20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MEDELLÍN

Do you travel to Medellín and do not know where to start? Don't worry, here we are going to tell you 20 things to see and do in Medellín.

It is almost inevitable that the first image that comes to mind after hearing the word “Medellín” is that of Pablo Escobar. We cannot forget the years in which narcoterrorism operated freely between these streets, it was undoubtedly one of the darkest episodes of the recent history of Medellín. But we must clear the mind and think that the capital of Antioquia is much more than that.

In addition, in recent years a great effort is being made to recover the “habitability” of the city, with a sustainable development plan applauded and awarded internationally. Nowadays Medellín is a place with lots of cultural spaces, cool neighborhoods and a good number of attractions. Here we tell you the main 20 things to see and do in Medellín, the city of eternal spring.

1. You can start visiting Medellín at the Botero Square, in the heart of the historic center. There is the Sculpture Park, an outdoor art gallery, where 23 sculptures of a considerable size and with such a recognizable style of large volumes by local artist Fernando Botero are exhibited.

2. In the same square there are a couple of sites that you cannot miss. The first of them is him Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, you can also enter for free! It is best to climb to the open terrace on the top floor from where you will have great views.

3. The other is the Museum of Antioch, the most important in the whole city. It is located in the former Municipal Palace of Medellín and has a collection of more than 5,000 pieces, including indigenous objects and paintings by authors such as Botero and other international authors. The price is $ 18,000 (about € 5). More info.

4. Although we believe there is a more interesting museum: the House of Memory, where to learn more about the years of the drug war, with the idea of ​​learning from the mistakes of the past to build a future of peace. Here the victims are emphasized and the story is told as it was, far from the Hollywood spotlights (or rather, Netflixians). Admission is free (closed on Mondays). More info.

5. One of the most important meeting points of the people of Medellin is the Berrio Park, considered as the soul of Medellín. It was the place chosen by the Spanish settlers for the construction of the first Christian church in 1649: the Basilica Our Lady of the Candelaria. Although what we see today dates from the year 1776. Curiosity: right next to this sacred center there is a street with street vendors of ... porn movies! Come on, the sacred joins the profane.

For the curious of history, at the base of the Berrío Park metro station, there is a large mural where is the industrial development of Antioch.

6. We continue in the center of Medellín to visit one of its most famous pedestrian avenues, the so-called Carabobo (Race 52). Don't forget to visit the Palacio Shopping Center National. No, we go shopping ... This building housed the old court of justice, and although it does not call your attention especially, inside you will find a very cool decoration, with lots of arches and a glass dome. By the way, this building was known for being the place preferred by suicides to end their lives ... They did it by throwing themselves in a vacuum from the 9th floor ...

7. Another of the commercial axes of Medellín is Carrera 49, known as Villanueva street or Junín race. It was an area where formerly the wealthy built their great houses and palaces. Do not miss the chance to stop at the historic Hacienda restaurant and try the traditional Colombian specialties, better if you do it on the balcony over the street. Do you dare with a paisa tray?

8. Approach until San Antonio Park, not so much for the park itself, but for the monument of Wounded bird. In the year 1995, a 10 kilos bomb exploded right at the foot of this sculpture, taking the lives of 23 people, in one of the last attacks of the drug war. It was decided to rebuild the monument and accompany it with a new identical sculpture of Botero, the Peace Bird, so as not to forget such a bloody past.

9. An interesting place to visit in Medellín is the Park of Lights, a forest of 300 towers up to 24 meters high that light up every night. Visit it also during the day and go up to the terrace of the EPM Library, with beautiful views of the square and the mountains surrounding the city.

10. One of the icons of Medellín and emblem of the people of Antioquia is the Race Monument , which stands out from the cement and glass buildings of the administrative center of the La Alpujarra neighborhood. It is a sculpture of 38 meters in the form of a curve in which the liberation of the conquered peoples is represented.

11. The Little town Paisa It is another essential of Medellín, especially if you are not going to make a route through the towns of Antioquia. The reason? It is the reproduction of a traditional paisa town. Don't expect a mockup, uh: it's real size (although not very extensive)! The best, apart from wandering around, is to enjoy the views of the city. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to see and do in Medellín.

12. Although if we talk about views, it is best to get on the metrocable and reach the Santo Domingo neighborhood, one of the highest areas of Medellín.

13. There is no better place than the Botanical Garden to search (and find) disconnection and relaxation ... And in a city as big as Medellin, this haven of peace is the closest thing there is to paradise. Entrance is free.

14. There near is the Explora Park. If, like us, you prefer not to have anything to do with the enclosed animals, you can go to visit the vivarium and the aquarium, but you can enjoy the cultural offer that has ... exhibitions, laboratories, also has a planetarium and a 3D theater. Highly recommended for families with children. The ticket price is $ 23,000.

15. Do you visit Medellin in August? You will be lucky to participate in the Flower Fair, the most important celebration of the city, in which its streets are dressed in flowers of all colors and various events take place. If you are not there then, contact the mural of silletero What's on the wall of the San Antonio subway station.

16. The Commune 13 It was one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Luckily, today the face has changed and this commune can be visited thanks to tours that take you to know its most artistic part. Because here the guns have been exchanged for the spray cans, in a social inclusion program for the most disadvantaged.

So if you like street art, don't miss it. You can sign up for a free tour with a meeting point at the San Javier Metro station or a paid tour from El Poblado.

17. Stay at The town, the most hipster neighborhood in Medellín, full of bars, backpackers hostels and charming restaurants and cafes. We found a little step on Airbnb and we really liked the atmosphere of the area. There are many offers to party and a variety of restaurants and trendy restaurants.

In the Town there is also the “Mile of Gold”, A street that runs from El Poblado Park to the La Aguacatala road interchange and represents the most elegant and chic area of ​​the city, something like 5th Avenue in New York.

18. And already talking about neighborhoods, if Bogotá has Usaquén, Medellín has Envigado. It is about 10 km south of downtown Medellin and it is neither more nor less than the municipality with the best quality of life in Colombia. If you have time, it may be a good plan to walk through what some call the Monaco of Colombia.

19. If you are an attentive reader, you may have noticed that something is missing in almost every post about Medellin: the famous Pablo Escobar tour. We decided not to do it, personally it seems to us that the tour takes advantage of the morbidity and the enormous fame that this Colombian figure has conquered through television to profit.

Remember that Paul was, first and foremost, a murderer. We see similarities with the romantic image of the Italian mafia that is projected from Hollywood. But we are obliged to, at least, inform that this tour exists, and everyone who decides.

20. For those who have a little more time, there are a couple of excursions They are definitely worth it:

• One of the most popular is that of Santa Fe de Antioquia, the former capital of the department, which represents one of the best examples of colonial architecture in Colombia.More information and tour reservation.
• Although the best known getaway and that almost everyone makes from Medellín is that of Guatape, famous above all for her Rock of the Rock, a huge "rock" that you can "climb", exceeding its 740 steps. The views from its top are the most beautiful in all of Colombia. More information and tour reservation.
• The town of Yard Also worth a visit, if you have time or are going to rent a car to tour Colombia, try to stop by.

We leave you an interactive map where we have marked the recommended places to visit in Medellín:

These are for us the 20 essential things to see and do in Medellín. We, due to certain circumstances, had to cut many of them, so we promise to come back and enjoy this wonderful city of Colombia!