A large mural artwork, depicting the drug lord Pablo Escobar, is seen painted on the wall in the Pablo Escobar neighborhood in Medellín, Colombia. A large mural artwork, depicting the drug lord Pablo Escobar, is seen painted on the wall in the Pablo Escobar neighborhood in Medellín, Colombia.
An altar in honor of the drug lord Pablo Escobar is seen placed in the living room corner of a house in the Pablo Escobar neighborhood, Medellín, Colombia. An altar in honor of the drug lord Pablo Escobar is seen placed in the living room corner of a house in the Pablo Escobar neighborhood, Medellín, Colombia.
Francisco Flores, one of the first inhabitants of the Pablo Escobar neighborhood, shows a picture taken at Pablo Escobar’s funeral, in Medellín, Colombia. Francisco Flores, one of the first inhabitants of the Pablo Escobar neighborhood, shows a picture taken at Pablo Escobar’s funeral, in Medellín, Colombia.
Young Colombian men take snapshots of themselves while visiting the tomb of the drug lord Pablo Escobar at the cemetery of Montesacro, in Itagüí, Colombia. Young Colombian men take snapshots of themselves while visiting the tomb of the drug lord Pablo Escobar at the cemetery of Montesacro, in Itagüí, Colombia.
A Colombian boy holds a candle in front of the shrine of Virgin of Aguacatala, a saint worshipped by Pablo Escobar, in Medellin, Colombia. A Colombian boy holds a candle in front of the shrine of Virgin of Aguacatala, a saint worshipped by Pablo Escobar, in Medellin, Colombia.
Paperback books, depicting the drug lord Pablo Escobar on their covers, are seen arranged at the market stand on the street in Medellín, Colombia. Paperback books, depicting the drug lord Pablo Escobar on their covers, are seen arranged at the market stand on the street in Medellín, Colombia.
A banner, depicting the drug lord Pablo Escobar, is seen hung above a barber shop in the Pablo Escobar neighborhood, Medellín, Colombia. A banner, depicting the drug lord Pablo Escobar, is seen hung above a barber shop in the Pablo Escobar neighborhood, Medellín, Colombia.

Narcos heritage

Medellín, Colombia – December 2017

Twenty five years after Pablo Escobar’s death, the legacy of the Medellín Cartel leader is alive and flourishing. Although many Colombians who lived through the decades of drug wars, assassinations, kidnappings, reject Pablo Escobar’s cult and his celebrity status, there is a significant number of Colombians who admire him, worshipping the questionable “Robin Hood” image he had. Moreover, in the recent years, the popular “Narcos” TV series has inspired thousands of tourists to visit Medellín, creating a booming business for many but causing a controversial rise of narco-tourism.

Post comment

no comments yet