a centennial tradition To trace back the galeria cano tradition, we must go to Santuario, a town, in the western part of the department of Antioquia in Colombia, where, at the end of the nineteenth century, a stone paver named Nemecio Cano found an indian tomb which made him a passionate seeker of indigenous treasures. Nemecio's enthusiasm was passed on to two of his twelve children, José and Félix, who devoted themselves to the search of prehispanic artifacts, long before the cultural and artistic importance of such pieces was appreciated in Colombia. The tradition continued with José's son, Guillermo Cano, who, at an early age was captivated with the discovery of native burials. Nemecio, José, Félix and Guillermo Cano's interest for indigenous cultures, eventually led them to furnish the Gold Museum with a third of its world known collection. In the 1970's, the galeria cano opened its first store in Bogotá, when Guillermo Cano and his wife Doris, decided to render precolumbian art close to the Colombian public by manufacturing and selling gold plated reproductions. The first galeria cano store at Bogotá's downtown Bavaria building was soon followed by others in Unicentro and Eldorado Airport Galeria Cano has developed into a limited company, Galeria Cano S.A.,world wide owner of the registered trademark galeria cano with a staff numbering 125 employees. The company's philosophy is based upon the excellence of its products and customer service. Its leadership was reinforced by the opening of two more stores at Bogotá's Andino shopping mall, where galeria cano combines its traditional goldwork lines, the world's best emeralds, contemporary indigenous art with the tasting of colombia's best gourmet coffee, backed by the company's quality tradition. In Colombia's most precious jewel, the city of Cartagena de Indias, galeria cano stores are located at El Laguito's Pierino Gallo and Cartagena Hilton, Santa Clara and Americas hotels, with a special mention to the one at Cartagena's Plaza de Bolivar where the special and irreplaceable beauty of the city's historical downtown section, is best appreciated from the store's café and tropical fruit bar.