Three years after the signing of the Peace Accord between the Colombian State and the Farc guerrillas, the political conflict in Colombia is still a dramatic reality. Reflecting on the characteristics of the historical exceptionality of Colombia, the essay wonders about the extent of the phenomenon of violence in the Latin American country and the reasons for its durability. Through a historiographical reading the work also explores the meanings of the category of violence and the narratives developed by the actors of the conflict. Reflecting on these aspects is necessary to highlight how the weight of the historical contradictions and the dispute over the legitimacy of violence have contributed to the lack of validation of the Colombian political order.