Casa Museo Capitán Antonio Ricaurte

The Casa Museo Capitán Antonio Ricaurte occupies the house where Ricaurte was born in 1786 and grew up before going to fight in the wars of independence. It is a handsome colonial house with a central patio and period furnishings, restored to reflect how it would have looked in the early 19th century. The museum tells the story of Ricaurte's life and his extraordinary death at the Battle of San Mateo — a sacrifice that made him one of the defining figures of Colombian independence.

The museum is small but well-maintained, and the colonial house itself is worth seeing. It's an easy walk from the Plaza Mayor, and a visit takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

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A story
At the Battle of San Mateo in 1814, Ricaurte — a 28-year-old officer from Villa de Leyva — was left to guard the powder magazine with a handful of men as Royalist forces overwhelmed the patriot position. Rather than surrender the ammunition, he detonated it with himself inside, killing a large number of Royalist soldiers. He has been a Colombian national hero ever since.

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