Is Macondo a real city? One Hundred Years of Solitude Location Explanation

One Hundred Years of Solitude takes place in the city of Macondo, leaving viewers wondering if it is actually a real location. The critically acclaimed new Netflix series is based on the classic literary novel of the same name by Gabriel García Márquez. Although the book has been considered impossible to adapt since its release in 1967, the recent TV show defied expectations by creating a faithful adaptation. Much of One Hundred Years of Solitude positive reviews are attributed to the beautiful production value of the show in creating the picturesque yet enchanting town of Macondo.

The population of Macondo constitutes the majority One Hundred Years of Solitude cast of characters. The series examines the Buendía family through multiple generations starting with the patriarch José Arcadio Buendía, who led his wife and companions in founding the town. His second son, Aureliano Buendía, is the first born in Macondo, leaving the family's roots deep, where they will continue to be intertwined with the city's history for a century.

Macondo of a hundred years of solitude is not a real city

Macondo is a fictional place based on multiple works of literature by Gabriel Garcia Márquez

Unfortunately, the city of Macondo is a fictional place created by Gabriel García Márquez, originally appearing in his short story Leaf storm. History is often considered fundamental to many of the ideas and themes explored in One Hundred Years of Solitude. It then appeared again in Márquez's book In the hour of evilreleased a year earlier One Hundred Years of Solitude. The city was fully explored as one of the main themes of the 1967 novel.

In the text and in the television adaptation of One Hundred Years of SolitudeMacondo is a fictional city in Colombia founded by José Arcadio Buendía and other companions from his hometown. Having been settled beyond mountains once considered impassable, Macondo begins in a state of isolation from other civilizations. Over the course of a century, the story depicts outside forces as they discover Macondo, slowly but surely leading to its downfall. The first episode of the TV series reveals Melquíades' discovery of the city and its traveling fair, which return annually to Macondo throughout history.

Macondo is inspired by author Gabriel Garcia Marquez's hometown, Aracataca

Macondo is based on the real-life hometown of Gabriel Garcia Márquez

One Hundred Years of Solitude is a magical tale, but the city of Macondo is rooted in the real life of Gabriel García Márquez, inspired by his hometown of Aracataca. In truth, there was even an attempt to change the name of Aracataca to Macondo in 2006although the idea was never realized (via BBC). Aracataca, like Macondo, is remarkably close to the coast of Colombia, but itself has no access to the sea from other regions. The city was founded in 1885 and being the birthplace of Gabriel García Márquez is still an important aspect of its culture today.

Sources: BBC