Sculptures

Prometeo
Priest Antonio José Valencia
Bolivar naked
Christ without cross

Prometeo: monument to the founders

A work by master artist Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt, it is a tribute to the founders of Pereira, to the emigrants from Antioquia and to the resilience of its people. Prometeo, symbol of sacrifice and the struggle for progress, appears decapitated, with his chest torn open and his arms stretched towards the sky. This representation alludes to the anonymous peasants who faced harsh living and working conditions, as well as the “vices of the colony”, such as abuse and social oppression.

The monument, inaugurated in 1934, includes in its triangular base reliefs showing scenes of the founders and their pack animals, elements of pre-Hispanic cultures such as the Calima pectoral, and references to the local flora, such as cornfields and coffee plants, essential for the economic development of the region.

Since its creation, the sculpture has become an icon of Circunvalar Avenue and a place of collective memory. Every August 30, on Pereira’s anniversary, homage is paid to the founders next to the Time Capsule.

Did you know?
Pereira's famous “Prometeo” is not really called that.
Did you know?
The “Monument to the Founders” hides a fascinating history.
Have you ever stopped to think why there are so many Prometheans in the streets of Pereira?
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Priest Antonio José Valencia

Born in Filandia, Quindío, he left an invaluable civic and social legacy in the communities where he served. He founded the Olympic Village of Pereira.

In Pereira, his motto “Pereira never fails” mobilized resources to support the local cycling team, achieving the historic victory of Rubén Darío Gómez, “El Tigrillo de Pereira”, in the Vuelta a Colombia. He also led the construction of important sports venues such as the stadium, the coliseum and the Olympic swimming pools, consolidating the city as the civic capital of Colombia.

Father Valencia died in 1990, and his legacy was honored with a statue in the stadium, although its subsequent removal generated controversy among those who recognize his impact as a spiritual leader and promoter of community progress.

 

Do you know why Father Antonio José Valencia has a statue in the Olympic Village of Pereira?
Did you know?
In every church in the world, there rests a mystery that connects with Rome.
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Bolivar naked

Created by Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt, it arrived in Pereira in May 1963 as part of the commemoration of the city’s centennial. It represents Simón Bolívar without clothes, medals or sword, evoking a symbol of freedom, equality and common humanity. It is the only representation of its kind in the world, conceived as a Bolivar-Prometheus galloping forward raising fire.

The work reflects the ideals of pluralism, autonomy and free thinking of the people of Pereira, in addition to criticizing the abuses of power, especially in the context of the military regime of Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.

Chronology of its creation and arrival:

1955: Talks begin between Arenas Betancourt and the mayor of Pereira, Lázaro Nicholls, under the premise of wanting “a different Bolívar”.
1956: The model is presented, which generates controversy in Colombia and neighboring countries.
1958: The final contract is signed for $300,000 pesos. The sculpture is carved in Mexico. The Public Improvement Society organizes a civic campaign to raise funds.
1961: Its location is debated; finally, the Plaza de Bolivar is chosen instead of the Olaya Herrera Park.
1963: The sculpture, divided in two pieces, arrives from Mexico to Buenaventura and then to Pereira, where it is installed after minor repairs.

Did you know?
The iconic Naked Bolivar in the Main Square was a special gift to the city.
Did you know?
Pereira's iconic Naked Bolivar was not always intended with a torch in his hand.
Did you know?
The iconic Naked Bolivar arrived in Pereira in two parts and suffered an unexpected accident en route
Did you know?
The iconic position of the Naked Bolivar in Plaza Bolivar was not as originally planned.
Did you know?
The statue of the Naked Bolivar keeps a hidden secret
Did you know?
The Bolívar naked keeps in its firebrand an eternal homage to the master who gave it life.
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Christ without cross

By the master Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt, he questions the traditional representation of the crucified Jesus by showing him levitating, supported by metallic steel cables. His style is part of the characteristics of Mannerist art and was considered fanciful and dramatic. The stark body, the eyes with eyes and his inert expression explain this way of understanding art. This Christ does not wear the traditional crown of thorns, but is crowned by the star of redemption that gives a different nuance to the artistic icon of Jesus crucified in other times.
This sculpture, located in the parish of Our Lady of Fatima, generated controversy for its grotesque style and for the exhibition of a crucifixion without a cross, which the author considers a symbol of the sins of the world that are carried by humanity, not by Jesus. The sculpture invites to be seen from different angles and with it he intends to do justice to the different symbolisms of death and redemption. Commissioned by Mrs. Aleyda Mejía and inserted in the artistic legacy of Arenas Betancourt in Pereira, this work of art is a testimony of the aesthetics of sculpture and a call to a meditation of spirituality and aesthetics.

Did you know?
The famous Christ without a cross is erected on land donated by one of the richest women in the region.
Did you know?
The Sanctuary of Fatima, where the statue of Christ without a cross rests, was the work of a visionary local architect.
Did you know?
The church of Fatima defies all ecclesiastical norms of its time
Here's how the idea of the Christ without cross came about
Have you ever wondered how the Christ without a cross that now dominates the landscape came to his imposing place?
Did you know that the great teacher Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt once dreamed of becoming a priest?
Have you ever wondered where Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt's audacious idea to create the Christ without a cross came from?
Did you know?
The emblematic Christ without a cross at Our Lady of Fatima parish almost didn't make its place
Did you know?
The Christ without cross hides a detail as surprising as it is symbolic.
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¿Sabías que el famoso “Prometeo” de Pereira en realidad no se llama así?

El monumento al que todos conocemos como “Prometeo”, ubicado en la circunvalar de la ciudad, lleva en realidad el nombre de “Monumento a los Fundadores” y, aunque representa a la figura de Prometeo, no es un homenaje directo al dios mitológico. Curiosamente, el verdadero “Monumento a Prometeo” sí existe, pero se encuentra escondido a plena vista en la Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, donde rinde un tributo directo a la leyenda de quien robó el fuego para entregarlo a la humanidad.

Did you know that the “Monumento a los Fundadores”, one of the icons of our city, hides a fascinating and little known history?

Although we see it as a tribute to the countryside and farmers, few know that it was financed almost entirely by the Jaramillo Bernal family, who hired the renowned sculptor Rodrigo Arenas. With his unique style, Arenas created an impressive work: a cement base that traces the history and efforts of the peasants, crowned by an imposing obelisk. At its top, a figure stands symbolizing none other than Prometheus, the mythical titan punished for stealing fire from the gods. There, with his chest open, he relives his daily punishment, reminding us of bravery and sacrifice in every detail.

Have you ever stopped to think why there are so many Prometheans in the streets of Pereira?

Each statue of this Greek titan is a reflection of the city itself, a mixture of strength, endurance and unbreakable spirit that defines its inhabitants. In the “Monument to the Founders”, the Prometheus not only represents work; it is a vibrant homage to the farmer, to the calloused hands that have sown the development of the region. Pereira is a coffee-growing and agricultural region, a rural and agrarian engine that, like Prometheus, rises again and again, reborn from effort and hope.

Do you know why Father Antonio José Valencia has a statue in Pereira's Olympic Village and why his legacy lives on in every corner of the city?

He was more than a priest: he was a leader who ignited the civic spirit of Pereira, guiding his people in the monumental task of building with their own hands their stadium, their skating rink, their baseball diamond and their Olympic swimming pools. With the vision of architect Hernán Ramírez Villegas and the fervor of the people of Pereira, every brick and every effort was not the work of the government, but of the community itself. And so, with the same passion, they promoted the creation of the Matecaña International Airport, another symbol of their collective strength. Father Valencia is remembered not only for his faith, but because his love for Pereira gave wings and strength to an entire city.

Did you know that, in every church in the world, no matter how big or small, rests a mystery that connects directly to Rome?

At the heart of the altar, on the sacred table where each Mass is celebrated, a “holy altar” is placed, a special relic sent directly from the Vatican. With each new church, the Pope in office selects a specific relic to be sent in a solemn ceremony surrounded by great security. This tradition, full of symbolism and mysticism, unites every church on the planet with the very center of the Catholic faith, making tangible the connection between the sacred and the universal.

Did you know that the iconic Naked Bolivar in the Main Square was a special gift to the city for its centennial?

When Pereira turned 100 years old, the Sociedad de Mejoras, the Mayor’s Office and several members of the community joined forces to give the city a monumental work: the Bolivar Square, accompanied by the imposing sculpture of the liberator, a symbol that decorates the squares of the main cities of Colombia. Curiously, Pereira is one of the few cities that stands out for this tradition, since in San Juan de Pasto, Nariño, there is no Bolivar Square. This gift not only covered a symbolic need for the city, but also turned Plaza Bolivar into a unique cultural and architectural reference in the country.

Did you know that Pereira's iconic Naked Bolivar wasn't always meant to hold a torch in his hand?

When the talented sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancur received the commission for this work, he was living in Mexico, and it was there that he came up with a revolutionary version of Bolivar: a Bolivar in equestrian position, stripped of all clothing, showing his strength and freedom in its purest state. In the original design, the liberator held aloft a flag, a symbol of struggle and hope for the continent. With this work, Arenas Betancur not only delivered a sculpture, but a Bolivar that defies the traditional, a bold vision that has transformed Plaza Bolivar into a unique icon in Colombia.

Did you know that the iconic Naked Bolivar arrived in Pereira in two parts and suffered an unexpected accident on the way?

The sculpture, which today presides over the Plaza Bolivar, arrived in the city disassembled: the body of Bolivar and his horse on one side, and the flags separated. When the pieces were unloaded at the Olaya Park railroad station, an incident marked their arrival: Bolivar’s arm broke. It was necessary to take the pieces to the plaza and, with the guidance of master Arenas Betancur, weld the arm to restore its integrity. This story adds a special touch to the sculpture, as it not only symbolizes Bolivar’s courage and freedom, but also the strength and ingenuity of those who restored it to make it the symbol it is today.

Did you know that the iconic position of the Naked Bolivar in Plaza Bolivar was not as originally planned?

In its early days, the idea was for the statue to face 20th Street, with its back to the cathedral and generating a view in which the famous sculpture of the liberator and his horse had their backs directly to the altar. This proposal provoked strong opposition from the bishop and the Catholic community, who considered it inappropriate for the Naked Bolivar to show his back towards the temple. Finally, after a heated debate that agitated the conservative society of the time, it was decided to turn it around so that the Bolivar would be in the position we know today: facing the front of the cathedral. Thus, the statue found its definitive place, and became a symbol of identity for the city, with a most interesting story behind its orientation.

Did you know that the statue of the Naked Bolivar keeps a hidden secret?

During the administration of Mayor Enrique Antonio Vázquez, a special intervention was carried out to clean and restore the sculpture, which had been there for almost 50 years and showed damage caused by the passage of time and pigeons. In the middle of the process, those in charge made an unexpected discovery: the Naked Bolivar has a hidden trapdoor in the horse’s back. No one knew that the statue could be opened, but when the engineer in charge inspected the work, accompanied by María Elena Quintero, widow of sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, they found a very concealed door. Accompanied by her son and a worker, they managed to open the trap door and enter the interior of the statue. This secret passage is just one of the many curious facts surrounding the famous sculpture.

Did you know that the Naked Bolivar keeps in its firebrand an eternal homage to the master who gave it life?

After the death of sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, his widow, María Elena Quintero, revealed a last wish of the artist: that part of his ashes would rest in the firebrand of his most iconic work, the Naked Bolívar of Pereira. She presented the mayor with a document in which Arenas expressed his wish to remain, in part, in this statue and, in part, in his hometown of Medellín. Finally, her wish was fulfilled, and today, the sculpture not only illuminates the plaza, but also keeps the remains of its creator, forever intertwining the history of the master Arenas with that of Pereira.

Did you know that the famous Christ without a cross stands on land donated by one of the richest women in the region?

It all began when Father José María Ruiz Piedrahita, sent by Monsignor Baltasar Álvarez de Restrepo, arrived in Maraya with a clear mission: to found a Catholic community and build a church. Upon arrival, he met a woman whose wealth contrasted with her curious name: Doña Pobreza Vélez. This millionaire with a generous soul offered the priest a lot she had without use, saying: “Father, take this land and build your church here”. Thus, in that sacred place, the spirit of Maraya came to life in a unique sanctuary, the legacy of a woman whose name was as intriguing as her generosity.

Did you know that the iconic Sanctuary of Fatima in Pereira, where the enigmatic statue of Christ without a cross rests, was the work of a visionary local architect?

Jesús Vélez, nephew of Doña Pobreza Vélez and a pioneer of architecture in the city, not only designed this place of recollection and devotion, but was also the first to build a building of more than three stories in Pereira, marking the beginning of a new era in its urban history.

Did you know that the church of Fatima defied all the ecclesiastical norms of its time?

It is not the typical church divided into three naves, without those solemn columns that seem to raise the roof to the sky. This work breaks with established canons: architect Jesús Vélez, a pioneer in Pereira, conceived a design that, at the time, seemed almost heresy. However, his modern approach turned the church into a symbol of architectural avant-garde, a bold statement that the sacred can also inhabit unexpected forms.

Here's how the idea of the Christ without cross came about

At the heart of the small parish of Fatima, Father José María Ruiz Piedrahita dreamed of a different vision for his church: a modern church that would break with the established. When the time came to place the image of Christ, he did not want a traditional Christ, nailed to the cross. For him, this Christ had to be free, imposing, and as innovative as his own faith. With the enthusiastic support of his parishioners – wealthy and generous neighbors – they contacted master sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt, a well-known sculptor in the region, who gave life to the singular sculpture: a Christ without a cross, monumental, made of bronze and weighing almost 10 tons, which seemed to float between the weight of tradition and the strength of a new spirituality.

Have you ever wondered how the Christ without a cross that now dominates the landscape came to his imposing place?

This ten-ton colossus was not always as you see it. When it arrived at the sanctuary, its arms were missing, it was only the body and head of a monumental sculpture. It was there, on the sacred ground, where master Rodrigo Arenas and his assistants welded the arms, piece by piece, while building an internal structure to support its immense weight from the shoulders. And in the end, between prayers and the effort of many, the mass was lifted with precision on a reinforcement in the roof, the work of Mr. Jesus Velez, who had to make sure it could support such a load. Thus rose this marvel, a human feat of strength and devotion, suspended above us all as a sign of faith.

Did you know that the great teacher Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt once dreamed of becoming a priest?

At a time when studying was a luxury reserved for the wealthy, religious life was the only possible path for a humble young man who wished to obtain an education. But Arenas Betancourt was not satisfied. Upon finishing high school, he discovered that his true vocation was not in sermons or cassocks, but in art. With a rebellious spark and a restless spirit, he chose a more daring path: sculpture and painting, through which he left a monumental mark that transformed Colombian art.

Have you ever wondered where Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt's audacious idea to create the Christ without a cross came from?

It was a special request from Father José María Ruiz Piedrahita, supported by Mrs. Aleida Mejía de Ramírez, a prominent local matron, who was looking for a representation of a different Christ, out of the conventional. Inspired by the figures that he molded from the melted wax of the candles in his study days, the master proposed a unique sculpture: a Christ that seemed to melt, full of symbolism and an atmosphere of introspection. That work, born of shadows and wax, overflowed with human pain and the divine, trapping the viewer in a sigh of wonder and reflection.

Did you know that the iconic Christ without a cross at Our Lady of Fatima parish almost didn't make it?

When Monsignor Baltazar saw it for the first time, he was perplexed. That ungainly and famished figure, a Christ without a cross that seemed to carry the weight of humanity in its fragile silhouette, seemed so ugly to him that he immediately asked Father José María Ruíz Piedrahita about the lack of the cross. With a spark of wit, the priest replied, “Monsignor, the cross is carried by you and me.” That answer resonated louder than any sermon: in the weight of their own responsibilities, they understood the true meaning of the sacrifice.

Did you know that the Christ without a cross, that majestic and enigmatic sculpture, hides a detail as surprising as it is symbolic?

The head of this figure is empty, and not by chance: the master Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt designed it this way, saying that his thought is not with him, his thought is in our hearts. It was this idea, profound and moving, that Father José María Ruiz Piedrahita shared with the community to win their approval and, with it, the final approval of Monsignor Baltazar. Today, the Christ without cross occupies a special place in the church of Our Lady of Fatima, not only as a work of art, but also as a symbol of union and shared spirituality.

Have you ever wondered where the first settlers arrived in Pereira?

Although today the center is the heart of the city, those first settlers did not settle there. On the contrary, they settled in what we know today as Condina. However, these lands did not offer the fertility they expected, which led the settlers to move little by little to areas closer to the current center. Thus began the movement that shaped the Pereira we know today.

Have you ever wondered who laid the foundations for the 1886 Constitution?

Mr. Francisco Pereira Martinez was one of the first to leave the first signs of what would become the creation of this important Constitution, which eventually became one of the pillars of our legal history.

¿Sabías que, en el siglo XIX, para fundar una ciudad, se realizaba un acto simbólico muy particular?

En lugar de ceremonias complejas, bastaba con que los fundadores desenvainaran una espada y marcaran una gran X en un árbol, a menudo cortándolo parcialmente. Este sencillo gesto se convertía en el primer hito de la nueva ciudad, dejando así, con una sola marca, el inicio de lo que sería un nuevo asentamiento.

Did you know that Pereira had three foundations throughout its history?

The first occurred in 1540, when Marshal Jorge Robledo, who then held the rank of captain, arrived in these lands and founded the city of Cartago. However, just a year later, in 1541, his superior, Sebastián de Belalcázar, arrived and reported that the city had been poorly founded. This forced the colonizers to make a new foundation.

Finally, on August 30, 1863, with a religious ceremony led by Father Remigio Antonio Cañarte, the city of Pereira, which we know today, was legally founded. This third and final foundation marked the beginning of a new chapter for the city and its inhabitants, consolidating its identity and place in the history of Colombia.

Did you know that the emblematic Plaza de Bolívar did not always bear that name?

In its early years, it was known as Plaza Victoria, a reflection of a time when our identity was still marked by European influences. In fact, the urban design of the city and the layout of its streets were the work of an English architect named Walker, who chose the name “Plaza Victoria” for this central place that would eventually become an icon of our history and culture.