secret

Introduction: The History Not on the Facades

When you walk through San Antonio, the first things you see are the colorful facades, the cobblestone streets, and the hill that watches over everything. But if you only stick with that, you are missing the best part. The colonial gates of this neighborhood are not simple entrances: they are archives of wood, ironwork, and dust that hold 200 years of Cali's stories. While tourists take photos in front of the Iglesia de San Antonio, those in the know seek out the hand-carved doors on the side streets. In June 2026, many of these gates remain intact, although some are beginning to show cracks that no one repairs. This article is a guide for you to find those 5 gates that are a secret, with details that not even the neighbors themselves know.

What to Do: The Route of the 5 Gates

This route is designed for architecture photographers and travelers who avoid the crowded spots. These are 5 gates you can visit on a 2-hour walk, starting from Carrera 2B with Calle 3. Bring water, sunscreen, and a camera with good zoom, because the details of the hardware can only be seen up close.

Gate 1: Carrera 2B # 3-45 (Casa de la Familia Noguera)

This gate made of red cedar is 2.8 meters high and is studded with wrought iron rivets. According to the archives of the Junta de Acción Comunal of San Antonio, it dates from 1847. What makes it unique is the carving of a guayacán tree at the top, which the Noguera family used as a symbol of their farm. The original hardware includes 30-centimeter hinges that still creak when it rains.

• Material: Red cedar with mahogany inlays
• Hardware: Wrought iron with square nail heads
• Estimated year: 1847 (according to parish records)
• Exact address: Carrera 2B # 3-45
• Fun fact: The Noguera family buried gold coins under the threshold in 1850 to protect the house; they have never been found.

Gate 2: Calle 3 # 2-12 (Casona Ospina)

The Ospina family arrived in San Antonio in 1875 and built this mansion with a gate made of black guayacán wood. The most striking feature is the bronze hinges shaped like snakes, which, according to local tradition, warded off bad energies. In 2024, a German restorer tried to buy it, but the Ospina family refused. The gate has 4 carved panels depicting scenes of rural life: a cow, a horse, a mango tree, and a cross.

• Material: Black guayacán
• Hardware: Cast bronze hinges shaped like snakes
• Estimated year: 1875
• Exact address: Calle 3 # 2-12
• Fun fact: The Ospina family used the gate as a hiding place during the Thousand Days War; there is a secret compartment behind the cross panel.

Gate 3: Carrera 3 # 4-20 (Antigua Tienda de Don Evaristo)

This gate is smaller (2.2 meters) and is made of Colombian pine. It was originally the entrance to a grocery store that operated until 1960. The hardware is black-painted iron, with a doorknob shaped like a hand that locals call "the hand of Don Evaristo." The wood has knife marks that customers made to measure sugarcane.

• Material: Colombian pine with original varnish
• Hardware: Painted iron with a carved hand doorknob
• Estimated year: 1892
• Exact address: Carrera 3 # 4-20
• Fun fact: The knife marks on the wood are sugarcane measurements that farmers used to negotiate prices.

Gate 4: Calle 2 # 5-30 (Casa del Cerro)

In the upper part of the neighborhood, near the hill, is this gate made of ceiba wood. It is the largest of the 5: 3.2 meters high and 1.8 meters wide. It was built in 1901 for the Arboleda family, who wanted an entrance that could be seen from the square. The hardware is bronze with copper inlays, and the gate has an original pulley system that still works to open it effortlessly.

• Material: Ceiba with mahogany inlays
• Hardware: Bronze and copper with iron pulleys
• Estimated year: 1901
• Exact address: Calle 2 # 5-30
• Fun fact: The pulley was made by an Italian blacksmith who lived in Cali; only 3 examples remain in the city.

Gate 5: Carrera 2A # 2-15 (La Casa de las Flores)

This gate is the most recent (1925) and is made of walnut. What stands out is the carving of a cayenne flower in the center, surrounded by leaves. The family that built it, the Londoño family, were florists. The hardware is iron with a silver coating, something rare for the time. According to the Junta de Acción Comunal, this gate was restored in 2015 with funds from the Mayor's Office, but the original carving was preserved.

• Material: Walnut with linseed oil varnish
• Hardware: Iron with silver coating
• Estimated year: 1925
• Exact address: Carrera 2A # 2-15
• Fun fact: The carved cayenne flower has 21 petals, one for each year the Londoño family lived in the house before moving.

Where to Eat or Drink: Strategic Stops on the Route

After walking, you need to recharge your energy. These places are near the gates and are recommended by locals who know the neighborhood.

La Tertulia (Carrera 1 # 1-45)

This café is a 5-minute walk from Gate 1. They serve local black coffee and freshly baked pandebono. Prices are affordable: an American coffee costs $4,500 COP and pandebono $2,000 COP. They are open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. Ask for Don Rodrigo, the owner, who knows the history of the carved gate on Carrera 2B.

• Reference prices as of June 2026: Coffee $4,500 COP, pandebono $2,000 COP
• Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8am-8pm
• Address: Carrera 1 # 1-45

El Solar de San Antonio (Calle 3 # 2-50)

An open-air restaurant facing the Casona Ospina (Gate 2). Specializing in Valle del Cauca cuisine: sancocho de gallina ($18,000 COP) and arroz atollado ($15,000 COP). They are open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 9pm. On weekends there is live music.

• Reference prices as of June 2026: Main courses from $15,000 COP
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-9pm
• Address: Calle 3 # 2-50

La Casa de la Cerveza (Carrera 2A # 3-10)

A small bar near Gate 5. They have craft beers from Cali (like "Caleña" and "San Antonio") at $8,000 COP per pint. It is a meeting point for photographers and architects on Thursday nights.

• Reference prices as of June 2026: Pint from $8,000 COP
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm-12am
• Address: Carrera 2A # 3-10

How to Get There and Transportation

San Antonio is in the west-central part of Cali. Getting there is easy from any point in the city.

• By MIO: Take route P24 (Stop "San Antonio") or T47 (Stop "Calle 5 con Carrera 2"). The fare is $2,800 COP (reference price as of June 2026). Get off at the "San Antonio" station and walk 5 minutes uphill.
• By taxi or Uber: From Unicentro, the trip costs between $12,000 and $15,000 COP. From Ciudad Jardín, between $15,000 and $20,000 COP. Ask to be dropped off at Carrera 2B with Calle 3, which is the starting point of the route.
• Walking: If you are in the center, you can walk up Carrera 1 to Calle 3. It is a 15-minute gentle uphill walk.
• By bicycle: There are public bicycle stations (MIO Bici) on Calle 5 with Carrera 2. Rental is free for 30 minutes.

Important: the streets are cobblestone and some have slopes. Wear comfortable shoes, not sandals.

Local Tips

These tips come from neighbors who have lived in San Antonio for decades. You won't find them in tourist guides.

• Visit early: The gates look best between 7am and 10am, when the sunlight hits the carvings directly. After noon, the shadows from the trees cover the details.
• Ask before touching: Some gates are private property. If you want a close-up photo, knock gently and ask. The neighbors are usually friendly, especially if you say you are a photographer.
• Bring a notebook: At the Junta de Acción Comunal (Calle 3 # 2-08) they have a blank map of the gates. You can ask for it for free and fill in the data yourself. It is a unique souvenir.
• Don't forget the Hill: After Gate 4, go up to the Cerro de San Antonio. From there you can see the entire city and the roofs of the mansions. It is the best spot for panoramic photos.
• Avoid Sunday afternoons: The neighborhood gets crowded with tourists and vendors. If you want peace, go during the week.
• Buy a coffee at La Tertulia and ask Don Rodrigo about the carved gate: Don Rodrigo is the owner and knows the history of each gate. He will tell you how his grandfather worked on the restoration of Gate 1 in 1950.

Story of an Original Neighbor: Don José Noguera

Don José Noguera is 78 years old and has lived at Carrera 2B # 3-45 since he was born. His family is one of the original families of San Antonio. I asked him to tell me about the gate of his house. This is what he said:

"My great-great-grandfather put that gate up in 1847. He was a carpenter and carved it with a machete. The wood was brought from the Cauca River on a raft. My grandmother said they buried gold coins under the threshold so the house would never fall down. We never found them, but the gate is still standing. When I was a child, I opened it with an iron key that weighed about a kilo. I don't use it anymore, but I keep it in the living room. Tourists take photos, but no one knows that the carving of the guayacán tree has a root that reaches the floor. That root is the carpenter's signature."

Don José also said that the gate has survived three earthquakes (1885, 1925, and 1999) and a flood in 1940. "The wood is good, but the hardware is loose. No one repairs it because it costs money. I hope someone fixes it before it falls off."

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the gates open to the public?

Most are private property and are closed. You can see them from the street and take photos of the exterior. If you want to enter, knock on the door and ask. Neighbors like Don José usually let you in if you explain you are a photographer. Do not insist if they say #

What is the best time for photos?

Between 7am and 10am. The sunlight illuminates the carvings from the east, and the streets are empty. After 4pm, the shadows from the trees and neighboring houses cover the details. Avoid noon, when the light is flat and colors are lost.

Is any gate officially recognized as heritage?

None of the 5 gates are officially declared heritage by the Ministry of Culture. The Junta de Acción Comunal has been requesting their declaration since 2010, but the process is stalled. This means there are no public funds for their restoration. If you want to help, you can donate to the Junta (Calle 3 # 2-08) or buy the blank map at La Tertulia.

Can I buy the blank map of the gates?

Yes. At the Junta de Acción Comunal (Calle 3 # 2-08) they have free blank maps. Also at La Tertulia they sell a printed version on recycled paper for $5,000 COP. The map has the points of the 5 gates, but without names or dates. The idea is for you to fill in the data as you walk. It is an exploration game that locals call "the gate hunt."