Overview:

El Infiernito, meaning "Little Hell" in Spanish, is an archaeological site located near the colonial town of Villa de Leyva in the Boyacá Department of Colombia. The site consists of a collection of pre-Columbian rock sculptures and monoliths believed to be over 2,000 years old. Many of the sculptures are grouped in four circles, thought to represent constellations of stars, though their exact purpose is unknown. El Infiernito is considered to be a site of great cultural, historical, and archaeological significance, and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Colombia
Prominent Features:

1. Pre-Columbian Monument: El Infiernito is a pre-Columbian archaeological site located on the outskirts of the city of Villa de Leyva in central Colombia. It consists of a set of several mounds which were constructed and used by the Muisca civilization. The site is made up of eight mounds, six of which form a circle that encircles two larger mounds. 2. U-Shaped Constructions: The mounds are all interconnected and arranged in a U-shape around a central plaza. The mounds are believed to have been used as ritual observatories and astronomical markers, and to mark the summer and winter solstices. 3. Pre-Hispanic Ceramics: The Infiernito site features a range of pre-hispanic ceramics, including pottery and figurines. Archaeologists working at the site have also uncovered evidence of pre-Columbian rituals, including offerings of the yuca root and other items. 4. Museum Attraction: El Infiernito has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction in Villa de Leyva, and a museum has been established at the site. The museum features interactive displays which provide visitors with an insight into the history of the Muisca people and their connection to the site. 5. Muisca Religion: The site is strongly associated with the religion of the Muisca people. Evidence of religious rituals can be found throughout the site, and many of the mounds have been found to contain offerings and other artifacts associated with their beliefs. This national monument of Colombia portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

El Infiernito (Spanish for “The Little Hell”) is an archaeological site located two kilometers outside the popular tourist destination of Villa de Leyva in Boyacá, Colombia. It consists of a small hill full of mysterious structures and other phenomena related to ancient Indigenous peoples of Colombia. The site receives its name from its crater-like appearance and its location on a hill in the middle of the Bogotá savanna. It has been estimated by archaeologists to have been constructed between 800 and 1500 AD. The archaeological site of El Infiernito is believed to have been a sacred ceremonial and astronomic center of the Muisca, an extinct Indigenous people of Colombia. It consists of two groupings of stones: a set of contour stones that form a perfect circle, and an arrangement of stones that describe a trapezoid. Inside the circle is a variety of different ceramic, stone, and bone artifacts. The circle is made from 34 basalt stones and is believed to be representative of the calendar. The trapezoid is composed of 32 andesite stones and is believed to be used for astronomical purposes, as it has orientations to the four cardinal directions. Other features of the site include 7 conical stone statues, each believed to represent a deity or ancestor of the Muisca tribe. Today, El Infiernito is a popular tourist attraction and is also open for scientific research, as it has been studied by numerous archaeologists in the past. It is also home to a Muisca museum which displays many artifacts from this ancient civilization. You must visit one of these historical places in Colombia on your Colombia tour

Interesting facts:

1. El Infiernito, or "little hell," is an ancient temple site located near the colonial town Villa de Leyva, Colombia and is one of the most famous pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the country. 2. It is believed to have been built by a pre-Columbian culture called the Muisca people, or the Chibcha civilization, and dates back to the 2nd century BC. 3. El Infiernito means “little hell” in Spanish, and was named because of its five monolithic burial mounds, each of which was said to represent a gate to the underworld. 4. According to some indigenous myths, El Infiernito was connected to the legendary Golden City of El Dorado, though there is no archaeological evidence to support this belief. 5. El Infiernito is particularly interesting for its advanced geomancy— an ancient practice of arranging structures and artifacts to capture energy from the earth. Visit one of the famous monuments of Colombia with your friends and family.