| While in Medellin |    |
Geographical description
THE CITY AND ITS REGION
Medellin, the capital of the Antioquia department, is located in the Aburrá Valley, on the Central Andean mountain range, the valley from south to north, and later, under the name of Porce River, it delivers its waters to the Nechi River. Besides Medellin, the valley hosts other nine towns: Barbosa, Girardota, Copacabana and Bello, in the north, and Envigado, Itagui, Sabaneta, La Estrella and Caldas, in the south.
The Valle del Aburra's elongated shape extends from north to south; around the middle, in its wider area, Medellin is located. Its seven hills stand out in the valley's landscape, providing a wide variety of services to both visitors and citizens. Besides being natural viewpoints on the city and neighbouring towns, the hills provide areas for ecological tourism, recreation, culture and education, including pre-Columbian paths, traces from its former native inhabitants, religious icons, Antioquian traditions, and bird-watching. El Volador, Nutibara, Pan de Azucar, El Picacho, Santo Domingo, La Asomadera and El Salvador make up this set of hills.
Besides the towns in the Aburrá, Rio Negro, El Retiro, and La Ceja are also close by, to the east; Amaga and Angelopolis to the south-west, and San Pedro, to the North. Others, like La Pintada, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Sopetran, Fredonia and Jardin are farther away, due to the mountainous topography characterizing a great part of Antioquia. AII of them offer a wide range of possibilities for tourism, whether cultural, ecological or recreational.
WEATHER
With an average temperature of 24°C, Medellin has also been called "The City of the Eternal Spring". Throughout the year there are two rainy seasons: the first one, from March to May, and the second one, from September to November. The remainder of the year the weather is drier, although there is the possibility of occasional rains. Weather phenomena like El Niño and La Niña, which take place in the Pacific Ocean, may at times alter these conditions.
GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES AND POPULATION
Being placed in a narrow valley, Medellin's geographical boundaries are conformed totally by mountains and plateaus, reaching heights which are one thousand meters above sea level, and higher than the Aburrá Valley. On the right bank of the river lies the 'Rio Negro San Vicente' high plateau, whereas on the left bank Ovejas, San Felix and 'Don Matias Santa Rosa' are located. Among the mountains we find the Pan de Azucar Mountain to the East, El Picacho, to the north-west and the Padre Amaya heights, to the west, where radio and television repeating aerials are located. The population of Medellin lies around the two-million inhabitants; it reaches nearly three million in the whole Aburrá valley.
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
As the capital of Antioquia, Medellin is the seat of the executive, legislative and judicial powers of the department. It is the home of its governor, and the meeting place for the Department’s Assembly. In 1980, the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area was created, including the majority of towns located on the plains, except Envigado. However, these towns preserve their administrative autonomy, each one having a mayor and a town council, elected by popular vote. The municipality of Medellin is divided into 16 communes having their Community Action Council (JAC), and five small towns presided by a mayor.
COMMUNICATIONS
To communicate by land with the main cities in the country, Medellin counts on several roads from the national road system. The 'Medellin-Bogota' highway connects this city with the capital of the country, and with the south-west region of Colombia, the coffee growing region, Cali, and the Buenaventura port. The road to the Atlantic Coast connects it with Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and their harbors. The Magdalena Medio road links it with, puerto Berrio, on the Magdalena River, and with the Eastern cities of Bucaramanga and Cucuta. The road to the sea, on the other hand, connects Medellín in with the Uraba region, an important zone in the production of bananas.
Communications by air are made possible through two airports: 'José María Córdoba' Terminal in nearby Rionegro, which serves international flights and most of the routes to the main Colombian capitals. And the 'Enrique Olaya Herrera' terminal, which is located within the city limits; it serves flights to towns in the department, nearby cities such as Pereira and Manizales, and some flights to Bogota.
URBAN LAYOUT AND NUMBERING
Streets in Medellin are mainIy laid out according to the Spanish grid scheme, which is very clear in the city center. Streets run parallel to the river, from south to north, and from west to east. The lay out in some neighborhoods, particularly in Laureles, follows a pattern which moves away from the grid system, through streets called circular and cross streets. Others, like El Poblado, have an incomplete layout with plenty of dead end streets. How ever, within the framework of Medellin's 2004-2007 Development Plan, several road projects are under way to link them together, while at the same time improving mobilizing the environment.
The numbering system for streets is based on the alphanumeric system whereby the numbers for the 'carreras' increase from east to west, and the ones on the 'calles' increase from South to North, except for the ones located south of 'Calle 1', which increase towards the south and display the word 'Sur' after the number. Thus, the address 'Carrera 38 # 23-45' corresponds to a property located on 'Carrera' 38 between 'Calles' 23 and 24 and there is a plate at the door with the number 23-45. Another example could be 'Calle 9 sur # 36-128', which refers to a property located on 'Calle' 9 'sur', between 'Carreras' 36 and 37, whose doorplate displays number 36-128. In some cases, especially in the city center, the 'Calles' and 'Carreras' were also named after saints, historical figures and battles, among others. Their names are more easily remembered and more frequently used than the ones identified with numbers. The most common names are; San Juan (calle 44), Avenida Oriental (carrera 46), Avenida El Poblado (carrera 43A), Avenida. La Playa (calle 52), Loma de los Balsos (calle 9 sur), Transversal Inferior (carrera 30), Transversal Superior (carrera 25), Avenida Nutibara (transversal39B), Calle Colombia (Calle 50) and Avenida Las Vegas (carrera 48).
URBAN LANDSCAPE AND SPECIAL SECTORS
The scarcity of flat grounds in the Aburrá Valley has led to the construction of houses in the surrounding slopes, which is why many neighborhoods are located in mountainous zones. This is the main characteristic of the urban landscape. High modern buildings are a remarkable feature in the city center. The Coltejer building in particular, shaped as a needle, is a symbol of Medellin's tradition in the textile and clothing industry. A high commercial activity is another distinctive feature of the city center. In the same zone we can find the historical neighborhood of Prado, whose main feature is Republican architecture, a style which was in fashion in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Towards the South we can find El Poblado, an area which in the past few years has become very dynamic. It is the headquarters of several important companies located along the zone known as ‘Milla de Oro’ (Golden Mile), as well as for residential compounds sitting on the slopes, forming high standard neighborhoods. Working class neighborhoods are mainly located on the Northern area of the city, also on the slopes. Manrique, Aranjuez and Castilla are among the most outstanding ones. Towards the west on the largest portion of the valley there are neighborhoods like Laureles, Belen and Conquistadores. They are mainly inhabited by middle and high economic classes, although the latter is less widely represented.
MEDELLlN RIVER, THE AXIS OF THE CITY
Its 98 kilometer trail starts at the San Miguel heights, towards the Aburrá valley, 3,100 meters above sea level. It crosses the valley from south to north, working as an articulating axis. A total of 54 streams (out of the 57 irrigating the valley) deliver their waters to the river, including the Santa Elena and La Iguana streams. In the twentieth century, several works aiming at channelling it were started, in order to prevent the negative effect of its flooding. That is why today a great portion of its urban trail is surrounded by concrete walls. Later on when the waters of the Rio Grande join its waters, it takes the name of Porce, to finally flow into the Nechi River.
In 1975 works aiming at cleaning the river were initiated, since the disposal of industrial and domestic waste has polluted its water. The San Fernando Water Treatment Plant located at the municipality of Itagui, was built for this purpose. It has the capacity to treat 18 cubic meters of water per second, as well as several collectors and separators for sewage waters. The construction of another plant in the North at the Bello municipality is planned for 2007, which will greatly contribute to decontaminate the waters poured into the river. Boat races and competitions are periodically organized in this waterway, proving that the condition of these waters is improving.
The streets and places of Medellín
El Paseo
PEDESTRIAN SECTION: BETWEEN LA PLAYA AND PARQUE Bolivar
Junín is an important pedestrian street in Medellin's centre. Thousands of people get here, some of them just passing by, others window shopping, buying flowers, visiting bookshops, looking for a place to read, to go shopping, going to the movies at "Junín", at Coltejer building, socializing at the numerous restaurants and coffee shops, including "Salon de Té Astor" and "Salon Versalles", opened in 1930 and 1960 respectively. From its beginnings, this street, between Parque Bolívar and Avenida La Playa, has been one of the most representative places in the city. Elegant Club Union, whose area is now occupied by a modern El Union shopping centre, stood here until 2004. Medellin dwellers have made up the verb "juniniar" ("to junin"), which means walking and enjoying this street full of history, which is comprised by a large urban block where commerce and leisure combine for visitors to find everything they need.
In 1968, Gonzalo Mejía building, built in the 205, was demolished, It housed Teatro Junín and Hotel Europa, which gave way to the construction of the tallest building in the country at the time, now one of the most outstanding milestones in downtown Medellin. Coltejer Building is on the corner of Junín and Playa (another important avenue in the city). This skyscraper's design imitates a needle, a symbol of the textile industry giving it it’s name. At present, important financial, commercial and media companies like radio station "RCN Radio" have their offices in this building, as well as educational institutions like Fundación Universitaria Católica del Norte (FUCN), the first virtual institution for post secondary education in Colombia, which celebrates its 10th birthday in 2007, as well as the arrival of Internet in Antioquia.
La Playa Avenue
CALLE 5I
La Playa Avenue has taken up an important role in the development of Medellin's city centre. The reason for this is that Santa Elena brook, a vital axis for the city dwellers who used to take the water for their daily consumption from it used to run along this area. The first mansions of wealthy citizens were built on La Playa. Later on, apartment and office buildings were erected in their place. Today, this avenue is an important commercial hub housing modern buildings and businesses among which "Casino Caribe" stands out as one of the most modern of its kind, combining technology and entertainment. Towards its eastern end we find "Pablo Tobon Uribe" Theatre, a beautiful architectural jewel. On its western end, La Playa leads into Oriental Avenue, perhaps the most frequented avenue in the city centre. Below Oriental Avenue towards the west. La Playa goes on with other names: Primero de Mayo, Las Americas (on Nutibara square), De Greiff and Paseo de la República.
Calle Colombia COLOMBIA STREET (ID IIREE!) Calle Colombia was one of the roads that constituted the colonial urban layout, though by that time it didn't cross toward the western side of the river. By the second half of the XX century, the Pilot Plan for Medellin promoted the urbanization of the western city, so that many roads, including Calle Colombia, were extended to that zone. Their current course begins in the hillsides of the Caicedo neighborhood (eastern central zone); it crosses the city center going by the Parque Berrío (historical center), then crosses the river, passes through the Carlos E. Restrepo residential neighborhood, then it passes by a side of the Sports Center Atanasio Girardot, then by the headquarters of the Fourth Brigade of the National Army, and finally it finishes its course near after crossing the 80 Avenue through a round point in the Calazans residential neighborhood, to the westem city. It is, thus, one of the main arteries to connect the city center with western Medellin.
Las Vegas Avenue
(CARRERA 48)
Las Vegas Avenue or "Avenida de los Industriales", as its starting stretch is called, is defined by Medellin's Plan for Territorial Ordering as a metropolitan road axis that connects the city with the eastern towns of the Valle de Aburrá (Envigado and Sabaneta). Its course begins in the Regional Avenue, near the bridge of 30 street over the river. From there, it goes by the old facilities of the cement plant Argus and the iron and steel factory Simesa, then goes to the road crossing 10 street, the first one along its course. From that point: its name changes to Las Vegas Avenue, and passes through important education institutions such as "Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid", INEM School and Eafit University. Then it passes the second road crossing, called "La Aguacatala, and enters Envigado town. In this point there are some market chains by its sides, and it passes through the third road crossing. It’s course finishes in Sabaneta, to the south of the Valle de Aburrá, in a zone of bars and restaurants.
PRADO CENTRO TOWN
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LONG name Very close to the city center, Prado was born from a wish to imitate a neighborhood with the same name in Barranquilla, where international immigrants arriving at this Caribbean city became rich thanks to trade and built spectacular European and Mediterranean style mansions.
The main promoter of Prado neighborhood in Medellin was millionaire Ricardo Olano, who was dazzled by Barranquilla and wished to copy the same taste for opulence in the Antioquian capital. Thrilled with the idea, many Antioquians returned from their trips with pictures and engravings of houses they had seen and wished to reproduce in the area. Soon Prado became the best planned housing belt, showing the best taken care of sidewalks and streets in the city. Today this neighborhood is being renovated thanks to a series of works that have brought a whiff of new life to one of the most traditional, architecturally rich sectors in the city. Sidewalks have under gone maintenance to improve pedestrian mobility; lighting, tree planting and the construction of Prado Park a park between Calles 66 and 67 and Carreras 49 and 50 are some examples of these improvements. Through these actions, Prado offers both visitors and residents areas to enjoy architectural heritage, boulevards and new parks, or just to chat and walk in one of the most traditional neighborhoods in the city.
ORIENTAL AVENUE
ORJORGE ELlÉCER
GAITÁN
CARRERA 46
For the first time since it was built, al! Avenida Oriental is being intervened in order to strengthen its public utilities and telecommunications infrastructure, besides recovering the landscaping, public areas and sidewalks in order to promote competitiveness and the development of the city center. Its construction at the beginning of the 1970s was the result of a project from the City Planning Department, which aimed at creating a new access to the center of Medellin, both from the south and from the north. At this last stage it was necessary to divert its course so that the avenue did not affect the old republican houses in Prado neighborhood, one of the architecture jewels in the city center.
EL POBLADO TOWN SOUTH EAST OF THE CITY
This financial, commercial and residential heart of the city is one of the most traditional and elegant sectors in Medellin, where visitors can find hotels, banks, restaurants, discos, cafés, supermarkets, boutiques, shopping malls, modern housing developments, commercial complexes and art galleries. Besides, it is easily accessed from both airports; "Enrique Olaya Herrera", for local flights, and "José María Córdova" international airport, in neighboring Rionegro, to the East. The main street in El Poblado is Avenida (43A); it joins Avenida Oriental in San Diego neighborhood, to take us to the city center.
In its origins, El Poblado was the place where the first houses in the Valle del Aburra were built, in 1616, but the first inhabitants did not consider this a strategic area, and moved on to the north to found La Candelaria, today Medellin's city center. One of the best known neighborhoods in this part of the city is Lleras, today's epicenter of Medellin's Zona Rosa, featuring a park with the same name. According to Corporación Zona Rosa whose main aim is the sociocultural preservation of this sector in El Poblado through the organization of sportive, recreational activities which are safe for the community Lleras is an open door shopping center offering both tourists and visitors a large variety of day and night shopping.
Calle de La Buena Mesa (Carrera 43B, between Calles lOA and 16) (The Street of Fine Cuisine) is located in this sector; here we find most of the best restaurants in the city, providing visitors with the best of national and international cuisine. Also in El Poblado, we find Vía Primavera, a new commercial concept in the city, combining good taste and creativity in design clothing, accessories, shoes, decoration, furniture, art, fashion and cuisine. Some of the shops in this area are; Logreira, Miau, Rojo and Divino. It is located on Carrera 37, between Calles 8 and I OB, and adjoining Carreras 34, 3S and 36. The 29 shops and boutiques in it are decorated in an original, fresh, and colorful fashion, honoring its name. Continuous growth in this area has forced the expansion of shopping centers like Oviedo, one of the most luxurious ones in the city, and El Tesoro, where products from the best national and international brands are offered. It has also led to the planning of commercial complexes in the short and long terms. In view of this development, the municipal mayor's office set up the El Poblado Integral Plan, consisting in the planned, coordinated intervention together with those inhabiting the region to solve a series of situations related with social issues, mobility, public areas and town planning. In broad terms, the works that have been taking place are; the construction of avenida 34, the walk on El Poblado Avenue, stretches 1, 2 and 3, the recovery of Calle 10, the construction of the double lane and the road system of Los Balsoso. These works will provide 50,000 new square meters for the community, reorganize the flow of cars, recover public areas and clear traffic. Due to this ongoing development, today you can hardly get in El Poblado (and in Medellin or in Colombia for that matter) an area with larger prospective value than the so called Milla de Oro (The Golden Mile), an area stretching from El Poblado to the boundaries of neighboring town Envigado. The most prestigious Antioquian and international firms have established themselves in this area, as well as clinics and companies in the financial sector.
THE NEW GOLDEN MILE
It is the most important business and finance, commercial, cultural and recreational center in Medellin. It is made up of a very prestigious stretch in El Poblado (Carrera 43A) avenue, which in view of the city's development has been expanding in the past few years. From south to north, the Mile actually starts at Paseo La Frontera shopping center, marking the limit between Medellin and Envigado, and it gets to the areas surrounding traditional San Diego, the first shopping center built in Colombia, in 1972. On this street and its surrounding areas we find the main restaurants, cafés, national and international companies, supermarkets, specialized shops and hotels like Dann Carlton, Novelty Suites, Sheraton Four Points, Poblado Plaza, Porton de Medellin and recently opened apartment hotel Holiday Inn Express, in La Strada shopping center, among others. Lately, important health care companies have moved to this area, among which we can mention Clinica de Medellin's new branch. It has been planned that in about two years, the new Golden Mile will feature a new shopping mall; Santa fe (4 storeys, 390 shops). By then, other shopping centers, like Senior's Club and Lugo Business, among others, will be operating in this area.
As part of the urban renovation and commercial development in this sector, Sao Paulo Plaza is currently under construction; this is a commercial complex (diagonally from La Frontera) including shops, offices and studio apartments. Its opening has been planned for October 2008. On the same street (43A) , and diagonally to Carulla chain store, a modern building that will house Pan Americana bookshop and stationery is being built. La Strada, whose motto is "Medellin's European street", is another recently built mall; it is located opposite financial center Santillana, housing haute couture and fashion shops, among others. Just two blocks away, San Fernando Plaza, one of the largest shopping complexes in the city is being built, featuring several towers that will be devoted to housing, offices, financial companies, private clubs and shops. Going along this way, from South to North, we find Clinica Medellin's building, standing next to Dann Carlton Hotel, and La Presidenta linear park, to be delivered to the community in July this year as part of the plan for recovering the environmental heritage of this area. The park will count around 400 trees and bamboo forests. By the end of the mile, Premium Plaza is under construction, a modern commercial complex that will house a Carrefour supermarket.
GUAYAQUIL BRIDGE Cl. 30 CON AUTOPISTA SUR
Considered today as architectural heritage, Guayaquil Bridge is one of the few old bridges still surviving above Medellin River. It was built between 1878 and 1879 under the command of German Heinrich Haeusler who had arrived in Medellin in 1839. A professional mechanic and a carpenter, Haeusler left his print in the city by taking up several public positions, including the job of director of the School of Arts and Trades, and General Director of Public Works. From a historical perspective, Haeusler's importance becomes even more relevant, since he was the grandfather of Antioquian legendary poet Leon de Greiff.
SANTA ELENA TOWN
The small town of Santa Elena is located east of Medellin, 17 kilometers away from the city center. It can be reached by road in approximately 45 minutes. Its weather is cold, and its soil is very rich. For this reason, it has become a large producer of flowers, many of which are exported. In August, Santa Elena dresses up for the celebration of the Flower Fair, undoubtedly the most important yearly collective event in the city. Inhabitants from the different villages build real works of art with the seasonal flowers, which they then carry on their backs to show them to the public. These are called silletas. The main act in the fair is precisely the Silleteros parade. People from Medellin pilgrimage by night to the village in order to witness their preparations and to toast to their success. However, Santa Elena also offers local, national and foreign visitors many ecological wonders which are a permanent attraction. One of them is Arvi regional Park. It is a land of 11,247 hectares which extends to the cities of Medellin, Bello, Copacabana and Envigado. One of its most interesting attractions is seeing the sunset from there, the horizon carved with waves of mountains.
The park holds an amazingly rich bird fauna, reporting 119 species. Another important attraction is the 163 different insect species. It’s paths, lakes, forests and streams allow visitors to practice a diversity of adventure sports such as trekking, kayak, mountain bike, camping and fishing. Thanks to their warding position over Medellin, viewpoints like La Laguna, Patio Bonito, La Meseta, La Paloma and Cerro Verde add an extra attraction to this area. From there, different landmarks of Medellin and of Antioquia's east can be appreciated.
Likewise, in the past few years, new venues offering relaxation and leisure in the middle of natural places have cropped up. Among them we can mention Montevivo (a few minutes away from Parque Central), a place where a system of one kilometer long ropes has been set up to allow for the practice of canopy and other extreme sports. Another place to mention is Montaña Mágica, a concept mixing a farm and a hotel, to be enjoyed.
For those who love a good table, hidden and rural restaurant Donde Edward is a favorite option. There, exquisite rabbit dishes, very well known in the region, are prepared. On the road from Medellin to Santa Elena we can also find the Conejos y Conejos restaurant, and very near there, Sancochos Edilma a place where the best sancocho (a thick soup made of tubers, carrots and chicken) in the department is prepared. Santa Elena main square is a meeting place, especially for those who wish to start ecological adventures in this wonderful landscape of the Antioquian geography.
Parks and Recreation
Cerro El volador Ecopark
It is one of the seven guardian hills in Medellin, and it serves as a green lung for the city. At its top remains of Pre Columbian cultures were found. Founded in 1992, El Volador Hill Ecological Park is currently visited by sportspeople and nature lovers. In its perimeter, several varieties of trees have been planted by several groups of students in the city. Its small museum displays 65 archaeological pieces. In the landscape of the Valle del Aburra, besides El Volador, other six hills stand out: Nutibara, Pan de Azucar, El Picacho, Santo Domingo, La Asomadera and El Salvador. The Secretary of the Environment for the Municipality of Medellin invites you to visit and to enjoy these natural public areas.
El Picacho, a protecting sanctuary in the Valle del Aburra
Standing on Medellin's north east, El Picacho hill is considered to be a protecting sanctuary for the Valle del Aburra. On its top stands Christ the King, an image that has been visited by locals and visitors for more than three decades to ask for favour and miracles. From the hill's top there is a full, spectacular view on the Valle del Aburra. It is a natural public area offering opportunities for bird watching and for practicing cross country jogging on its steep paths. Santo Domingo, progress and social development. Thanks to Metro cable progress and social development reached Santo Domingo hill. This natural setting is one of the milestones of this large city. There we can enjoy viewpoints and commercial areas as well as urban walking.
Pan de Azucar, the guardian of ancient paths
On the northern slope of Santa Elena stream lies Pan de Azucar hill, considered to be the guardian of ancient paths, since the old prehispanic path of Cieza de Leon, leading to Arvi regional park, starts on its slopes. This protecting hill offers visitors a spectacular view of Medellin from La Cruz. El Huevo and La Cima, the place where a track for practicing enduro starts, extending itself on the southern slope to get to Corporacion Ambiental La Fortaleza.
La Asomadera and El Salvador, living herbaria
Located at Medellin's center east, La Asomadera is a living herbarium, standing out in the urban setting due to its large green areas. It possesses the largest number of species of native trees as compared with any other place in the metropolitan area, providing refuge to birds and squirrels, among other species. On this tutelary hill, visitors can enjoy Medellin's urban landscape, take a number of paths, go to the Indian's cave, practice swimming, cycling. volley ball, basket ball and mini soccer; visit La Orquidea plant nursery, or enjoy a day with your family with a barbecue or ancocho.
Nutibara, tradition and culture.
Antioquian tradition and culture get mixed at Nutibara hill to please locals and visitors. Pueblito Paisa, Iying on its top and made up of sidewalks, a fountain, the priest's house, a cobble stoned park, the church, mayor's office, a bar, a school, a shop and a barber shop, provide this hill with a traditional air that gets mixed with the park of Sculptures, which surrounds Nutibara hill's slopes. A delicious typical bandeja paisa can be enjoyed in this natural public setting.
La Macarena
Show Center
Sitting on the west bank of Medellin river, this imposing Modular style building would be just another building if it had not been for the decision taken by one of the local governments to renovate it in 2005 and build a circular roof on top of it. Besides bull fights, other artistic and cultural shows take place here. It is one of the few covered bull rings in the world. Opened in March 1945, the arena is 33 meters in diameter and the rows of seats accommodate around 13,000 spectators. The bull fighting season takes place in January and February every year.
"Atanasio Girardot" Sports Unit
"Atanasio Girardot" Stadium. with a capacity for 53,000 viewers, was inaugurated in 1953. Not only is it the headquarters of famous soccer teams like Deportivo Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional, but it has also become the epicenter of a giant sports unit where 34 disciplines are practiced. It is one of a kind in Colombia.
Among the most important venues we find "Atanasio Girardot" soccer stadium, Basketball CoIiseum "Iván de Bedout" (12,000 spectators), the Volleyball CoIiseum (8,000 people), the athletics stadium (5,000 followers), the baseball diamond (for an audience of 8,000), besides the 'lce skating rink, the kart racing track, the cycle track and the softball diamond. It also houses a swimming pool and a table tennis coliseum.
"J. Emilio Valderrama" North Park
As part of the current renovation process experienced by the city, not only in the cultural, social and urban aspects, but also in the field of recreation, one of the Mayor's Office Strategic Projects, through the intervention of Metro parques, is precisely the renovation of Parque Norte, represented in the improvement of its physical infrastructure, the technical and aesthetic repair of all the existing attractions and the inclusion of new ones.
Parque Norte is part of a larger cultural and recreational area composed by Explora Park, the Botanic Gardens, Universidad de Antioquia, Parque de Los Deseos and the Planetarium, the Museum of Antioquia and Plaza Botero, all of them providing access to Carabobo pedestrian walk, another attraction in the city center. The reopening of the park was planned for August 2007, within the framework of the Flowers Fair. Some of its new features will include five ticket offices that will open the door to amusement through a main corridor leading to the different squares and attractions. The new park will be fitted with an access boulevard, a high impact plaza, including attractions like kamikaze, the crazy board and splash mountain. Family Square I will feature a scenic view on the lake, a new track for mini karts, a plane that will be brought from Juan Pablo Park and the traditional jungle, which will be renovated, Family Square 2 will include the roller coaster, a super toboggan, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and the Tokyo Express. The Children's Square, on the other hand, will include a variety of carousels, a Ferris Wheel for children and the children's favorite attraction, mini bumper cars. The Square of Main Events, with a capacity for 4,000 people, will be the perfect place for concerts and massive shows, and it will also feature a restaurant and a food court with a scenic view of the lake. Access to the lake will only be allowed by rowing boats and water bikes. Later on, it will be adapted for sport fishing. As for traditional hiking paths, there will be a variety of them to suit everyone.
"Juan Pablo 11" Park
It is located in the area of the Sotanic Gardens, Explora Park, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin's Planetarium and Los Deseos park, This wide entertainment area is located in the middle of the city area, Its orientation is to water activities, and it groups seven swimming pools, tackles, a swimming pool with waves, and swimming pools for adults and children, A long path is used for practicing sports on wheels, especially cycling. It is sometimes used in motorcycle competitions. It also houses a coliseum with a capacity for 3,500 people, and an acoustic stage used for different shows, and which holds 5,000 people, Trova festivals, for example, are held here. You must call in advance to inquire about fees and conditions.
Las Aguas
Metropolitan Park
It is located to the north of Medellin, at kilometer 23, between, the towns of Girardota and Sarbosa. It covers a total area of 107 hectares, 40 of which are covered with water. Among its main attractions, visitors find 12 modern water slides, a swimming pool for children, the show river, a swimming pool with waves, a recreational swimming pool, a well for divers and one hundred kiosks. Other attractions include mechanical games, a rapid river, adventures in the Amazone, a lake for water skiing and a lake for bathers, Since it is standing at a lower level than the Aburrá Valley, its weather is hot during the day. It is recommended to wear sun block. You can get there by car or bus, Visitors should call in advance in order to inquire about the fees and conditions.
Arvi Regional Park
One of the entrances to this natural reservation is located on the road to Santa Elena, The extensive area of this natural reservation, more than 11,240 hectares, covers rural areas such as the towns of Medellin, Sello, Copacabana and Envigado. It is a small ecological paradise; eleven ecological guides, young peasants from the region, are there to help you enjoy it. It’s, sunsets and horizons are spectacular. Along its trails, lakes, forests and brooks, several adventure sports such as trekking, kayak, mountain biking, camping and fishing can be practiced. This territory is also rich in birds and insects. The entity in charge of its coordination and maintenance is Corantioquia, and they recommend contacting their assistants in order to organize programs and visits.
Santa Fe Zoological Park CR 50 # 20-63
With the motto "Parque zoológico Santa Fe, the feeling of the jungle at the heart of Medellin", this newly renovated stage, founded in 1959, houses 1,000 animals coming from America, Asia and Africa. This fact makes this zoo the holder of an animal treasure of immeasurable proportions, considering that many of the species in their exhibition are on the verge of extinction. Among the species found at the zoo and attracting visitors' attention are the rhinoceros, lions, Bengal tigers, bespectacled bears, harpy eagles, hippos and chimpanzees.
It also counts more than five hundred trees and bushes, including palm trees, fruit trees, saman trees, acaciae, bucaro, carbonero, uruapan, guayacan, ceiba and jacaranda trees, among others, making it one of the greenest areas in the city, contributing in this way to reduce latent pollution levels in the industrial zone of Aburra Valley. Environmental guides accompany visitors and tourists around the zoo, which also houses an ecological auditorium with approximately 500 encyclopedia volumes, research books and papers. There is an ongoing cultural agenda, and a museum house, where antiques and decorative objects from the early 19th century are displayed.
Las Batwnas (The Whales) Recreational Park
Recreational Park Las Ballenas (The Whales), a property of Caja de Compensación Comfama, includes wet and dry attractions. Among the most important ones we can mention the swimming pools, water slide, Turkish bath, bumping boats, water bicycle, horse carrousel, bumping cars, an inflatable jumping area, a train, billiards, electronic games, a coliseum, courts for different sports, conventions halls and a camping zone. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation, modality in Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
La Culebra Ecological
Park- Comfama
This ecological and recreational park is located just two minutes away from Peñón de Guatapé, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Antioquia. It was planned for different kinds of water sports. Among its main attractions we find: rowing boats, water bicycles, barges, ships that ran aground, fishing peers, rental of fishing gear, family kiosks, children's playground, table games, hammocks, a restaurant and cafeteria, and an open sky stage. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation to Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
Los Grillos Recreational
Park- Comfama
Santa Fe Zoological Park
Los Grillos recreational park is located in the neighboring town of La Estrella. Among its attractions it counts several water sports and other open air activities. It’s main attractions are: temperature conditioned swimming pools, swimming pools for adults, a water slide, sauna and Turkish baths, a playground, a water carrousel, a ferris wheel, flying chairs, a canvas for jumping, an inflatable jumping court, a mountain bike track, a coliseum, sports courts, other courts, family cabins, kiosks,' barbecue zones, and camping zones. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation to Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
Tutucán-Los Osos
Recreational ParkComfama
Tutucán is a town to be enjoyed, with its typical characters, faros, fondas, square, market, shops, and its offer of hand crafts, food, sweets, desserts and varied gastronomic menus at its restaurants and cafeterias. With an area of 23 hectares, it has many different attractions; three open sky swimming pools, water activities, a water slide, a dry slide, a family train, a roller skating track, a Viking ship for a feel of vertigo and emotion, tennis courts, football and basketball grounds, a library and a coliseum.
On a recent date, La Finca Ganadera was inaugurated for adults and children, offering products derived from goat's milk: delicious cheeses, yoghurts and milk dessert or arequipe. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation to Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
Piedras Blancas Park
It is a real oasis of nature 50 kilometers away from Medellin. It provides visitors with the opportunity to organize ecological hiking trips, picnic areas and also places for work meetings. The park also includes multiple accommodation facilities, two auditoriums, a bar and a restaurant.
One main attraction is the insectariums, with approximately 9,000 perfectly preserved insect samples. Among the common areas we find 18 hectares of forest with a sign posted path, 20 kiosks provided with a grill, a flying cord, viewpoints, orchid plantations, and a self-sustainable farm.
Carabobo pedestrian path
CALLE 44 ANO CARRERA 51. This is a symbol of the transformation of the city center and a sample of the type of city Medellin's large urban projects are aiming towards. The search for balance between pedestrians and vehicles, for better environmental conditions and the promotion of citizen culture are the elements leading to the creation of better public areas in the city center.
Juanes de la Paz recreational and sports park
Located between autopista Norte and carrera 65, between Tricentenario and Castilla (Medellin neighborhoods) the park covers an area of 73,000 square meters, and it has been planned in two stages. The first one, consisting of a sports program, includes 7 tennis courts, 3 mini tennis courts and 2 practice courts, besides a parking area and a building to support these activities. The second stage will feature a park with green areas, areas for recreation and shopping modules to the south. On the northern side, two synthetic grass mini soccer courts will be built, together with a building to house administrative support. The first stage will be completed in April 2007.
"María Luisa Calle" sports and recreation complex
It will be standing near forthcoming Metroplus station at carrera 70 and calle 30. This sports unit will include a speed skating track and long distance skating track. These will comply with international standards. Besides, three soccér fields with artificial turf will be built, as well as a building housing four squash courts and administrative support for the park.
Other tours in the surroundings
Valle del Aburrá Circuit
Besides Medellin, the Valle del Aburrá also includes nine municipalities which are very close to each other, easy to access and offering tourist attractions. At Christmas, when the whole valley lights up, it is common for both dwellers and visitor to take a few hours to see Medellin and the towns of Barbosa, Gardota, Copacabana and Bello, to the north; and Envigado, Sabaneta, La Estrella, Itagui and Caldas, to the south.
These towns bordering Medellin make up an area of contrasts where modern industries are set up in towns where the main square is still an important social focal point. In addition, due to the slight difference in heights between the north and the south, there is a shift of climates, from the warm temperatures in towns like Barbosa and Girardota, ideal for enjoying natural ponds and swimming pools, to cooler temperatures in the south in Caldas and La Estrella, ideal for ecological tourism.
Although the tourist circuit can start from the city center, or from any of these towns, let us take a brief look at each one of these localities, going from north to south.
BARBOSA
Known as the sweet district with a taste of pineapple, the ante room to the Metropolitan area, or the sweet route of enjoyment, happiness and cordiality, Barbosa is the second largest municipality in the Valle del Aburra after the Antioquian capital. Founded in 1798 and located to the north, about 36 kilometers away from Medellin, Barbosa counts about 44,000 inhabitants. Its average temperature is 23 °c. It stands out due to its tourist potential in the recreational, architectural, agricultural, aerial and ecological potential, and in the Valle del Aburra, thanks to its richness in water, among other factors, on account of its large territory and large number of water streams. Due to the reputation of Dos Quebradas and Santa Rosa ponds at first, and then by La Cascada, La Playita, Los Bucaros, Aguas Claras, La Gloria and others, Barbosa is visited by a large number of people at weekends and holidays. Barbosa offers other attractive spots for tourists, for example: La Virgen Hill, Charco Negro, Diego Echavarría Misas and Simón Bolívarks, San Pedro Claver Barbosa farm, Antioql, Jia Tropical Club, Matasanos heights, Los Lagos recreational center, Molino Viejo, Las Aguas park, among others. Coming from Medellin at the entrance of Barbosa, we find Las Aguas metropolitan park. It is the most modern and original recreational center in Latin America. Due to its special topographical conditions, its weather and location, it has become a place of large ecological value for family recreation.
GIRARDOTA TOWN HALL (PALACIO MUNICIPAL)
Known as the Center of Faith and Progress, Girardota, like Barbosa, is located to the north of the Metropolitan Area of the Valle del Aburra.
With an extension of 82 square km, a temperature of 22°C and 38,655 inhabitants, this town is 26 km (about 45 minutes) away from Medellin. lts economy is industrially based and to a lesser extent, agricultural. Among its tourist attractions we find Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral (Sanctuary to Fallen Jesus), La Virgen heights, El Salado falls, Los Londoño farm, Umbi cattle farm, La Correa basin, La Sepultura heights, Cecilia Cadavid's farm, and the Sports Unit (motocross and cyclocross tracks). The Parish of San Esteban de Hatogrande, a replica of the first chapel in the first group of houses, the House of Culture, Casa del Abuelo (Grandparents' House), Club Iberoamericano, Inverlagos (a place for fishing and recreation), Antioquia Tropical Club (accommodation and recreation), a set of old houses on Carrera 13 (of great architectural value) and sugar mills for panela (right now, 35 sugar mills are operating).
COPACABANA TOWN HALL
Around 14 km away from Medellin (40 minutes), the town of Copacabana was founded in 1541. It has an area of 70 square meters and about 54,000 inhabitants. It is part of the Valle del Aburra, a region crossed from North to South by Medellin river. It has an industrial and agricultural economy, based on products like orange and spring onions.
During the year, a series of festival s are celebrated, like the Festival of Youth and Sports (July 19th and 20th), The Orange Festival (October and November), The Holy Cross Festival (May 3rd), the celebration of Children's Day (April 28th), Patron saint holidays for Virgin of the Assumption (August) , Christmas lighting and novenas (December). Some of the most outstanding tourist attractions are the following:
Santuario de la Santa Cruz
Sanctuary of the Holy Cross Copacabana is referred to as "the little town of the cross" by those coming from the northern part of the country. Besides, the hill where the cross stands is used as a mountain bike track. The sanctuary is located in the El Cabuyal county.
The Municipal Kiosk
The municipal Kiosk is a modern building whose ground floor serves as a meeting point; the second one includes theater stalls, used every Sunday for band concerts; sometimes it serves as a cultural stage for different events. It is located at the main park.
The Church of San Juan de la Tasajera
The Church of San Juan de la Tasajera is two kilometers away from the capital of the municipality, its main feature is its architecture. According to historians, the first mass ever to be celebrated in the Valle del Aburra took place in 1580, on the spot where the church stands today It was presided by Priest Facundo Martín de la Parra, chaplain to governor Don Gaspar de Rodas.
Piedras Blancas stream
Located at the entrance of the town, in La Asuncion neighbour hood, it stands out due to the purity of its waters and the vegetation surrounding it.
City HallLocated in the pedestrian walk, its high architectural value and heritage is widely recognized. It was the first municipal palace in the municipality.
Club Comfama Norte
On Ancon II county, 3 kilometers away from the capital of the municipality, the club's recreational attractions draw in a large number of tourists.
Limonar waterfalls
A stream running down a picturesque rock creates a beautiful and apealing setting. It is located in EL Zarzal County
BELLO TOWN HALL: CR 50 # 51-00
From the north, after Barbosa, Girardota and Copacabana, on a wide valley surrounded by mountains, we find the city of Bello, the second one in the Antioquia department. It has an area of 142.36 square kilometers, and an average temperature of 23 °e. Its population is 379,867.
Founded in 1676 by Gaspar de Rodas, it counts historical personalities like renowned Marco Fidel Suárez, the president of Colombia from 1918 to 1921. A statesman, grammarian and writer. The town festival is celebrated on April 23rd, Language Day. This town is the seat of the second textile company in Colombia. Fabricato.
Some of its tourist attractions are:
The national monument to Marco Fidel Suárez: The hut where this former president of Colombia and illustrious son of the city was born. A piece of architectural, cultural and historical value.
Cerro del Angel Culture House: auditorium, open theater and workshop building (CI 53A # 52-23). Admission is free.
Marco Fidel Suárez Public Library and Historical Center: standing besides the national monument with the same name and joined to it by Andrés Bello park. Together with the House of Culture, they make up the epicenter of the city's artistic center.
Metropolitan Train Stations:
Madera: it’s surroundings feature a playground for children, a skating rink and grounds for a variety of sports. Bello and Niquia: the latter is the terminus for the system to the north of the Valle del Aburra. From here, bus trips to neighboring towns of Girardota, Barbosa and Copacabana can be started.
Quitasol hill: a panoramic view on the municipality.
Corrales Path: it was presumably a path for the Niquia natives. In colonial times it served to connect the west and the north in the Antioquia department.
La Garcia dam: in the San Félix jurisdiction, this is the aqueduct reservoir for Fabricato textile industry. A cultural, historical and recreational place. Admission upon authorization by the company.
Our Lady of the Rosary church: at Main Square, it stores relics from the city's heritage, like its bronze doors and stained glass windows.
Hato Viejo Chapel: a national historical monument, a place of cultural, architectural and religious interest.
ENVIGADO
The town of Envigado is located ten kilometers southeast of Medellin. Due to its closeness to the Antioquian capital, and as a consequence of the housing density attained in El Poblado. this municipality has become a natural extension of the city, with an important offer of new housing in middle and high socioeconomic levels. Envigado has an approximate area of 7.880 square kilometers, 6,668 of which correspond to rural areas, and 1,212 to urban areas. The total population has been estimated at 175,065 inhabitants. This town, rich in cultural, artistic, gastronomic and commercial activities is easy to access, thanks to the roads connecting it with the rest of the Metropolitan Area. The main access roads are El Poblado, Las Vegas avenues and Autopista Sur, Regarding cultural sites, museum house de Otraparte, declared a national monument, was the former house of writer Fernando Gonzalez, a defender and fighter for Latin American identity and for authenticity in personal life. In the field of architecture and culture, the following tourist attractions stand out: Casablanca (the house of Envigado painter Débora Arango), Santa Gertrudis, San Jose and Santa Barbara churches, Fernando Gonzalez school, "Miguel Uribe Restrepo" House of Culture and Palacio Antiguo Municipal. Other tourist places are: El Salado ecological and tourist park (El Vallano county, at the confluence of La Miel and La Ayura streams), Las Campanas ecological park (el Vallano county) , La Morena ecological park (El Escobero county) , La Ayura stream, El Salado streams baths, el Cristo sector (el Vallano county) , Las Campanas falls (La Miel streams), salto del Ángel (La Miel streams) and salto Peña Azul (El Palo stream) and Higueron caves (El Vallano county at El Palo basin). Among the most traditional festivities in the municipality we can mention the Week of Culture, in September.
SABANETA
TOWN HAll:CR 45 # 715-24
With an area of I S square meters, this is the smallest municipality in Colombia. Its population is 44,820 inhabitants. Founded in 1903 and declared a municipality in 1968, it is known as the Model Municipality in Colombia, the Little Valley of Charm and Antioquia's Green Carnation. Its average temperature is 21°C and it is located to the southeast of the Valle del Aburra, 14 kilometers away from Medellin. Its main means "small savannah" in Spanish.Besides being a model municipality in Colombia, Sabaneta has a strong tourist vocation due to its infrastructure, administration, and the kindness of its inhabitants. This locality is currently an attractive place for visitors in the region and the country, who find in it the necessary peace and quiet and enough natural settings to enjoy themselves and relax in a pleasant spot.
Some of its tourist attractions include the following:
Simón Bolívar Park: a pleas ant place, full of trees, welcoming those visiting Virgin Mary the helper (María Auxiliadora) and those selling sweets and religious objects, who place their humble candles, novenas and rosaries shops on the street opposite the church atrium. Every Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., the program "Chess in the Park" takes place. For those who wish to listen to music, the Municipal Band plays on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. San Alejo market, on the last weekend of every month, is the best way to take a souvenir from Sabaneta. Sweets in the park are yet another good offer; here you will find a wide variety of desserts like solteritas, obleas (wafers with caramel cream) and natillas (cream custard), among others.
Santa Ana Church: opposite Simón Bolívar main park, it is a sanctuary for Virgin Mary the Helper (one of the most visited in the department). Every Tuesday, Virgin Mary is worshipped. It is common to see crowds of pilgrims from different places, as well as tourists. The church has a beautiful collection of 14 stained-glass windows, representing the stations of the Via Crucis.
Zona Rosa: at La Doctora county, this in an alternative for those wishing to dance and to share with their friends. Places like Canalon, La Capilla and La Provincia, among others, are ideal for this type of plan. But if you wish to share with your family and to listen to good music, restaurants like Mama Santa, La Mayoria and La Doctora are perfect for those moments of healthy relaxation. Near the Park, Sabaneta Plaza Mall offers shops and wide food courts; likewise, at the boundaries of the Itagui municipality, Mayorca shopping center is ideal for buying brand clothes at economical prices and to have a good time in the food court and movie theaters. For the organization of events, hotel hacienda La Extremadura's convention center features a hall for 200 people, besides wide areas for different social and academic activities.
You need accommodation: The hotel has a capacity for 80 guests in double, triple and quadruple rooms. In addition, Sierra Morena Conventions Center is a good option to organize competitions, social events and other activities gathering a large number of people. La Romera, with 3,000 meters of ecological paths, viewpoints and kiosks, is an excellent spot for relaxation, surrounded by nature, and a wide variety of birds like the great tailed grackle and soledad (cuculus canorus), among others.
In June and July, Sabaneta celebrates its traditional Banana Festival, a reminder of the strong agricultural component in the municipality. Regarding religious festivals, Santa Ana festivities are celebrated in July, and Virgin Mary the Helper on May 24th. It also features El Trebol park, for extreme leisure activities.
For more information on the different aspects of this municipality, and tourist information on the locality, visit the Tourist Office, in La Barquereña House of Culture. The Communications office, at Palacio Municipal, also offers information on the locality.
ITAGuí
TOWN HALL: CR I1 # 11-1
Founded in 1743, the territory known as Itagui today started to be inhabited by the Spaniards since the first decades of the 17th century. It is located southwest of the Valle del Aburra, on the left bank of Medellin river, 11 kilometers away from the Antioquian capital. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in the country. It is formed by the seat of the municipal government, divided into six communes, which in turn are subdivided in 64 neighborhoods and a district made up of 8 counties. Itagui has an important wholesaling activity, as it is the seat of Central Mayorista, different industries, as well as design and fashion centers.
Among its tourist and cultural attractions we find Simón Bolívar main park for recreational activities; two blocks away we find yet another attraction in this municipality: Parque Obrero, counting more than 60 years of history and an area of 500 square meters This park is known for its active night life, social gatherings and places to listen to music. Recitals, poem readings and movies are permanently organized. This place gathers a variety or artists, youngsters and visitors. A few meters away from the Park we find Líbrary Fundación "Diego Echavarría Misas" and its auditorium: where artistic shows and several exhibitions can be appreciated. It is surrounded by a food court offering a wide range of products. One of the best known festivities is the Traditional Day of Sloth, celebrated within the framework of the Week of Industry and Culture, by the end of August and the beginning of September. Ditaries Conventions Center, a building dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, is a meeting point for cultural activities and many other different events. Parque Ditaires, a key point for leisure, covers 23 hectares and comprises green areas, sports and water areas. At present, the wet zones (pools and toboggans) are being renovated, to be reopened by the end of 2007. Las Chimeneas Park (tel. 3611350), fitted with recreational attractions and fun games and music for children and adults is a spot for family relaxation and enjoyment. The municipality al so counts on a metro terminal (being expanded at present) from where visitors can take a vehicle to go to the center of the locality, and to different neighborhoods and housing complexes.
Centro Comercial
Mayorca is also next to this station. About 28,000 people pass through this area everyday. Finally. Manzanillo peak is the highest point in the municipality. It is a natural reserve and viewpoint ideal for hikers.
LA ESTRELLA
Geographically. it is located south of the Valle del Aburra, 16 kilometers away from Medellin. Its inhabitants are called siderenses. Its population is 55.746 distributed in 35 square kilometers. 3.68 of which correspond to the urban area and 31.32 to rural areas.
Some interesting tourist spots are:
Pueblo Viejo: a site with high architectural, historical and cultural value, this was a native settlement even before the municipality was founded. It has been considered to be classified as an archaeological reserve due to the findings and records it stores.
Comfama Los Grillos Recreational Center, (PBX: 3092363): an outstanding place due to the quality of its environment, wet zones, camping and recreational activities.
El Romeral lake: an ecological reserve on El Romeral heights, it has a historical and cultural value thanks to its indigenous pasto The main attractions here are its vegetation, its temperature. flora, fauna, landscape, and of course the lake. This geographical spot can be reached on foot.
El Romeral Heights: a geographical landmark of high importance and a point of reference for La Estrella and the Valle del Aburra inhabitants. It is 2,800 high. between Las Banderas and La Culebra hills, which together with other hills make up La.Cuchilla de Romeral, surrounding the Valle del Aburra to the southwest, and which can be spotted from very long distances in the Antioquian region. Access to Romeral heights is granted by a horse path starting at Pueblo Viejo, getting to the lake and going across the heights to the town of Angelopolis: this area is covered by forests, hidden by fog most of the year, which accounts for its high humidity.
CALDAS
TOWN HALL
This town originated at crossroads in the different colonization routes to the Antioquian southeast and to the north. What today are the Caldas and Quindio departments, like the national path connecting Medellin and Popayan, the road of the state, also called San Miguel, and the path to Fredonia. In the year 1820, Caldas belonged to the municipality of La Estrella, and its name was Partido de La Miel. It is located on the southern side of the Valle del Aburra. 22 kms away from its capital, Medellin (40 minutes) and a height of 1.750 above sea level, with an average temperature of 19 C. It is one of the nine municipalities making up the Metropolitan Area, and the fourth largest one, with an area of 133.40 square kilometers. Some of the most important festivities in Caldas are the traditional Fiestas del Aguacero, celebrated every October.
Some of its main tourist attractions are: San Miguel heights; an ecological reserve; here, Aburra river (today Medellin river) is born. It is an area in the high Andean ecosystem called mist forest, with a high level of humidity; it is classified as a very humid forest, low mountain ecosystem, with an average bio temperature of 14.5 C.
El Romeral heights: located between the municipalities of Angelopolis, Caldas, La Estrella, Heliconia and Medellin (San Antonio de Prado district); important water sources supplying county, district and municipal aqueducts originate here.
La Clara county: an important ecotourism area.
La Romera: a reservation with of high ecotourism appeal due to its streams and waterfalls.
La Miel county: 2.5 kilometers away from the seat of the municipal government, was named after La Miel creek, born on Morro Gil, several effluents join its waters.
Journey to the East, or AntlOquia's Green Road After the previous tour around the municipalities making up the Valle del Aburra, the next tourist circuit near Medellin is the so called La Vuelta a Oriente, a traditional trip among Antioquians, who frequently do it at weekends. This cold weather region is a recognized agricultural granary for the department, with an outstanding potential in hydro-electrical power generation. 35% of the energy consumed by Colombia is produced by the many reservoirs in this area. Although the region is made up of 23 municipalities, the traditional Vuelta a Oriente, generally a one day tour, comprises eight localities, the closest ones. This tour can be started from three different routes. The first one is the road from the Santa Elena district, the cradle of silleteros, host of every year's Flower Festival, the second tour starts off in Autopista Medellin Bogota, and the third one takes the road to Las Palmas. In any of these roads, visitors will find several tourist and landscape attractions.
The route suggested here (Las Palmas) is only a suggestion that can be modified; having the certainty that in most cases visitors will find the best road infrastructure in the region, and excellent signalling system to find their way around. Every stretch of the way in Oriente is filled with surprises, making it possible to constantly change plans. An exit at the San Diego round point (near the famous shopping center with the same name), we take the road to Las Palmas, and to the heights with the same name.
Piedras Blancas ecological park, 26 Kilometers away from Medellin and with access through Santa Elena road, this park is a large forest reservation with ecological and environmental attractions that make it the ideal place to relax and to learn. Ecological paths, picnic and barbecue areas with kiosks, a reservoir, boats rental, a restaurant, cafeteria, natural viewpoints, cable car rides, an entomological museum and auditoria.
La Macarena Club
Located in the municipality of Rionegro, it has a spectacular golf court, considered to be one of the best designed golf courts in South America, as it includes 18 holes, green fee, pitch and putt and a comfortable area, called hole 19, with a capacity for 80 people. The Club counts on experienced golf instructors, as well as tennis, swimming and hydro aerobics instructors.
South -east tourist circuit, a tradition of coffee, coal and muleteering the southeast sub region, washed by river Cauca, is the coffee producing zone in the department of Antioquia, and it also holds some coal deposits in its soil. Coffee, whose growth started by the end of the 19th century, promoted the accumulation of riches, which gave birth to several Antioquian industries at the beginning of the 20th century. It al so encouraged the migration of several people who founded many of the towns in the south-west, a process known as the Antioquian colonization. At that time, some men riding mules traveled around the zone taking a variety of goods along mountains and cliffs. They were the muleteers, deep-rooted in the cultural memory of Antioquians. Taking the Regional road to the south we get to the town of Caldas, the southern most town in the Aburra valley. From there we take the road to Angelopolis, among the beautiful pristine landscapes of the El Romeral cordillera, today an important ecological trail. Romeral hills, declared an ecological reservation in 1995, are located in Angelópolis. The warehouses of the old Antioquia railway can also be visited at the small town of La Estación, as well as the waterfalls of La Ramírez brook. After Angelópolis we get to Amagá, a coal mining region and birthplace of former president Belisario Betancur, whose house has been declared national monumentThe next place of interest is the town of Titiribí, which can be reached by taking a detour. Titiribí holds important archaeological treasures, represented by Circo Teatro Girardot, which has been declared a national monument, as well as by the town hall, built by Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts, and the house of Elí Posada, today a museum. Among the ecological destinations we find the natural caves of EI Tambo and Los Micos hills. We then go down to Bolombolo, a town on the banks of Cauea River. Hot weather resting homes have been built in this area where Medellin families spend their holidays. From there, an arm of the road takes us to the towns of Andes and Jardín. The former, an active coffee producer, is the birth place of Nadaist poet Gonzalo Arango, who caused commotion in the Antioquian society in the 19505 due to his non-conformist attitude.
Jardín square is considered to be one of the most beautiful ones in Antioquia, and around it, many bars and taverns are found, which provide it with an interesting night life. From BoIombolo you can also get to Venecia, a town where horses can be hired to ride all day, carrying a good supply of aguardiente in your saddlebags, so that you can take a sip at the many stops, ending up at a tavern by night, to listen to old music. A little further on, in the area known as Peñalisa, a road running parallel to the Cauca River can be taken, with the Tusa hill as a backcloth. Seen from the distance, it has the shape of a pyramid.
Taking a detour from the road we get to the town officer, with an important architectural heritage. Here was born the mother of Laura, who was beatified by Pope John Paul. A stop over at the Southwest Archaeological Museum and the Religious Art Museum can also be included. Jerico is famous for its production of carrieles (Ieather shoulder bags), which is why it is the perfect place to buy this typical Antioquian item, where muleteers used to carry all kinds of objects.
After visiting Jerico and returning to the main road, you continue on to get to La Pintada, a town whose landscape is dominated by the Citara rocky peaks, which rise imposingly in the middle of the Cauca Valley. Two interesting places in this town are the old bridge on the Cauca River, "Alejandro Lopez" railway station, and the old bridge on the Río Arma. At this point, you can go up to the town of Santa Bárbara, in order to start the descent to Medellin from Minas hills.
The West Circuit or The Route of Sun and Fruit, towards the western central part of the city we find the district of San Cristobal, known by its flower crops, and also one of the places from where a wide view on the Valle del Aburra can be enjoyed. It leads us directly to "Fernando Gomez Martínez" western tunnel. The "Guillermo Gaviria Correa" road connection, 18 minutes away from Medellin. This modern work of engineering opens the gate to tourism in the western region, also connecting it to the Uraba region. It is the longest and most modern tunnel in Colombia and Latin America, 4.6 kilometers long. It is fitted with the most modern technology in safety and service. This tunnel shortens the trip from Medellin to Santa Fe de Antioquia in more than an hour, and it is part of the long road uniting Antioquia. Santander and Venezuela; it is expected to join the Pan American Highway. The drive down to Cauca along the existing road, takes place among mountainous landscapes of great beauty, which are, besides quite typical of the Antioquian geography. Towards the end of the road, the town of San Jeronimo can be admired, whose white houses glitter in the surrounding green. In this town, which you can reach by taking a detour from the road. there is an abundant variety of fruit, particularly tamarindo. The offer for ecological tourism is also good at places like La Alarcona, Espadas and Aurrá brook, beside in El Cidral, some archaeological remains can be found. Our next destination is the town of Sopetran, which gathers on its streets the liveliest night life in all the western circuit thanks to its varied offer of bars and taverns. However, Sopetran is not only about partying. There are also swimming resorts like La Sopetran La Sucia and Miraldita, and the ecological path La Neverita. Besides, we can find ecological parks El Gaitero. El Salado and El Nicolas, perfect for ecological tourism lovers. On the way to Santa Fe de Antioquia. in the jurisdiction of Olaya, travellers find Occidente Bridge, which was designed towards the end of the 19th century by Colombian engineer José María Villa 115 structure, one of the most important works of engineering in Colombia, is mostly made of wood, a material which was even used in the supporting structure. Besides the bridge, other tourist attractions in Olaya are El Salto and La Toma pools. We finally reach Santa Fe de Antioquia. The colonial past which is scarce in Medellin is reflected here in its full splendor. The cobblestone streets, the balconies and the huge doors in houses give this town an ancient atmosphere, which is enhanced by its many churches, the most outstanding one being Jesus Nazareno church. Besides, due to the fact that it was the capital of Antioquia until 1826, it was the place where the independence of this region was signed. The table where the official document was ratified is still preserved at "Juan del Corral" Museum. Visiting the house of Jorge Robledo Ortiz, known as the Poet of Race is also of interest. The return to Medellin is made along the same way to the sea.
Northern circuit or the Milk Route:
This cold weather sub-region, consisting of seventeen municipalities, gathers milk cattle as its most important economic source. These are high grounds with pure air and green landscapes. Even some moors are found here. According to the interests of tourists, the following internal routes can be followed: The milk road, the agricultural and farming road, the reservoir road, the Faith and Culture road, the moors road, and the trout road. On the way out of Medellin we take the way leading to the north of the Aburra Valley. Shortly before getting to Barbosa, at El Hatillo, we start the ascent to Matasanos hills, among imposing and rough mountains from which paragliders take off above the Aburra Valley. This road leads to the Colombian Atlantic Coast. The first town is Donmatías, an important center for the clothing industry and textile assembly. Some interesting centers to mention are museum house "Luis López de Mesa", the old bridges of Los Leones, Santander and Zea and the church of Nuestra Senora del Rosario. With respect to ecotouristic destinations, it is advisable to follow the stone ecological path which goes along a pine forest on the shores of Riogrande II reservoir, and also to visit eco park Chupadero Los Salados. Along the road leading to the Atlantic Coast we get to the town of Santa Rosa de Osos, famous for its pandequesos (cheese biscuit) , its dairy products, its traditional Dusk Parties, and for being the seat of Fundación Universitaria Católica del Norte (FUCN), the first virtual university in the country, offering a large number of people in the region the possibility to become professionals. This institution possesses inviting green areas and a conventions center, besides the Diocese's inn for group and business activities. For more information, call: (574) 8609822. Then we cross the region of Llanos de Cuivá, with beautiful mountainous landscapes. Santa Rosa is the birthplace of Porfirio Barba Jacob, one of the most important poets in Antioquia and in Colombia, remembered in the museum-school named after him.
Other important monuments are the Palacio de Gobiemo Municipal, designed by Belgian Agustín Goovaerts, and the Sagrada Familia Chapel. Regarding ecological destinations, we cannot forget Saint Joseph Hill, with its misty forest and oakwoods. Along the main road we get to Yarumal, where Epifanio Mejía, author of the Iyrics of the Antioquian anthem and father Marianito, who was declared a blessed man by the Catholic Church, were born. A little further we find Angostura, where father Marianito worked as a parish priest for a good part of his priestly activity. We then return to Santa Rosa de Osos in order to take the road to Entrerríos, where the monolith known as Piedra del Peñol de Entrerríos is found, an allusion to the famous rock in the town of the Antioquian east.
Besides the monolith, it is also interesting to visit the House of Culture, containing 148 pieces used in the traditional tanning of leather, and a collection of 50 pottery objects made by the Catío and Nutabe natives. On La Pontezuela brook, fishing activities are regularly organized, while in the place known as Las Vegas del. Toruro we can appreciate the typical landscapes of this mountainous region.
The following point is the town of San Pedro, from where stems a detour leading to Belmira, a town where a moor with the same name begins. At the Basnica del Señor de los Milagros, a replica of Miguel Angel's "Madonna de la Pietá" can be seen, so perfect that it once served to restore the original. AII the San Pedro lanes possess important landscape riches, which is why travellers can wander around them and admire the mountains where the town is set.
It is now time to come back to Medellin. The city is accessed through the north-west, with the urban landscape in the background.
Tourist and cultural attractions
The tourist attractions of Medellin (a renewed, cultural and intellectual city) are represented by its historical and contemporary buildings, such as churches, museums, theatres, open sky spaces, conservation parks in the urban perimeter, pedestrian paths such as Carabobo, and the new library parks. Perhaps some of the most attractive architectural and urban works in the city center and its surroundings, some of them under construction or recently opened are Explora park, newly renovated Botanic Gardens (and their orchid display, Orquideorama), the Municipal Planetarium, Parque de Los Deseos (The park of wishes), Parque de Los Pies DescalZtt (Park of bare feet) and the five new library parks: Quintana "Tomás Carraquilla", San Javier "Presbitero José Luis Arroyave", Belen Library Park, "Leon de Greiff" La Ladera and Santo Domingo. Recreational and sports park Juanes de la Paz and recreational complex "María Luisa Calle" have also been projected. Added to the above we can mention newly restored Museum of Antioquia, Empresas Públicas de Medellin's intelligent building, Plaza Mayor Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions center and plaza Cisneros. T o sum up, this is a city with a clear cultural and service vocation, added to a long tradition in industry and business, especially in the fields of textile and fashion. It is also important to mention that the more than 20 shopping centres in the city, together with the new commercial compounds being built in El Poblado make up an attractive meeting point for visitors.
Berrío Park
CALLES SO (COLOMBIA)
Berrío Park is the epicenter of the city, where Antioquians have gathered for generations as their main meeting point. The history of this park is closely linked to the one of La Candelaria church, built initially in 1680. Main Square, as it was called from the beginning, was the anteroom of the church, and all parishioners gathered on it before and after the service. Between 1784 and 1892, the public market was located there, and it was also the stage for executions and grandiose public and political events. Like all big cities with a Spanish influence, the wealthiest families lived around the square Which in 1895 changed its name to Pedro Justo Berrío, to honor one of the main political figures in the region in the 19th century. Before turning into the financial zone par excellence in the city, Berrío Park suffered intermittent fires, in 1917, 1921 and 1922. The old houses had to be knocked down to give way to modern constructions where banking and commercial bodies found their place. Probably the greatest transformation took place at the end of the 1980s and at the beginning of 1990, though, when it underwent a process of redesign and an in depth work on its foundations, in order to accommodate the new Medellin metro station. Today it is the meeting place of people whose business is based on banking.
Banco de la República Philatelic Museum CL50 #50-21
It is located in the facilities of the Banco de la República branch, facing Parque Berrío. Here, 28,000 key pieces in the postal and philatelic history of the country are stored. The collections of this museum, which have been opened to the public since June 1977, are made up of postage stamps and stamps of Colombia and other countries and territories issuing them from 1840. It also displays bills and coins issued by the Banco de la República throughout its history. It has received important contributions, including the Kettiger CoIlection.
NUTIBARA HILL CLJOA# 55.64
fomenloyturismol@une.net.com
This symbol of the city has undergone an important physical readjustment with respect to improved access, paths, public areas, tree-planting, landscaping and ecological tourism programs; all this for visitors to enjoy a natural viewpoint in the city. Standing on the southwest, just between Medellin river and "Olaya Herrera" airport and park, Nutibara hill is the best known elevation within Medellin's urban perimeter. With an approximate extension of 33 hectares and a height of 80 meters, it offers an imposing view on the city. This is the largest natural park within the city perimeter. Three of Medellin's main attractions are Iocated on the hill: Pueblito Paisa (Paisa little town), Parque de Las Esculturas (Park of sculptures) and "Carlos Vi eco" open sky theater.
El Pueblito Paisa (Paisa Little Town)
NUTIBARAHILL
It is a replica of a rural village, complete with a church, the priest's house, a school, a chemist's shop, a barber shop, a café, other stores, and a square with a stone fountain in its center. Even though. gives the impression of being old, the Pueblito Paisa on Nutibara hill was built in 1977, to commemorate the 300 years of Medellin's foundation. Next to this small town stands the sculpture of "Cacique Nutibara", a native chief of outstanding importance at the time of the Spanish conquest, in the 16th century. lt was the work of Maestro Jose Horado Betancur. Visitors can find a considerable number of shops selling traditional products and handcrafts, as well as restaurants for typical Antioquian food.
Parque de Las Esculturas (Park of Sculptures)
On the initiative of former Colombian president Belisa Rio Betancur Cuartas, the Museum of Modern Art organized the permanent display of sculptures in the natural setting of this hill. Works by international artists, including Manuel Felguerez (Mexico), John Castles (Colombia), Sergio de Camargo (Brazil), Julio Le Parc (Argentina), Edgar Negret (Colombia), Carlos Cruz Diez (Venezuela), Carlos RoJas (Colombia), Ronny Vayda (Colombia), Alberto Uribe (Colombia) and Otto Hajek (Germany) can be admired.
Open Sky Theater "Carlos Vi eco"
CERRO NUTlBARA CL, 30A, CRA. 55
Inaugurated in 1984, its design was the work of the City Planning Design Department, and the acoustic stage was the work of architect Oscar Mesa. It holds 3,800 spectators. There is al so a restaurant with a view of nature and of the city. It was built in honor of composer Carlos Vi eco Ortiz, a musician born in MedelIin on February 14th, 1900, the son of musician, composer and painter Camilo Vieco.
San Antonio Park
OPPOSITE SAN ANTONIO CHURCH.
AOORESS: CR 46 (ORIENTAL AV.)
Inaugurated on December 14th, 1994, it is one of the most important recreational and cultural venues in the city. It was built on a 33 thousand square meters of terrain. It holds commercial and service areas. Here, several sculptures by Fernando Botero are displayed, including a naked torso. A crescent shaped auditorium offers an ideal place for free concerts which are regularly organized there. Likewise, the offices of the French Colornbian Alliance and Almacenes Éxito operate here. "Porfirio Barba Jacob" ThE'a'ter aod the Army's Batallón are also located here.
Bolívar Park
CAllES S4 (CARACAS) ANO SS (PERÚ) ANO CARRERAS 28 (ECUADOR) AND 49 (YENHUELA)
Like Berrío Park, Bolívar Park is full of history. The grounds it occupies today were the property of English citizen Tyrrel Stuart Moore, who decided to donate them to the city in 1844, on the condition that the area was called Nueva Londres ("New London"). However, citizens favored the name Villanueva, the epicenter of the neighborhood of the same name, which was in force till 1871. In that year it was renamed Bolívar Park, though only in 1923 a statue of the Liberator was placed there. Around it, members of the main families in Medellin also lived for long decades. The main building here is the Basilica or Metropolitan Cathedral, whose construction started in 1875. One of the main activities in this place is carried out every Sunday at 11 :00 A.M., when the 5ymphonic Band of the Universidad de Antioquia plays classical and folk music. This open sky concert is known as the Retreta del Parque. The names of the streets converging there refer to three countries freed from the Spanish domination.
Uíniversidad de Antioquia Assembly Hall (Paraninfo)
CRA.44 # 48-72.
Saint Ignatius Building at the Universidad de Antioquia, in the city center, is probably one of the most important architectural jewels in Medellin. It was the first branch of Universidad de Antioquia, whose origins date back to 1793, year in which the Medellin Cabildo purchased the lands for the construction of a church, a convent and a school. When the setting up of Universidad de Antioquia was declared in 1803, the process of its development and construction was initiated; however, it was only in 1886 that the then called Saint Ignatius Building received the name of Universidad de Antioquia. At first the School of Arts and Trades and the School of Mining were located there. In 1982, this building was declared national monument The assembly hall (Paraninfo) was built during the republican period, as a result of expansion works. This task was under the command of Maestro Horacio Rodríguez. The assembly hall has been the epicenter of cultural development in the department and in the whole country.
Saint Ignatius Square CRA. 44 ANO CAllES 48 ANO 49
For decades it served as the patio for Saint Ignatius School, founded by Jesuits. Remodelled in 1993, the park (next to Universidad de Antioquia's Assembly Hall) has preserved an imposing display of centenary ceiba trees. Another building in the area is Universidad de Antioquia's assembly hall, considered to be part of the city's heritage.
"Pablo Tobón Uribe" Theatre
It has been one of the most traditional artistic stages in Medellin. It is famous for its varied selection of concerts. zarzuela, ballet, drama and recitals by international artists. It holds 800 people. In front of it we find the sculpture "La Bachué", by artist José Horacio Betancur, who also sculpted "Cacique Nutibara", which stands on the hill with the same name. Coltejer Building Since 1972, when its construction, started in 1968, was completed, it has become a symbol of modern Medellin. The 40 storey building is the highest in the city, and at one point it was the main skyscraper in the country. In order to build it, the beautiful location of Junín theatre and hotel Europa had to be demolished. The purpose of building it was to provide for an administrative and corporate seat for Coltejer, one of the oldest and most widely recognized textile industries in the country, and one of the main engines of the Antioquian economy. As an illusion to its origin, it has the shape of a needle. Urban historians agree in pointing out that, from the opening of Coltejer building, Medellin embraced modernism, and it gave way to a new architectural culture, Museo de Antioquia
CR52 #52-43
The Museum of Antioquia was the first museum to be founded in the department; it is the second museum in Colombia, and one of the first ones in South America to have an arts hall. In 1997, a process started to revitalize the institution and to turn in into one of the most important cultural centres in the country and in this part of the continent, In fact, the Museum ( Iocated in Medellin's city center, between Carreras Carabobo and Cundinamarca and between Avenida de Greiff and Calle Calibio) is perhaps the most ambitious urban and cultural project in the Antioquian capital in the past few years. The museum is distributed in two buildings: the old building (Cr 52A 1J 5IA-29, next to La Veracruzchurch), with movie projections, a library service and the School of Arts and Trades workshops, among others, and the main building, gathering most of the permanent and itinerant exhibitions rooms; it is located in what used to be the Municipal Palace, The construction, totally renovated offers a tour across luminous spaces, inviting patios, corridors and gardens, Here, visitors can find shops for arts and handcrafts objects, as well as restaurants and small cafes. Guided visits are offered to groups of up to 30 people, prior booking by telephone. The museum counts several donations from painter Fernando Botero, an internationally renowned artist who was born and raised in Medellin, Donation Botero 2000 counts 158 pieces added to the 18 paintings and 16 sculptures by the same artist already in stock; this donation is permanently exhibited on the third floor of the main branch, In 2004, Botero offered eleven new works of art by renowned international artists to be added to the previous donation, This was the start of the museum's International Wing, composed of four permanent halls, which give life to the South Wing of the building, on the main building's third floor. The museum has a good number of halls, including: the Prehispanic, Colonial and Republican halls, Murals, "Manuel Uribe Angel", Portraits from the 19th century, photography, National Artists, "Francisco Antonio Cano", Sculptures, Antioquian Artists from the 20th Century, Contemporary Art, Colombian Art from the 20th century, besides the halls displaying Botero's donations. The Museum of Antioquia is an artistic point of reference in a city that is expanding its cultural and educational possibilities more and more.
Plaza Botero
With an area of 7,000 square meters, Plaza Botero is another area of the Museum of Antioquia which is destined to events, concerts and fashion shows, Extending itself just in front of the museum, this square permanently exhibits 23 sculptures donated by the Antioquian painter. Besides the sculptures, there are ceiba and yellow lignum vitae trees around this wide space Among the pieces worth admiring we find "The hand", "Eve", "Man on horseback", "Maternity" and "Roman 501dier", among others.
Palacio De La Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
With its florid gothic style, it occupies the old premises of the Palacio de la Gobernación de Antioquia. It is no doubt one of the most representative architectural works in the city. Its design and construction, the work of Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts (1885-1939), were commanded by the then Governor of Antioquia and future president of Colombia, General Pedro Nel Ospina. This work was completed by stages, between 1929 and 1937. By the mid 1960s there were plans to demolish it. Later on, the Gobernación and Asamblea Departament moved to new facilities in administrative center La Alpujarra. Its Art Gallery, on the ground floor hosts artistic exhibitions, and visitors have the opportunity to see them and also to take part in workshops and discussions around the topic.
Palacio de La Cultura
Apart from art exhibitions, the Palacio stores several samples of the Antioquian culture. In its building, for example, is located the headquarters for department of libraries, a phonograph. The Palacio Nacional Center for Musical Documentation, the Historical Archives of Antioquia, Sala Museo "Rafael Uribe Uribe", a café, and a cultural shop.
Instituto de Bellas Artes
The Palacio de Bellas Artes has been the center of arts and culture in Medellin since 1910, when it was founded as a school of music, painting and sculpture. The design of this new republican style building was carried out by architect and artist Nel Rodríguez, in 1925. The octagonal layout turns on its sides in order to give shape to the auditorium. It houses workshops for the teaching of the fine arts. The most outstanding exponents in the city's artistic life have studied in its halls, including Eladio Vélez, Rodrigo Arenas Betancur. Débora Arango, Teresita Gómez and Fernando Botero. Many of them have also been professors at the Institute. Visitors can appreciate the architectural details of the building and attend a series of music events as well as permanent exhibitions from local artists.
Palacio Nacional
CRI2 #48-45
This imposing building, planned in 1925 by the architect Agustin Goovaerts, has a romantic and modern style that, for a long time, was one of the architectural jewels of the city. Today it is transformed into the most prestigious mall of the central city. It has 400 stores, bar, art gaIlery, museum, electric stairways, private security, closed circuit television and wide corridors.
"Pequeño Teatro" Theatre
CR 42 # 10A-12
Founded in 1975, the "Asociación Pequeño Teatro de Medellin" is a non profit artistic association. In 1985 it was pronounced part of Medellin's Cultural Heritage. Since its foundation, it has organized permanent seasons at its premises, as well as presentations in other theaters, both in Medellin and outside the city. The research, creation and teaching activities have turned "Pequeño Teatro" into one of the most stable and representative groups in the Colombian theatre movement. Its novel financing system, known as "free entrance and voluntary contribution", whereby members of the audience offer a voluntary amount of money at the end of the show, has allowed it to find a way to project its creative work to turn art into a way of life, and theatre into a social event Besides hosting theatre seasons. this venue houses exhibitions, workshops for theatre initiation and a school for actors training.
Plazoleta Nutibara CL SJA. CRA. 50
For many generations before, plazoleta Nutibara was a compulsory meeting point. The reason for this was that many important buildings, such as the Palacio de la Gobernación de Antioquia (today known as Palacio de la Cultura), and the traditional Nutibara Hotel were built there. The square has a simple fountain and a small open sky theatre. It is also connected with Plaza Botero and the new headquarters of Antioquia Museum.
Plazoleta de la Veracruz CALLE 51 CARRERA 52
It is located in front of Veracruz church. Its main attractive is a bronze fountain and a marble monument in honor of Atanasio Girardot", a key figure in the Colombian Independence.
"Porfirio BarbaJacob" Theatre
This theatre. which is associated with folk music performances, is named after Antioquian poet Porfirio Barba Jacob, the author of famous poem "Canción de fa vida profÜnda" ("A Song for the deep life"). It is also used for conferences and plays, as well as movies.
"El Águila Descalza" Theatre.
The group El Águila Descalza, which is recognized both nationally and internationally. performs in this beautiful house in Prado neighborhood, which holds an audience of 450. In spite of having undergone adaptations, this theater has preserved its fine wood floors, its plaster roofs decorated by Italian craftsmen from the early 20th century. its skirting boards, doors and windows. This theatre. with its wooden stage and a complete black chamber works as a multiple room for all kinds of artistic demonstrations, theatre. dance, music, literature. cinema. video. painting, artistic workshops, academic conferences, and other cultural encounters.
Antioquia Railway Station CARRERA 52 AND CALLE 43
It is one of the best preserved. and maintained of the old buildings. It is part of the Colombian architectural heritage, thanks to restoration works promoted by the Antioquia Railway Foundation. Its design and construction were the work of engineer and architect Enrique Olarte, who was in front of the process as from 1907. The station opened its doors in 1914. Along its useful life it underwent some reforms and extensions. Today it is a cultural center.
La Alpujarra Administrative Center CL.428 # 52-106
Not far from the Antioquia raiIway station we find La Alpujarra administrative center, an epicenter for one of the most ambitious urban transformation projects in Medellin. La Alpujarra Jouses the main local and regional government branches. In it, the Gobernación de Antioquia, Alcaldía de Medellin, Asamblea departmental and the Concejo municipal operate, among other official dependencies. Starting in 2004, La Alpujarra is part of an ambitious project called Plaza Mayor. which joins it' to the Palacio de Exposiciones, to the new International Conventions Center, to the Metropolitan Theatre, to the Parque de los Pies Descalzos and to the intelligent building of Empresas Públicas de Medellin.
EPM Library
CR54 # 44.48
This project, which was financed by Empress Públicas de Medellin, could be considered to be a monument to technology and progress. It is a futuristic style library, where one can surf around the world through internet and research on specialized topics including science, technology, industry and the environment 1#. Inside, it resembles a big open sky theatre. It is one of the pilIars of the urban renovation plan, and a dear message on what can be achieved by uniting aesthetics, technology and architecture.
Cisneros Square
CALLE SAN JUAN. CR 53
MONDAYS T0 SUNDAYS: 6:00 A.M. T0 11:30 P.M.
This is one of Medellin's new magical places, and it is part of an ambitious city renovation plan which was thought to transform the center of the Antioquian capital and to give it back its role as the conductor of the city. The square of Light, which lies in the place where historically important Plaza Cisneros used to be, is essentially a forest of spiral, 24 meters high lamp posts. It is composed of 300 towers with 2,I 00 spotlights (seven per tower) and 170 floor lights. These modern elements are also mixed with guadua trees and water fountains, platform floors at different levels, and a computer operated illumination system which will indicate the moon phases. It is a kind of artificial forest, with open spaces for mass encounters and gatherings. A design of architect Juan Mánuel Peláez, the Cisneros square, just like the Plaza de los Pies Descalzos, has provided new life to a place that had been wasted in the city. It also offers an interesting opposition to the EPM Library Building, which is located just in front of it. The building's transparent walls will provide a nice view from indoors to the outdoors and vice versa. This idea will no doubt change the face of this area which, up to now, had been neglected by the city.
Plaza de la Luz (Square of Light)
CALLE SAN JUAN. CR 53
MONDAYS T0 SUNDAYS 6:00 A.M. T0 11:30 P.M.
This is one of Medellin's new magical places, and it is part of an ambitious city renovation plan which was thought to transform the center of the Antioquian capital and to give it back its role as the conductor of the city. The square of Light, which lies in the place where historically important Plaza de Cisneros used to be, is essentialIy a forest of spiral, 24-meters high lamp posts. It is composed of 300 towers with 2,I 00 spotlights (seven per tower) and I70 floor lights. These modern elements are also mixed with guadua trees and water fountains, platform floors at different levels, and a computer operated illumination system which will indicate the moon phases. It is a kind of artificial forest, with open spaces for mass encounters and gatherings. A design of architect Juan Manuel Peláez, the Square of Light, just like the Plaza de los Pies Descalzos, has provided new life to a place that had been wasted in the city. It also offers an interesting opposition to the Thematic Library Building, which is located Just in front of it. The building's transparent walls will provide a nice view from indoors to the outdoors and vice versa.
Buildings Vásquez
CR52 # 44-31
These two old architectural jewels of nineteenth century Medellin have returned from their ruins to an urban restoration plan for the city center. This project, led by architect Álvaro Sierra, did not only intervene on these two constructions, but it also includes Works in the Plaza Cisneros and other neighboring areas. The initial construction of buildings Vásquez y Carré has as its common reference point Charles Él Carré (1863 1909), a French citizen who, once he had finished Sacre Coeur Church in Montmartre, Paris travelled to Colombia to take part in several works and projects in Medellin. Carré building, which was erected on grounds bought by Eduardo Vásquez in 1893, was the fírst one to be built. Its initial projection and direction were under the command of Carré himself. It was the highest of its time, and its structural system resembles the coffee dryers in Antioquian farms.
Vásquez building, on the other hand, was designed and built by Carré's students. Due to the fact that the grounds where it was built were similar to the Carré Building's, and because it had the same number of storeys, it was considered to be its twin, though its style was republican with J. French neoclassical influence. Unlike the Carré building, Vásquez building had no balconies, which left its facade flat. Both buildings lost favor and were badly inhabited for decades. After their restoration, they have been taken as the headquarters for the City's Education Secretary. After its restoration, it has been destined to be used as the Secretary of Municipal Education and to house Comfama's offices. Finally, after its renovation, they are connected with the city center, Paseo Carabobo, Berrío park, EPM Library, Plaza de La Luz, La Alpujarra administrative center and Plaza Mayor Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions Center.
Plaza Mayor
Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions Center (141 # 55-BO
With more than 25,000 square meters of squares, gardens and green areas, it offers visitors and convention goers the possibility to have the International Conventions Center and the Palace of Exhibitions (fair grounds) in a single area, which are integrated in a single cultural and tourist complex, together with Metropolitan Theatre, De los Pies Descalzos Park and the Urban Door (an artistic creation). The integration of both venues, achieved in March 2006 gave birth to Plaza Mayor Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions Center, an entity with better options and services for its clients, it is an ideal place for all kinds of shows and events, as both the Palace and the Center provide 12,000 square meters of covered grounds for fairs and exhibitions: 16 halls with varying capacities, from 30 to 3,000 people. Plaza Mayor-Conventions center is a synonym of excellence and a myriad of possibilities. Detail, good taste, adaptability and technology are there to benefít those looking for perfection and satisfaction in the organization of their events. In addition, Plaza Mayor Exhibitions Palace provides the most important setting for fairs and exhibitions in the city. Its experience and trajectory are reflected in more than 25 fairs and 150 events per year.
In general, its design and structure turn Plaza Mayor into a point of reference in the city, connected with Medellin's national and international projections and its cultural and educational orientation. International Conventions Center (RA. 52 # 14-30, Displaying world class architectural construction and cutting edge technology, the International Conventions Center. whose construction started in July 2003 and finished in April 2005, is the biggest venue of its kind in Colombia, and the most modern one in the region. Its huge competitive advantage lies in the fact that it has incorporated the current Palacio de Exposiciones and the Medellin Metropolitan Theatre as supplementary stages. In the same area, the Interactive Museum and the Parque de los Pies Descalzos offer a wide range of possibilities for entertainment. This project has been approved by the Alcaldía de Medellin, the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Medellin's Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia and the Institute de Desarrollo de Antioquia (Idea). With a covered area of 30,000 square meters, its great hall can hold 3,200 people. Due to its flexibility, it will be possible to divide it into six minor areas. It offers a VIP lounge and a press lounge, and it is connected to 25,000 square meters of green areas and open spaces.
Metropolitan Theater of Medellin
l41#57-30
It is at present the largest cultural venue in the city. Inaugurated in 1987, it was the precursor of the new public area in Main Square. It stands out for its sober but imposing architectural design. It holds 1,634 spectators. The main room also displays an austere design, with uncovered brick walls. Besides holding artistic and musical events, this theatre also complements the Palacio de Exposiciones in the celebration of large meetings and conferences.
Empresas Públicas de Medellin Building
It is one of the most modern buildings in Colombia, with a high level of automation, which maximizes its efficiency. It is made of concrete and steel, and all its access ways, security, elevators, escalators and lighting are controlled through computerized systems. It has become one of the architectural icons of the city, and it is one of the dominant structures on the banks of Medellin River.
Parque de
los Pies Descalzos (Park of Bare Feet)
This is the main open sky space in the Main Square area. Its design and oriental atmosphere offer silence and peace which provide a sharp contrast with the noise of the city. Among its main attractions we find the sand park, water fountains, a Zen garden, guadua trees forests and wooden tables. Its main visitors are the inhabitants of the Antioquian capital, as well as tourists, and officials from Empresas Públicas de Medellin, whose imposing and modern intelligent building dominates the western bank. The park, surrounded by outdoors cafés and restaurants is a contribution of Fundación EPM to regenerate this area, which was depressing before. The Interactive Museum is located in its uppermost area. Both occupy an area of 30,411 square meters.
EPM Interactive
It is a monument to science and technology, two disciplines which are widely spread in the city. Financed by EPM, this museum allows visitors to appreciate the application of phenomena and processes of the main energy services such as electricity, network gas, aqueduct, sewer system and telecommunications. With 22 rooms distributed in four pavilions, every thing that is on display can be touched. It offers nearly 200 experiments to be activated.
Museum of Modern Art
This museum, surrounded by a square full of trees, and located in the same area where the famous Pilot Public Library of Medellin works, gathers the best samples of contemporary art, including national and foreign artists. It is a creative institution par excellence, which collects samples of plastic and audiovisual arts, architecture and design Its permanent and modern exhibitions show pieces that range from sculptures, assemblies and paintings to photographs and engravings. One of its greatest points of interest is the Débora Arargo collection, since it gathers the most significant work of this Antioquian artist in the country. Another major attraction is the projection of art cinema. It is also the seat for the Video International Biennial Exhibition, which takes place in September.
Medellin's Pilot Public Library for Latin America
CRA. 64 # 50-31.
METRO STATION: SURAMERICANA
www.bibliotecapiloto.gov.co It is one of the most important cultural bodies in Colombia and Latin America. It has been open since 1954, thanks to an agreement with Unesco, The United Nations cultural branch. Up until1992 it worked as an autonomous entity, with the support of official and private contributions. That year it became a dependency of the Ministry of Colombian Education. It stores an amazing variety of books and documents (physical and digital) and it is a center of research and a meeting place for students, academics and intellectuals.
The Sala Antioquia, for example, stores the most complete bibliographic and artistic collection in the department and in the neighboring zone, Viejo Caldas, where the influence of Antioquian culture is historically strong. The photo archives contain more than 1.5 million still pictures, from 1849 to our days.It also stores the personal files of eminent men of letters, such as Manuel Mejía Vallejo and Carlos Castro Saavedra. as well as León de Greiff library, among other treasures. Its video library includes more than 7,000 titles.
Fundación Casa Museo "Pedro Nel Gómez" FUNDACiÓN
PEDRO NEL GÓMER MUSEUH HOU5E CR51 # B5.14PBX:(574 FAX:13)B565 MONDAY TO SATURDAYS: 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. MONDAY AND HOLlDAYS: 10:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
Painter Pedro Nel Gómez has been considered one of the pioneers of modern art in Colombia. This house, now turned into a museum, is the place where he lived and worked. Its walls are painted with some of his best murals. Other paintings and sculptures from this artist are also exhibited there. The value of his murals measuring more than 200 meters of frescos has been widely recognized abroad, and some critics have not hesitated to call him, the best mural artist in Latin America. This collection is composed of more than 1,500 pieces, including water colors, oil paintings, pastels, engravings, sculptures and wood carvings. His art library gathers more than 500 volumes.
Universidad de Antioquia Museum
CR 67 # 5J-108
Founded in 1942, this museum stands just at the heart of the Universidad de Antioquia campus, one of the oldest universities in Colombia. It is one of the most frequently visited museums in the city, especially by students, since it gathers 40,000 pieces related to visual arts, natural science, history and anthropology. It also includes arts exhibition and concert halls.
"Joaquín Antonio Uribe" Botanic Garden
CRA 52 # 73-298
The Botanic Gardens, part of Medellin's cultural heritage and one of the greenest areas in the city, is currently undergoing important institutional, architectural and urban renovations, including its museums, within Medellin's Mayor's Office Strategic Project. Starting in 2005. this renovation process is expected to be completed in 2007. Broadly speaking, visitors will enjoy new public spaces, the recovery of the lake, the stream and wide green areas, besides the new orchid display (Orquideorama), considered to be the focal point of renovation and the heart of the Botanic Gardens. Patio de Las Azaleas (azaleas court) and El Científico buildings are other important works. The latter will gather the tasks corresponding to the herbarium, the laboratory and the garden offices. Their construction will be completed on the first half of 2007. In short, it is an amazing garden, offering a variety of areas for long Iasting enjoyment One of ways to access is by metro, Universidad station, very close to the gardens.
"Jesús Emilio Ramírez" Town Planetarium
CR 52 # 71-117 Like the Botanic Gardens.
The Town's Planetarium is near Universidad de Antioquia. It gathers a battery of powerful telescopes, which have been classified among the first ones in Latin America. Around 300 people can sit in the projection room, covered with a dome 17.5 meters in diameter. In recent years it underwent complete renovation to improve all its services, including the library, computer room and auditorium, where movies are also shown. It is possible to get there by Metro, Universidad station.
El Parque de los Deseos (The Park of Wishes)
CAlLES 71 ANO 72. CARRERAS 52 AND 53
TUESDAYS TO SUNDAYS: 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M.
This park has been described as an "open space to observe the universe". Based on the experience acquired with the Pies Descalzos Park, in the area of Main square, Fundación Empresas Públicas de Medellin started this work, whose main purpose is to get visitors to lie down and look at the stars. Because of its closeness to the Planetarium, the Botanic gardens and the Universidad de Antioquia, their idea is to promote interest in the cosmos, and to make science popular. Eleven interactive attractions related with public services and astronomy are offered. 12,000 square meters located on the block surrounding carreras 52 and 53 and Calles 71 and 72, "will provide dignity" to MedelIin. The parking building serves as a theatre box, from where movies on astronomy shows are presented. Museo Casa Gardeliana W457650(574) 212 0968 EVERY DAY: 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. Famous Argentinian tango singer Carlos Gardel died in Medellin. when his plane had an accident. Since then and before then the city hosts a deep rooted tango culture.
Founded on February 14th, 1973 in Manrique neighborhood by Argentinian Leonardo II Nieto Jardon, this museum is a meeting place for tango lovers. Valuable memorabilia from the time of Gardel can be appreciated. Celebrities like Hugo del Carril, Alberto Echague, Oswaldo Pugliese, Agustín lrusta and many other personalities have visited its stage.
Fundación Cementerio de San Pedro (San Pedro Cemetery) (R51 # 68.68
& Built in 1828 and declared a national monument in 1999, this cemetery is a central part in the cultural and architectural heritage of the city. Although it holds sculptures and architectural works of Latin American funeral art, this place has started to stand out as a new meeting place for artistic expression. Local and national art collections are preserved here, and on full moon nights, concerts, story telling, drama and dance shows are organized. However, the most significant trait are the funerary monuments in memory of personalities who have stood out in the arts and politics, such as Antioquia's ex-governor Pedro Justo Berrío, former presidents Mariano Ospina, Pedro Nel Ospina and Carlos E. Restrepo, painter Pedro Nel Gómez, leader and statesman Francisco Antonio Zea among others.
Universidad de Medellin Theater
(R 87 # 30.65 Inaugurated in 1985, this theater, with a capacity for 1,700 people, offers the largest artistic and cultural arena in the city. At first it was exclusively assigned to university and academic activities, but it was soon put to the service of the whole community. Its stage conditions are unique, and it is used for operas, zarzuela, concerts, dance and ballet performances, theatre plays and conferences. During its whole existence this theatre has had as its honorary guest the Medellin Philharmonic Orchestra.
El Castillo Museum
(L 9SUR # 32.269 It is an architectural jewel in the Antioquian geography. In the best style of the Loire castles in France, it possesses a gothic medieval design, and French style gardens. Its halls and rooms are used in exhibitions and classical and contemporary music concerts. It holds a collection of paintings by national and foreign artists. Painting, sculpture and ceramics workshops, among others, are organized there. Due to its welcoming atmosphere, it is used in fairs and cultural festivals. "Luis Echevarría Villegas" Cultural Center and Library.
CR 49 # 7IUR-SO, AV. LAS VEGAS PBX:
This building, considered to be a monument to modern architecture, was inaugurated by the end of the 1990s. Architects Juan Fernando Forero and Cirfos Julio Calle took part in the project, proposing a design that is in, books. Another futuristic aspect of this building is that it combines the traditional library and the electronic library. In spite of its modernity, some renaissance concepts have been applied in the management of inner areas in order to access information sources and reading areas. It has the latest technology in order to facilitate consultation.
Corporación Otraparte CR 43A # 27ASUR-11 AV EL POBLADO
In this house, Antioquian philosopher Fernando González lived and thought. It is a meeting place for admirers and followers of his ideas. The property where Corporación Otraparte works has been linked with the family of this intellectual since 1798. The design and construction of the house, which dates back to 1940, was achieved with the collaboration of famous friends such as painter, engineer and architect Pedro Nel Gómez. With a predominantly colonial style, the house is today part of an architectural and cultural project to offer visitors a place to isolate themselves from the world. The pieces and books displayed tell the story of González's life, and a small bookshop offers samples of his works. PeriodicaIly, movie cycles are organized.
Museo de la Madre Laura CR 92 # 34D-21 BELENClTO TOWN
The museum is located at the Provincial House of the Congregation of Missionaries of Mother Laura. It exhibits a variety of items of the native cultural heritage, and objects belonging to different ethnic groups.
1# Explora Park
CARRERAS S2
THE CITY AND ITS REGION
Medellin, the capital of the Antioquia department, is located in the Aburrá Valley, on the Central Andean mountain range, the valley from south to north, and later, under the name of Porce River, it delivers its waters to the Nechi River. Besides Medellin, the valley hosts other nine towns: Barbosa, Girardota, Copacabana and Bello, in the north, and Envigado, Itagui, Sabaneta, La Estrella and Caldas, in the south.
The Valle del Aburra's elongated shape extends from north to south; around the middle, in its wider area, Medellin is located. Its seven hills stand out in the valley's landscape, providing a wide variety of services to both visitors and citizens. Besides being natural viewpoints on the city and neighbouring towns, the hills provide areas for ecological tourism, recreation, culture and education, including pre-Columbian paths, traces from its former native inhabitants, religious icons, Antioquian traditions, and bird-watching. El Volador, Nutibara, Pan de Azucar, El Picacho, Santo Domingo, La Asomadera and El Salvador make up this set of hills.
Besides the towns in the Aburrá, Rio Negro, El Retiro, and La Ceja are also close by, to the east; Amaga and Angelopolis to the south-west, and San Pedro, to the North. Others, like La Pintada, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Sopetran, Fredonia and Jardin are farther away, due to the mountainous topography characterizing a great part of Antioquia. AII of them offer a wide range of possibilities for tourism, whether cultural, ecological or recreational.
WEATHER
With an average temperature of 24°C, Medellin has also been called "The City of the Eternal Spring". Throughout the year there are two rainy seasons: the first one, from March to May, and the second one, from September to November. The remainder of the year the weather is drier, although there is the possibility of occasional rains. Weather phenomena like El Niño and La Niña, which take place in the Pacific Ocean, may at times alter these conditions.
GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES AND POPULATION
Being placed in a narrow valley, Medellin's geographical boundaries are conformed totally by mountains and plateaus, reaching heights which are one thousand meters above sea level, and higher than the Aburrá Valley. On the right bank of the river lies the 'Rio Negro San Vicente' high plateau, whereas on the left bank Ovejas, San Felix and 'Don Matias Santa Rosa' are located. Among the mountains we find the Pan de Azucar Mountain to the East, El Picacho, to the north-west and the Padre Amaya heights, to the west, where radio and television repeating aerials are located. The population of Medellin lies around the two-million inhabitants; it reaches nearly three million in the whole Aburrá valley.
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
As the capital of Antioquia, Medellin is the seat of the executive, legislative and judicial powers of the department. It is the home of its governor, and the meeting place for the Department’s Assembly. In 1980, the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area was created, including the majority of towns located on the plains, except Envigado. However, these towns preserve their administrative autonomy, each one having a mayor and a town council, elected by popular vote. The municipality of Medellin is divided into 16 communes having their Community Action Council (JAC), and five small towns presided by a mayor.
COMMUNICATIONS
To communicate by land with the main cities in the country, Medellin counts on several roads from the national road system. The 'Medellin-Bogota' highway connects this city with the capital of the country, and with the south-west region of Colombia, the coffee growing region, Cali, and the Buenaventura port. The road to the Atlantic Coast connects it with Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and their harbors. The Magdalena Medio road links it with, puerto Berrio, on the Magdalena River, and with the Eastern cities of Bucaramanga and Cucuta. The road to the sea, on the other hand, connects Medellín in with the Uraba region, an important zone in the production of bananas.
Communications by air are made possible through two airports: 'José María Córdoba' Terminal in nearby Rionegro, which serves international flights and most of the routes to the main Colombian capitals. And the 'Enrique Olaya Herrera' terminal, which is located within the city limits; it serves flights to towns in the department, nearby cities such as Pereira and Manizales, and some flights to Bogota.
URBAN LAYOUT AND NUMBERING
Streets in Medellin are mainIy laid out according to the Spanish grid scheme, which is very clear in the city center. Streets run parallel to the river, from south to north, and from west to east. The lay out in some neighborhoods, particularly in Laureles, follows a pattern which moves away from the grid system, through streets called circular and cross streets. Others, like El Poblado, have an incomplete layout with plenty of dead end streets. How ever, within the framework of Medellin's 2004-2007 Development Plan, several road projects are under way to link them together, while at the same time improving mobilizing the environment.
The numbering system for streets is based on the alphanumeric system whereby the numbers for the 'carreras' increase from east to west, and the ones on the 'calles' increase from South to North, except for the ones located south of 'Calle 1', which increase towards the south and display the word 'Sur' after the number. Thus, the address 'Carrera 38 # 23-45' corresponds to a property located on 'Carrera' 38 between 'Calles' 23 and 24 and there is a plate at the door with the number 23-45. Another example could be 'Calle 9 sur # 36-128', which refers to a property located on 'Calle' 9 'sur', between 'Carreras' 36 and 37, whose doorplate displays number 36-128. In some cases, especially in the city center, the 'Calles' and 'Carreras' were also named after saints, historical figures and battles, among others. Their names are more easily remembered and more frequently used than the ones identified with numbers. The most common names are; San Juan (calle 44), Avenida Oriental (carrera 46), Avenida El Poblado (carrera 43A), Avenida. La Playa (calle 52), Loma de los Balsos (calle 9 sur), Transversal Inferior (carrera 30), Transversal Superior (carrera 25), Avenida Nutibara (transversal39B), Calle Colombia (Calle 50) and Avenida Las Vegas (carrera 48).
URBAN LANDSCAPE AND SPECIAL SECTORS
The scarcity of flat grounds in the Aburrá Valley has led to the construction of houses in the surrounding slopes, which is why many neighborhoods are located in mountainous zones. This is the main characteristic of the urban landscape. High modern buildings are a remarkable feature in the city center. The Coltejer building in particular, shaped as a needle, is a symbol of Medellin's tradition in the textile and clothing industry. A high commercial activity is another distinctive feature of the city center. In the same zone we can find the historical neighborhood of Prado, whose main feature is Republican architecture, a style which was in fashion in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Towards the South we can find El Poblado, an area which in the past few years has become very dynamic. It is the headquarters of several important companies located along the zone known as ‘Milla de Oro’ (Golden Mile), as well as for residential compounds sitting on the slopes, forming high standard neighborhoods. Working class neighborhoods are mainly located on the Northern area of the city, also on the slopes. Manrique, Aranjuez and Castilla are among the most outstanding ones. Towards the west on the largest portion of the valley there are neighborhoods like Laureles, Belen and Conquistadores. They are mainly inhabited by middle and high economic classes, although the latter is less widely represented.
MEDELLlN RIVER, THE AXIS OF THE CITY
Its 98 kilometer trail starts at the San Miguel heights, towards the Aburrá valley, 3,100 meters above sea level. It crosses the valley from south to north, working as an articulating axis. A total of 54 streams (out of the 57 irrigating the valley) deliver their waters to the river, including the Santa Elena and La Iguana streams. In the twentieth century, several works aiming at channelling it were started, in order to prevent the negative effect of its flooding. That is why today a great portion of its urban trail is surrounded by concrete walls. Later on when the waters of the Rio Grande join its waters, it takes the name of Porce, to finally flow into the Nechi River.
In 1975 works aiming at cleaning the river were initiated, since the disposal of industrial and domestic waste has polluted its water. The San Fernando Water Treatment Plant located at the municipality of Itagui, was built for this purpose. It has the capacity to treat 18 cubic meters of water per second, as well as several collectors and separators for sewage waters. The construction of another plant in the North at the Bello municipality is planned for 2007, which will greatly contribute to decontaminate the waters poured into the river. Boat races and competitions are periodically organized in this waterway, proving that the condition of these waters is improving.
The streets and places of Medellín
El Paseo
PEDESTRIAN SECTION: BETWEEN LA PLAYA AND PARQUE Bolivar
Junín is an important pedestrian street in Medellin's centre. Thousands of people get here, some of them just passing by, others window shopping, buying flowers, visiting bookshops, looking for a place to read, to go shopping, going to the movies at "Junín", at Coltejer building, socializing at the numerous restaurants and coffee shops, including "Salon de Té Astor" and "Salon Versalles", opened in 1930 and 1960 respectively. From its beginnings, this street, between Parque Bolívar and Avenida La Playa, has been one of the most representative places in the city. Elegant Club Union, whose area is now occupied by a modern El Union shopping centre, stood here until 2004. Medellin dwellers have made up the verb "juniniar" ("to junin"), which means walking and enjoying this street full of history, which is comprised by a large urban block where commerce and leisure combine for visitors to find everything they need.
In 1968, Gonzalo Mejía building, built in the 205, was demolished, It housed Teatro Junín and Hotel Europa, which gave way to the construction of the tallest building in the country at the time, now one of the most outstanding milestones in downtown Medellin. Coltejer Building is on the corner of Junín and Playa (another important avenue in the city). This skyscraper's design imitates a needle, a symbol of the textile industry giving it it’s name. At present, important financial, commercial and media companies like radio station "RCN Radio" have their offices in this building, as well as educational institutions like Fundación Universitaria Católica del Norte (FUCN), the first virtual institution for post secondary education in Colombia, which celebrates its 10th birthday in 2007, as well as the arrival of Internet in Antioquia.
La Playa Avenue
CALLE 5I
La Playa Avenue has taken up an important role in the development of Medellin's city centre. The reason for this is that Santa Elena brook, a vital axis for the city dwellers who used to take the water for their daily consumption from it used to run along this area. The first mansions of wealthy citizens were built on La Playa. Later on, apartment and office buildings were erected in their place. Today, this avenue is an important commercial hub housing modern buildings and businesses among which "Casino Caribe" stands out as one of the most modern of its kind, combining technology and entertainment. Towards its eastern end we find "Pablo Tobon Uribe" Theatre, a beautiful architectural jewel. On its western end, La Playa leads into Oriental Avenue, perhaps the most frequented avenue in the city centre. Below Oriental Avenue towards the west. La Playa goes on with other names: Primero de Mayo, Las Americas (on Nutibara square), De Greiff and Paseo de la República.
Calle Colombia COLOMBIA STREET (ID IIREE!) Calle Colombia was one of the roads that constituted the colonial urban layout, though by that time it didn't cross toward the western side of the river. By the second half of the XX century, the Pilot Plan for Medellin promoted the urbanization of the western city, so that many roads, including Calle Colombia, were extended to that zone. Their current course begins in the hillsides of the Caicedo neighborhood (eastern central zone); it crosses the city center going by the Parque Berrío (historical center), then crosses the river, passes through the Carlos E. Restrepo residential neighborhood, then it passes by a side of the Sports Center Atanasio Girardot, then by the headquarters of the Fourth Brigade of the National Army, and finally it finishes its course near after crossing the 80 Avenue through a round point in the Calazans residential neighborhood, to the westem city. It is, thus, one of the main arteries to connect the city center with western Medellin.
Las Vegas Avenue
(CARRERA 48)
Las Vegas Avenue or "Avenida de los Industriales", as its starting stretch is called, is defined by Medellin's Plan for Territorial Ordering as a metropolitan road axis that connects the city with the eastern towns of the Valle de Aburrá (Envigado and Sabaneta). Its course begins in the Regional Avenue, near the bridge of 30 street over the river. From there, it goes by the old facilities of the cement plant Argus and the iron and steel factory Simesa, then goes to the road crossing 10 street, the first one along its course. From that point: its name changes to Las Vegas Avenue, and passes through important education institutions such as "Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid", INEM School and Eafit University. Then it passes the second road crossing, called "La Aguacatala, and enters Envigado town. In this point there are some market chains by its sides, and it passes through the third road crossing. It’s course finishes in Sabaneta, to the south of the Valle de Aburrá, in a zone of bars and restaurants.
PRADO CENTRO TOWN
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LONG name Very close to the city center, Prado was born from a wish to imitate a neighborhood with the same name in Barranquilla, where international immigrants arriving at this Caribbean city became rich thanks to trade and built spectacular European and Mediterranean style mansions.
The main promoter of Prado neighborhood in Medellin was millionaire Ricardo Olano, who was dazzled by Barranquilla and wished to copy the same taste for opulence in the Antioquian capital. Thrilled with the idea, many Antioquians returned from their trips with pictures and engravings of houses they had seen and wished to reproduce in the area. Soon Prado became the best planned housing belt, showing the best taken care of sidewalks and streets in the city. Today this neighborhood is being renovated thanks to a series of works that have brought a whiff of new life to one of the most traditional, architecturally rich sectors in the city. Sidewalks have under gone maintenance to improve pedestrian mobility; lighting, tree planting and the construction of Prado Park a park between Calles 66 and 67 and Carreras 49 and 50 are some examples of these improvements. Through these actions, Prado offers both visitors and residents areas to enjoy architectural heritage, boulevards and new parks, or just to chat and walk in one of the most traditional neighborhoods in the city.
ORIENTAL AVENUE
ORJORGE ELlÉCER
GAITÁN
CARRERA 46
For the first time since it was built, al! Avenida Oriental is being intervened in order to strengthen its public utilities and telecommunications infrastructure, besides recovering the landscaping, public areas and sidewalks in order to promote competitiveness and the development of the city center. Its construction at the beginning of the 1970s was the result of a project from the City Planning Department, which aimed at creating a new access to the center of Medellin, both from the south and from the north. At this last stage it was necessary to divert its course so that the avenue did not affect the old republican houses in Prado neighborhood, one of the architecture jewels in the city center.
EL POBLADO TOWN SOUTH EAST OF THE CITY
This financial, commercial and residential heart of the city is one of the most traditional and elegant sectors in Medellin, where visitors can find hotels, banks, restaurants, discos, cafés, supermarkets, boutiques, shopping malls, modern housing developments, commercial complexes and art galleries. Besides, it is easily accessed from both airports; "Enrique Olaya Herrera", for local flights, and "José María Córdova" international airport, in neighboring Rionegro, to the East. The main street in El Poblado is Avenida (43A); it joins Avenida Oriental in San Diego neighborhood, to take us to the city center.
In its origins, El Poblado was the place where the first houses in the Valle del Aburra were built, in 1616, but the first inhabitants did not consider this a strategic area, and moved on to the north to found La Candelaria, today Medellin's city center. One of the best known neighborhoods in this part of the city is Lleras, today's epicenter of Medellin's Zona Rosa, featuring a park with the same name. According to Corporación Zona Rosa whose main aim is the sociocultural preservation of this sector in El Poblado through the organization of sportive, recreational activities which are safe for the community Lleras is an open door shopping center offering both tourists and visitors a large variety of day and night shopping.
Calle de La Buena Mesa (Carrera 43B, between Calles lOA and 16) (The Street of Fine Cuisine) is located in this sector; here we find most of the best restaurants in the city, providing visitors with the best of national and international cuisine. Also in El Poblado, we find Vía Primavera, a new commercial concept in the city, combining good taste and creativity in design clothing, accessories, shoes, decoration, furniture, art, fashion and cuisine. Some of the shops in this area are; Logreira, Miau, Rojo and Divino. It is located on Carrera 37, between Calles 8 and I OB, and adjoining Carreras 34, 3S and 36. The 29 shops and boutiques in it are decorated in an original, fresh, and colorful fashion, honoring its name. Continuous growth in this area has forced the expansion of shopping centers like Oviedo, one of the most luxurious ones in the city, and El Tesoro, where products from the best national and international brands are offered. It has also led to the planning of commercial complexes in the short and long terms. In view of this development, the municipal mayor's office set up the El Poblado Integral Plan, consisting in the planned, coordinated intervention together with those inhabiting the region to solve a series of situations related with social issues, mobility, public areas and town planning. In broad terms, the works that have been taking place are; the construction of avenida 34, the walk on El Poblado Avenue, stretches 1, 2 and 3, the recovery of Calle 10, the construction of the double lane and the road system of Los Balsoso. These works will provide 50,000 new square meters for the community, reorganize the flow of cars, recover public areas and clear traffic. Due to this ongoing development, today you can hardly get in El Poblado (and in Medellin or in Colombia for that matter) an area with larger prospective value than the so called Milla de Oro (The Golden Mile), an area stretching from El Poblado to the boundaries of neighboring town Envigado. The most prestigious Antioquian and international firms have established themselves in this area, as well as clinics and companies in the financial sector.
THE NEW GOLDEN MILE
It is the most important business and finance, commercial, cultural and recreational center in Medellin. It is made up of a very prestigious stretch in El Poblado (Carrera 43A) avenue, which in view of the city's development has been expanding in the past few years. From south to north, the Mile actually starts at Paseo La Frontera shopping center, marking the limit between Medellin and Envigado, and it gets to the areas surrounding traditional San Diego, the first shopping center built in Colombia, in 1972. On this street and its surrounding areas we find the main restaurants, cafés, national and international companies, supermarkets, specialized shops and hotels like Dann Carlton, Novelty Suites, Sheraton Four Points, Poblado Plaza, Porton de Medellin and recently opened apartment hotel Holiday Inn Express, in La Strada shopping center, among others. Lately, important health care companies have moved to this area, among which we can mention Clinica de Medellin's new branch. It has been planned that in about two years, the new Golden Mile will feature a new shopping mall; Santa fe (4 storeys, 390 shops). By then, other shopping centers, like Senior's Club and Lugo Business, among others, will be operating in this area.
As part of the urban renovation and commercial development in this sector, Sao Paulo Plaza is currently under construction; this is a commercial complex (diagonally from La Frontera) including shops, offices and studio apartments. Its opening has been planned for October 2008. On the same street (43A) , and diagonally to Carulla chain store, a modern building that will house Pan Americana bookshop and stationery is being built. La Strada, whose motto is "Medellin's European street", is another recently built mall; it is located opposite financial center Santillana, housing haute couture and fashion shops, among others. Just two blocks away, San Fernando Plaza, one of the largest shopping complexes in the city is being built, featuring several towers that will be devoted to housing, offices, financial companies, private clubs and shops. Going along this way, from South to North, we find Clinica Medellin's building, standing next to Dann Carlton Hotel, and La Presidenta linear park, to be delivered to the community in July this year as part of the plan for recovering the environmental heritage of this area. The park will count around 400 trees and bamboo forests. By the end of the mile, Premium Plaza is under construction, a modern commercial complex that will house a Carrefour supermarket.
GUAYAQUIL BRIDGE Cl. 30 CON AUTOPISTA SUR
Considered today as architectural heritage, Guayaquil Bridge is one of the few old bridges still surviving above Medellin River. It was built between 1878 and 1879 under the command of German Heinrich Haeusler who had arrived in Medellin in 1839. A professional mechanic and a carpenter, Haeusler left his print in the city by taking up several public positions, including the job of director of the School of Arts and Trades, and General Director of Public Works. From a historical perspective, Haeusler's importance becomes even more relevant, since he was the grandfather of Antioquian legendary poet Leon de Greiff.
SANTA ELENA TOWN
The small town of Santa Elena is located east of Medellin, 17 kilometers away from the city center. It can be reached by road in approximately 45 minutes. Its weather is cold, and its soil is very rich. For this reason, it has become a large producer of flowers, many of which are exported. In August, Santa Elena dresses up for the celebration of the Flower Fair, undoubtedly the most important yearly collective event in the city. Inhabitants from the different villages build real works of art with the seasonal flowers, which they then carry on their backs to show them to the public. These are called silletas. The main act in the fair is precisely the Silleteros parade. People from Medellin pilgrimage by night to the village in order to witness their preparations and to toast to their success. However, Santa Elena also offers local, national and foreign visitors many ecological wonders which are a permanent attraction. One of them is Arvi regional Park. It is a land of 11,247 hectares which extends to the cities of Medellin, Bello, Copacabana and Envigado. One of its most interesting attractions is seeing the sunset from there, the horizon carved with waves of mountains.
The park holds an amazingly rich bird fauna, reporting 119 species. Another important attraction is the 163 different insect species. It’s paths, lakes, forests and streams allow visitors to practice a diversity of adventure sports such as trekking, kayak, mountain bike, camping and fishing. Thanks to their warding position over Medellin, viewpoints like La Laguna, Patio Bonito, La Meseta, La Paloma and Cerro Verde add an extra attraction to this area. From there, different landmarks of Medellin and of Antioquia's east can be appreciated.
Likewise, in the past few years, new venues offering relaxation and leisure in the middle of natural places have cropped up. Among them we can mention Montevivo (a few minutes away from Parque Central), a place where a system of one kilometer long ropes has been set up to allow for the practice of canopy and other extreme sports. Another place to mention is Montaña Mágica, a concept mixing a farm and a hotel, to be enjoyed.
For those who love a good table, hidden and rural restaurant Donde Edward is a favorite option. There, exquisite rabbit dishes, very well known in the region, are prepared. On the road from Medellin to Santa Elena we can also find the Conejos y Conejos restaurant, and very near there, Sancochos Edilma a place where the best sancocho (a thick soup made of tubers, carrots and chicken) in the department is prepared. Santa Elena main square is a meeting place, especially for those who wish to start ecological adventures in this wonderful landscape of the Antioquian geography.
Parks and Recreation
Cerro El volador Ecopark
It is one of the seven guardian hills in Medellin, and it serves as a green lung for the city. At its top remains of Pre Columbian cultures were found. Founded in 1992, El Volador Hill Ecological Park is currently visited by sportspeople and nature lovers. In its perimeter, several varieties of trees have been planted by several groups of students in the city. Its small museum displays 65 archaeological pieces. In the landscape of the Valle del Aburra, besides El Volador, other six hills stand out: Nutibara, Pan de Azucar, El Picacho, Santo Domingo, La Asomadera and El Salvador. The Secretary of the Environment for the Municipality of Medellin invites you to visit and to enjoy these natural public areas.
El Picacho, a protecting sanctuary in the Valle del Aburra
Standing on Medellin's north east, El Picacho hill is considered to be a protecting sanctuary for the Valle del Aburra. On its top stands Christ the King, an image that has been visited by locals and visitors for more than three decades to ask for favour and miracles. From the hill's top there is a full, spectacular view on the Valle del Aburra. It is a natural public area offering opportunities for bird watching and for practicing cross country jogging on its steep paths. Santo Domingo, progress and social development. Thanks to Metro cable progress and social development reached Santo Domingo hill. This natural setting is one of the milestones of this large city. There we can enjoy viewpoints and commercial areas as well as urban walking.
Pan de Azucar, the guardian of ancient paths
On the northern slope of Santa Elena stream lies Pan de Azucar hill, considered to be the guardian of ancient paths, since the old prehispanic path of Cieza de Leon, leading to Arvi regional park, starts on its slopes. This protecting hill offers visitors a spectacular view of Medellin from La Cruz. El Huevo and La Cima, the place where a track for practicing enduro starts, extending itself on the southern slope to get to Corporacion Ambiental La Fortaleza.
La Asomadera and El Salvador, living herbaria
Located at Medellin's center east, La Asomadera is a living herbarium, standing out in the urban setting due to its large green areas. It possesses the largest number of species of native trees as compared with any other place in the metropolitan area, providing refuge to birds and squirrels, among other species. On this tutelary hill, visitors can enjoy Medellin's urban landscape, take a number of paths, go to the Indian's cave, practice swimming, cycling. volley ball, basket ball and mini soccer; visit La Orquidea plant nursery, or enjoy a day with your family with a barbecue or ancocho.
Nutibara, tradition and culture.
Antioquian tradition and culture get mixed at Nutibara hill to please locals and visitors. Pueblito Paisa, Iying on its top and made up of sidewalks, a fountain, the priest's house, a cobble stoned park, the church, mayor's office, a bar, a school, a shop and a barber shop, provide this hill with a traditional air that gets mixed with the park of Sculptures, which surrounds Nutibara hill's slopes. A delicious typical bandeja paisa can be enjoyed in this natural public setting.
La Macarena
Show Center
Sitting on the west bank of Medellin river, this imposing Modular style building would be just another building if it had not been for the decision taken by one of the local governments to renovate it in 2005 and build a circular roof on top of it. Besides bull fights, other artistic and cultural shows take place here. It is one of the few covered bull rings in the world. Opened in March 1945, the arena is 33 meters in diameter and the rows of seats accommodate around 13,000 spectators. The bull fighting season takes place in January and February every year.
"Atanasio Girardot" Sports Unit
"Atanasio Girardot" Stadium. with a capacity for 53,000 viewers, was inaugurated in 1953. Not only is it the headquarters of famous soccer teams like Deportivo Independiente Medellín and Atlético Nacional, but it has also become the epicenter of a giant sports unit where 34 disciplines are practiced. It is one of a kind in Colombia.
Among the most important venues we find "Atanasio Girardot" soccer stadium, Basketball CoIiseum "Iván de Bedout" (12,000 spectators), the Volleyball CoIiseum (8,000 people), the athletics stadium (5,000 followers), the baseball diamond (for an audience of 8,000), besides the 'lce skating rink, the kart racing track, the cycle track and the softball diamond. It also houses a swimming pool and a table tennis coliseum.
"J. Emilio Valderrama" North Park
As part of the current renovation process experienced by the city, not only in the cultural, social and urban aspects, but also in the field of recreation, one of the Mayor's Office Strategic Projects, through the intervention of Metro parques, is precisely the renovation of Parque Norte, represented in the improvement of its physical infrastructure, the technical and aesthetic repair of all the existing attractions and the inclusion of new ones.
Parque Norte is part of a larger cultural and recreational area composed by Explora Park, the Botanic Gardens, Universidad de Antioquia, Parque de Los Deseos and the Planetarium, the Museum of Antioquia and Plaza Botero, all of them providing access to Carabobo pedestrian walk, another attraction in the city center. The reopening of the park was planned for August 2007, within the framework of the Flowers Fair. Some of its new features will include five ticket offices that will open the door to amusement through a main corridor leading to the different squares and attractions. The new park will be fitted with an access boulevard, a high impact plaza, including attractions like kamikaze, the crazy board and splash mountain. Family Square I will feature a scenic view on the lake, a new track for mini karts, a plane that will be brought from Juan Pablo Park and the traditional jungle, which will be renovated, Family Square 2 will include the roller coaster, a super toboggan, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and the Tokyo Express. The Children's Square, on the other hand, will include a variety of carousels, a Ferris Wheel for children and the children's favorite attraction, mini bumper cars. The Square of Main Events, with a capacity for 4,000 people, will be the perfect place for concerts and massive shows, and it will also feature a restaurant and a food court with a scenic view of the lake. Access to the lake will only be allowed by rowing boats and water bikes. Later on, it will be adapted for sport fishing. As for traditional hiking paths, there will be a variety of them to suit everyone.
"Juan Pablo 11" Park
It is located in the area of the Sotanic Gardens, Explora Park, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin's Planetarium and Los Deseos park, This wide entertainment area is located in the middle of the city area, Its orientation is to water activities, and it groups seven swimming pools, tackles, a swimming pool with waves, and swimming pools for adults and children, A long path is used for practicing sports on wheels, especially cycling. It is sometimes used in motorcycle competitions. It also houses a coliseum with a capacity for 3,500 people, and an acoustic stage used for different shows, and which holds 5,000 people, Trova festivals, for example, are held here. You must call in advance to inquire about fees and conditions.
Las Aguas
Metropolitan Park
It is located to the north of Medellin, at kilometer 23, between, the towns of Girardota and Sarbosa. It covers a total area of 107 hectares, 40 of which are covered with water. Among its main attractions, visitors find 12 modern water slides, a swimming pool for children, the show river, a swimming pool with waves, a recreational swimming pool, a well for divers and one hundred kiosks. Other attractions include mechanical games, a rapid river, adventures in the Amazone, a lake for water skiing and a lake for bathers, Since it is standing at a lower level than the Aburrá Valley, its weather is hot during the day. It is recommended to wear sun block. You can get there by car or bus, Visitors should call in advance in order to inquire about the fees and conditions.
Arvi Regional Park
One of the entrances to this natural reservation is located on the road to Santa Elena, The extensive area of this natural reservation, more than 11,240 hectares, covers rural areas such as the towns of Medellin, Sello, Copacabana and Envigado. It is a small ecological paradise; eleven ecological guides, young peasants from the region, are there to help you enjoy it. It’s, sunsets and horizons are spectacular. Along its trails, lakes, forests and brooks, several adventure sports such as trekking, kayak, mountain biking, camping and fishing can be practiced. This territory is also rich in birds and insects. The entity in charge of its coordination and maintenance is Corantioquia, and they recommend contacting their assistants in order to organize programs and visits.
Santa Fe Zoological Park CR 50 # 20-63
With the motto "Parque zoológico Santa Fe, the feeling of the jungle at the heart of Medellin", this newly renovated stage, founded in 1959, houses 1,000 animals coming from America, Asia and Africa. This fact makes this zoo the holder of an animal treasure of immeasurable proportions, considering that many of the species in their exhibition are on the verge of extinction. Among the species found at the zoo and attracting visitors' attention are the rhinoceros, lions, Bengal tigers, bespectacled bears, harpy eagles, hippos and chimpanzees.
It also counts more than five hundred trees and bushes, including palm trees, fruit trees, saman trees, acaciae, bucaro, carbonero, uruapan, guayacan, ceiba and jacaranda trees, among others, making it one of the greenest areas in the city, contributing in this way to reduce latent pollution levels in the industrial zone of Aburra Valley. Environmental guides accompany visitors and tourists around the zoo, which also houses an ecological auditorium with approximately 500 encyclopedia volumes, research books and papers. There is an ongoing cultural agenda, and a museum house, where antiques and decorative objects from the early 19th century are displayed.
Las Batwnas (The Whales) Recreational Park
Recreational Park Las Ballenas (The Whales), a property of Caja de Compensación Comfama, includes wet and dry attractions. Among the most important ones we can mention the swimming pools, water slide, Turkish bath, bumping boats, water bicycle, horse carrousel, bumping cars, an inflatable jumping area, a train, billiards, electronic games, a coliseum, courts for different sports, conventions halls and a camping zone. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation, modality in Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
La Culebra Ecological
Park- Comfama
This ecological and recreational park is located just two minutes away from Peñón de Guatapé, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Antioquia. It was planned for different kinds of water sports. Among its main attractions we find: rowing boats, water bicycles, barges, ships that ran aground, fishing peers, rental of fishing gear, family kiosks, children's playground, table games, hammocks, a restaurant and cafeteria, and an open sky stage. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation to Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
Los Grillos Recreational
Park- Comfama
Santa Fe Zoological Park
Los Grillos recreational park is located in the neighboring town of La Estrella. Among its attractions it counts several water sports and other open air activities. It’s main attractions are: temperature conditioned swimming pools, swimming pools for adults, a water slide, sauna and Turkish baths, a playground, a water carrousel, a ferris wheel, flying chairs, a canvas for jumping, an inflatable jumping court, a mountain bike track, a coliseum, sports courts, other courts, family cabins, kiosks,' barbecue zones, and camping zones. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation to Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
Tutucán-Los Osos
Recreational ParkComfama
Tutucán is a town to be enjoyed, with its typical characters, faros, fondas, square, market, shops, and its offer of hand crafts, food, sweets, desserts and varied gastronomic menus at its restaurants and cafeterias. With an area of 23 hectares, it has many different attractions; three open sky swimming pools, water activities, a water slide, a dry slide, a family train, a roller skating track, a Viking ship for a feel of vertigo and emotion, tennis courts, football and basketball grounds, a library and a coliseum.
On a recent date, La Finca Ganadera was inaugurated for adults and children, offering products derived from goat's milk: delicious cheeses, yoghurts and milk dessert or arequipe. Fees vary according to the type of affiliation to Comfama. There is a fee for independent visitors.
Piedras Blancas Park
It is a real oasis of nature 50 kilometers away from Medellin. It provides visitors with the opportunity to organize ecological hiking trips, picnic areas and also places for work meetings. The park also includes multiple accommodation facilities, two auditoriums, a bar and a restaurant.
One main attraction is the insectariums, with approximately 9,000 perfectly preserved insect samples. Among the common areas we find 18 hectares of forest with a sign posted path, 20 kiosks provided with a grill, a flying cord, viewpoints, orchid plantations, and a self-sustainable farm.
Carabobo pedestrian path
CALLE 44 ANO CARRERA 51. This is a symbol of the transformation of the city center and a sample of the type of city Medellin's large urban projects are aiming towards. The search for balance between pedestrians and vehicles, for better environmental conditions and the promotion of citizen culture are the elements leading to the creation of better public areas in the city center.
Juanes de la Paz recreational and sports park
Located between autopista Norte and carrera 65, between Tricentenario and Castilla (Medellin neighborhoods) the park covers an area of 73,000 square meters, and it has been planned in two stages. The first one, consisting of a sports program, includes 7 tennis courts, 3 mini tennis courts and 2 practice courts, besides a parking area and a building to support these activities. The second stage will feature a park with green areas, areas for recreation and shopping modules to the south. On the northern side, two synthetic grass mini soccer courts will be built, together with a building to house administrative support. The first stage will be completed in April 2007.
"María Luisa Calle" sports and recreation complex
It will be standing near forthcoming Metroplus station at carrera 70 and calle 30. This sports unit will include a speed skating track and long distance skating track. These will comply with international standards. Besides, three soccér fields with artificial turf will be built, as well as a building housing four squash courts and administrative support for the park.
Other tours in the surroundings
Valle del Aburrá Circuit
Besides Medellin, the Valle del Aburrá also includes nine municipalities which are very close to each other, easy to access and offering tourist attractions. At Christmas, when the whole valley lights up, it is common for both dwellers and visitor to take a few hours to see Medellin and the towns of Barbosa, Gardota, Copacabana and Bello, to the north; and Envigado, Sabaneta, La Estrella, Itagui and Caldas, to the south.
These towns bordering Medellin make up an area of contrasts where modern industries are set up in towns where the main square is still an important social focal point. In addition, due to the slight difference in heights between the north and the south, there is a shift of climates, from the warm temperatures in towns like Barbosa and Girardota, ideal for enjoying natural ponds and swimming pools, to cooler temperatures in the south in Caldas and La Estrella, ideal for ecological tourism.
Although the tourist circuit can start from the city center, or from any of these towns, let us take a brief look at each one of these localities, going from north to south.
BARBOSA
Known as the sweet district with a taste of pineapple, the ante room to the Metropolitan area, or the sweet route of enjoyment, happiness and cordiality, Barbosa is the second largest municipality in the Valle del Aburra after the Antioquian capital. Founded in 1798 and located to the north, about 36 kilometers away from Medellin, Barbosa counts about 44,000 inhabitants. Its average temperature is 23 °c. It stands out due to its tourist potential in the recreational, architectural, agricultural, aerial and ecological potential, and in the Valle del Aburra, thanks to its richness in water, among other factors, on account of its large territory and large number of water streams. Due to the reputation of Dos Quebradas and Santa Rosa ponds at first, and then by La Cascada, La Playita, Los Bucaros, Aguas Claras, La Gloria and others, Barbosa is visited by a large number of people at weekends and holidays. Barbosa offers other attractive spots for tourists, for example: La Virgen Hill, Charco Negro, Diego Echavarría Misas and Simón Bolívarks, San Pedro Claver Barbosa farm, Antioql, Jia Tropical Club, Matasanos heights, Los Lagos recreational center, Molino Viejo, Las Aguas park, among others. Coming from Medellin at the entrance of Barbosa, we find Las Aguas metropolitan park. It is the most modern and original recreational center in Latin America. Due to its special topographical conditions, its weather and location, it has become a place of large ecological value for family recreation.
GIRARDOTA TOWN HALL (PALACIO MUNICIPAL)
Known as the Center of Faith and Progress, Girardota, like Barbosa, is located to the north of the Metropolitan Area of the Valle del Aburra.
With an extension of 82 square km, a temperature of 22°C and 38,655 inhabitants, this town is 26 km (about 45 minutes) away from Medellin. lts economy is industrially based and to a lesser extent, agricultural. Among its tourist attractions we find Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral (Sanctuary to Fallen Jesus), La Virgen heights, El Salado falls, Los Londoño farm, Umbi cattle farm, La Correa basin, La Sepultura heights, Cecilia Cadavid's farm, and the Sports Unit (motocross and cyclocross tracks). The Parish of San Esteban de Hatogrande, a replica of the first chapel in the first group of houses, the House of Culture, Casa del Abuelo (Grandparents' House), Club Iberoamericano, Inverlagos (a place for fishing and recreation), Antioquia Tropical Club (accommodation and recreation), a set of old houses on Carrera 13 (of great architectural value) and sugar mills for panela (right now, 35 sugar mills are operating).
COPACABANA TOWN HALL
Around 14 km away from Medellin (40 minutes), the town of Copacabana was founded in 1541. It has an area of 70 square meters and about 54,000 inhabitants. It is part of the Valle del Aburra, a region crossed from North to South by Medellin river. It has an industrial and agricultural economy, based on products like orange and spring onions.
During the year, a series of festival s are celebrated, like the Festival of Youth and Sports (July 19th and 20th), The Orange Festival (October and November), The Holy Cross Festival (May 3rd), the celebration of Children's Day (April 28th), Patron saint holidays for Virgin of the Assumption (August) , Christmas lighting and novenas (December). Some of the most outstanding tourist attractions are the following:
Santuario de la Santa Cruz
Sanctuary of the Holy Cross Copacabana is referred to as "the little town of the cross" by those coming from the northern part of the country. Besides, the hill where the cross stands is used as a mountain bike track. The sanctuary is located in the El Cabuyal county.
The Municipal Kiosk
The municipal Kiosk is a modern building whose ground floor serves as a meeting point; the second one includes theater stalls, used every Sunday for band concerts; sometimes it serves as a cultural stage for different events. It is located at the main park.
The Church of San Juan de la Tasajera
The Church of San Juan de la Tasajera is two kilometers away from the capital of the municipality, its main feature is its architecture. According to historians, the first mass ever to be celebrated in the Valle del Aburra took place in 1580, on the spot where the church stands today It was presided by Priest Facundo Martín de la Parra, chaplain to governor Don Gaspar de Rodas.
Piedras Blancas stream
Located at the entrance of the town, in La Asuncion neighbour hood, it stands out due to the purity of its waters and the vegetation surrounding it.
City HallLocated in the pedestrian walk, its high architectural value and heritage is widely recognized. It was the first municipal palace in the municipality.
Club Comfama Norte
On Ancon II county, 3 kilometers away from the capital of the municipality, the club's recreational attractions draw in a large number of tourists.
Limonar waterfalls
A stream running down a picturesque rock creates a beautiful and apealing setting. It is located in EL Zarzal County
BELLO TOWN HALL: CR 50 # 51-00
From the north, after Barbosa, Girardota and Copacabana, on a wide valley surrounded by mountains, we find the city of Bello, the second one in the Antioquia department. It has an area of 142.36 square kilometers, and an average temperature of 23 °e. Its population is 379,867.
Founded in 1676 by Gaspar de Rodas, it counts historical personalities like renowned Marco Fidel Suárez, the president of Colombia from 1918 to 1921. A statesman, grammarian and writer. The town festival is celebrated on April 23rd, Language Day. This town is the seat of the second textile company in Colombia. Fabricato.
Some of its tourist attractions are:
The national monument to Marco Fidel Suárez: The hut where this former president of Colombia and illustrious son of the city was born. A piece of architectural, cultural and historical value.
Cerro del Angel Culture House: auditorium, open theater and workshop building (CI 53A # 52-23). Admission is free.
Marco Fidel Suárez Public Library and Historical Center: standing besides the national monument with the same name and joined to it by Andrés Bello park. Together with the House of Culture, they make up the epicenter of the city's artistic center.
Metropolitan Train Stations:
Madera: it’s surroundings feature a playground for children, a skating rink and grounds for a variety of sports. Bello and Niquia: the latter is the terminus for the system to the north of the Valle del Aburra. From here, bus trips to neighboring towns of Girardota, Barbosa and Copacabana can be started.
Quitasol hill: a panoramic view on the municipality.
Corrales Path: it was presumably a path for the Niquia natives. In colonial times it served to connect the west and the north in the Antioquia department.
La Garcia dam: in the San Félix jurisdiction, this is the aqueduct reservoir for Fabricato textile industry. A cultural, historical and recreational place. Admission upon authorization by the company.
Our Lady of the Rosary church: at Main Square, it stores relics from the city's heritage, like its bronze doors and stained glass windows.
Hato Viejo Chapel: a national historical monument, a place of cultural, architectural and religious interest.
ENVIGADO
The town of Envigado is located ten kilometers southeast of Medellin. Due to its closeness to the Antioquian capital, and as a consequence of the housing density attained in El Poblado. this municipality has become a natural extension of the city, with an important offer of new housing in middle and high socioeconomic levels. Envigado has an approximate area of 7.880 square kilometers, 6,668 of which correspond to rural areas, and 1,212 to urban areas. The total population has been estimated at 175,065 inhabitants. This town, rich in cultural, artistic, gastronomic and commercial activities is easy to access, thanks to the roads connecting it with the rest of the Metropolitan Area. The main access roads are El Poblado, Las Vegas avenues and Autopista Sur, Regarding cultural sites, museum house de Otraparte, declared a national monument, was the former house of writer Fernando Gonzalez, a defender and fighter for Latin American identity and for authenticity in personal life. In the field of architecture and culture, the following tourist attractions stand out: Casablanca (the house of Envigado painter Débora Arango), Santa Gertrudis, San Jose and Santa Barbara churches, Fernando Gonzalez school, "Miguel Uribe Restrepo" House of Culture and Palacio Antiguo Municipal. Other tourist places are: El Salado ecological and tourist park (El Vallano county, at the confluence of La Miel and La Ayura streams), Las Campanas ecological park (el Vallano county) , La Morena ecological park (El Escobero county) , La Ayura stream, El Salado streams baths, el Cristo sector (el Vallano county) , Las Campanas falls (La Miel streams), salto del Ángel (La Miel streams) and salto Peña Azul (El Palo stream) and Higueron caves (El Vallano county at El Palo basin). Among the most traditional festivities in the municipality we can mention the Week of Culture, in September.
SABANETA
TOWN HAll:CR 45 # 715-24
With an area of I S square meters, this is the smallest municipality in Colombia. Its population is 44,820 inhabitants. Founded in 1903 and declared a municipality in 1968, it is known as the Model Municipality in Colombia, the Little Valley of Charm and Antioquia's Green Carnation. Its average temperature is 21°C and it is located to the southeast of the Valle del Aburra, 14 kilometers away from Medellin. Its main means "small savannah" in Spanish.Besides being a model municipality in Colombia, Sabaneta has a strong tourist vocation due to its infrastructure, administration, and the kindness of its inhabitants. This locality is currently an attractive place for visitors in the region and the country, who find in it the necessary peace and quiet and enough natural settings to enjoy themselves and relax in a pleasant spot.
Some of its tourist attractions include the following:
Simón Bolívar Park: a pleas ant place, full of trees, welcoming those visiting Virgin Mary the helper (María Auxiliadora) and those selling sweets and religious objects, who place their humble candles, novenas and rosaries shops on the street opposite the church atrium. Every Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., the program "Chess in the Park" takes place. For those who wish to listen to music, the Municipal Band plays on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. San Alejo market, on the last weekend of every month, is the best way to take a souvenir from Sabaneta. Sweets in the park are yet another good offer; here you will find a wide variety of desserts like solteritas, obleas (wafers with caramel cream) and natillas (cream custard), among others.
Santa Ana Church: opposite Simón Bolívar main park, it is a sanctuary for Virgin Mary the Helper (one of the most visited in the department). Every Tuesday, Virgin Mary is worshipped. It is common to see crowds of pilgrims from different places, as well as tourists. The church has a beautiful collection of 14 stained-glass windows, representing the stations of the Via Crucis.
Zona Rosa: at La Doctora county, this in an alternative for those wishing to dance and to share with their friends. Places like Canalon, La Capilla and La Provincia, among others, are ideal for this type of plan. But if you wish to share with your family and to listen to good music, restaurants like Mama Santa, La Mayoria and La Doctora are perfect for those moments of healthy relaxation. Near the Park, Sabaneta Plaza Mall offers shops and wide food courts; likewise, at the boundaries of the Itagui municipality, Mayorca shopping center is ideal for buying brand clothes at economical prices and to have a good time in the food court and movie theaters. For the organization of events, hotel hacienda La Extremadura's convention center features a hall for 200 people, besides wide areas for different social and academic activities.
You need accommodation: The hotel has a capacity for 80 guests in double, triple and quadruple rooms. In addition, Sierra Morena Conventions Center is a good option to organize competitions, social events and other activities gathering a large number of people. La Romera, with 3,000 meters of ecological paths, viewpoints and kiosks, is an excellent spot for relaxation, surrounded by nature, and a wide variety of birds like the great tailed grackle and soledad (cuculus canorus), among others.
In June and July, Sabaneta celebrates its traditional Banana Festival, a reminder of the strong agricultural component in the municipality. Regarding religious festivals, Santa Ana festivities are celebrated in July, and Virgin Mary the Helper on May 24th. It also features El Trebol park, for extreme leisure activities.
For more information on the different aspects of this municipality, and tourist information on the locality, visit the Tourist Office, in La Barquereña House of Culture. The Communications office, at Palacio Municipal, also offers information on the locality.
ITAGuí
TOWN HALL: CR I1 # 11-1
Founded in 1743, the territory known as Itagui today started to be inhabited by the Spaniards since the first decades of the 17th century. It is located southwest of the Valle del Aburra, on the left bank of Medellin river, 11 kilometers away from the Antioquian capital. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in the country. It is formed by the seat of the municipal government, divided into six communes, which in turn are subdivided in 64 neighborhoods and a district made up of 8 counties. Itagui has an important wholesaling activity, as it is the seat of Central Mayorista, different industries, as well as design and fashion centers.
Among its tourist and cultural attractions we find Simón Bolívar main park for recreational activities; two blocks away we find yet another attraction in this municipality: Parque Obrero, counting more than 60 years of history and an area of 500 square meters This park is known for its active night life, social gatherings and places to listen to music. Recitals, poem readings and movies are permanently organized. This place gathers a variety or artists, youngsters and visitors. A few meters away from the Park we find Líbrary Fundación "Diego Echavarría Misas" and its auditorium: where artistic shows and several exhibitions can be appreciated. It is surrounded by a food court offering a wide range of products. One of the best known festivities is the Traditional Day of Sloth, celebrated within the framework of the Week of Industry and Culture, by the end of August and the beginning of September. Ditaries Conventions Center, a building dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, is a meeting point for cultural activities and many other different events. Parque Ditaires, a key point for leisure, covers 23 hectares and comprises green areas, sports and water areas. At present, the wet zones (pools and toboggans) are being renovated, to be reopened by the end of 2007. Las Chimeneas Park (tel. 3611350), fitted with recreational attractions and fun games and music for children and adults is a spot for family relaxation and enjoyment. The municipality al so counts on a metro terminal (being expanded at present) from where visitors can take a vehicle to go to the center of the locality, and to different neighborhoods and housing complexes.
Centro Comercial
Mayorca is also next to this station. About 28,000 people pass through this area everyday. Finally. Manzanillo peak is the highest point in the municipality. It is a natural reserve and viewpoint ideal for hikers.
LA ESTRELLA
Geographically. it is located south of the Valle del Aburra, 16 kilometers away from Medellin. Its inhabitants are called siderenses. Its population is 55.746 distributed in 35 square kilometers. 3.68 of which correspond to the urban area and 31.32 to rural areas.
Some interesting tourist spots are:
Pueblo Viejo: a site with high architectural, historical and cultural value, this was a native settlement even before the municipality was founded. It has been considered to be classified as an archaeological reserve due to the findings and records it stores.
Comfama Los Grillos Recreational Center, (PBX: 3092363): an outstanding place due to the quality of its environment, wet zones, camping and recreational activities.
El Romeral lake: an ecological reserve on El Romeral heights, it has a historical and cultural value thanks to its indigenous pasto The main attractions here are its vegetation, its temperature. flora, fauna, landscape, and of course the lake. This geographical spot can be reached on foot.
El Romeral Heights: a geographical landmark of high importance and a point of reference for La Estrella and the Valle del Aburra inhabitants. It is 2,800 high. between Las Banderas and La Culebra hills, which together with other hills make up La.Cuchilla de Romeral, surrounding the Valle del Aburra to the southwest, and which can be spotted from very long distances in the Antioquian region. Access to Romeral heights is granted by a horse path starting at Pueblo Viejo, getting to the lake and going across the heights to the town of Angelopolis: this area is covered by forests, hidden by fog most of the year, which accounts for its high humidity.
CALDAS
TOWN HALL
This town originated at crossroads in the different colonization routes to the Antioquian southeast and to the north. What today are the Caldas and Quindio departments, like the national path connecting Medellin and Popayan, the road of the state, also called San Miguel, and the path to Fredonia. In the year 1820, Caldas belonged to the municipality of La Estrella, and its name was Partido de La Miel. It is located on the southern side of the Valle del Aburra. 22 kms away from its capital, Medellin (40 minutes) and a height of 1.750 above sea level, with an average temperature of 19 C. It is one of the nine municipalities making up the Metropolitan Area, and the fourth largest one, with an area of 133.40 square kilometers. Some of the most important festivities in Caldas are the traditional Fiestas del Aguacero, celebrated every October.
Some of its main tourist attractions are: San Miguel heights; an ecological reserve; here, Aburra river (today Medellin river) is born. It is an area in the high Andean ecosystem called mist forest, with a high level of humidity; it is classified as a very humid forest, low mountain ecosystem, with an average bio temperature of 14.5 C.
El Romeral heights: located between the municipalities of Angelopolis, Caldas, La Estrella, Heliconia and Medellin (San Antonio de Prado district); important water sources supplying county, district and municipal aqueducts originate here.
La Clara county: an important ecotourism area.
La Romera: a reservation with of high ecotourism appeal due to its streams and waterfalls.
La Miel county: 2.5 kilometers away from the seat of the municipal government, was named after La Miel creek, born on Morro Gil, several effluents join its waters.
Journey to the East, or AntlOquia's Green Road After the previous tour around the municipalities making up the Valle del Aburra, the next tourist circuit near Medellin is the so called La Vuelta a Oriente, a traditional trip among Antioquians, who frequently do it at weekends. This cold weather region is a recognized agricultural granary for the department, with an outstanding potential in hydro-electrical power generation. 35% of the energy consumed by Colombia is produced by the many reservoirs in this area. Although the region is made up of 23 municipalities, the traditional Vuelta a Oriente, generally a one day tour, comprises eight localities, the closest ones. This tour can be started from three different routes. The first one is the road from the Santa Elena district, the cradle of silleteros, host of every year's Flower Festival, the second tour starts off in Autopista Medellin Bogota, and the third one takes the road to Las Palmas. In any of these roads, visitors will find several tourist and landscape attractions.
The route suggested here (Las Palmas) is only a suggestion that can be modified; having the certainty that in most cases visitors will find the best road infrastructure in the region, and excellent signalling system to find their way around. Every stretch of the way in Oriente is filled with surprises, making it possible to constantly change plans. An exit at the San Diego round point (near the famous shopping center with the same name), we take the road to Las Palmas, and to the heights with the same name.
Piedras Blancas ecological park, 26 Kilometers away from Medellin and with access through Santa Elena road, this park is a large forest reservation with ecological and environmental attractions that make it the ideal place to relax and to learn. Ecological paths, picnic and barbecue areas with kiosks, a reservoir, boats rental, a restaurant, cafeteria, natural viewpoints, cable car rides, an entomological museum and auditoria.
La Macarena Club
Located in the municipality of Rionegro, it has a spectacular golf court, considered to be one of the best designed golf courts in South America, as it includes 18 holes, green fee, pitch and putt and a comfortable area, called hole 19, with a capacity for 80 people. The Club counts on experienced golf instructors, as well as tennis, swimming and hydro aerobics instructors.
South -east tourist circuit, a tradition of coffee, coal and muleteering the southeast sub region, washed by river Cauca, is the coffee producing zone in the department of Antioquia, and it also holds some coal deposits in its soil. Coffee, whose growth started by the end of the 19th century, promoted the accumulation of riches, which gave birth to several Antioquian industries at the beginning of the 20th century. It al so encouraged the migration of several people who founded many of the towns in the south-west, a process known as the Antioquian colonization. At that time, some men riding mules traveled around the zone taking a variety of goods along mountains and cliffs. They were the muleteers, deep-rooted in the cultural memory of Antioquians. Taking the Regional road to the south we get to the town of Caldas, the southern most town in the Aburra valley. From there we take the road to Angelopolis, among the beautiful pristine landscapes of the El Romeral cordillera, today an important ecological trail. Romeral hills, declared an ecological reservation in 1995, are located in Angelópolis. The warehouses of the old Antioquia railway can also be visited at the small town of La Estación, as well as the waterfalls of La Ramírez brook. After Angelópolis we get to Amagá, a coal mining region and birthplace of former president Belisario Betancur, whose house has been declared national monumentThe next place of interest is the town of Titiribí, which can be reached by taking a detour. Titiribí holds important archaeological treasures, represented by Circo Teatro Girardot, which has been declared a national monument, as well as by the town hall, built by Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts, and the house of Elí Posada, today a museum. Among the ecological destinations we find the natural caves of EI Tambo and Los Micos hills. We then go down to Bolombolo, a town on the banks of Cauea River. Hot weather resting homes have been built in this area where Medellin families spend their holidays. From there, an arm of the road takes us to the towns of Andes and Jardín. The former, an active coffee producer, is the birth place of Nadaist poet Gonzalo Arango, who caused commotion in the Antioquian society in the 19505 due to his non-conformist attitude.
Jardín square is considered to be one of the most beautiful ones in Antioquia, and around it, many bars and taverns are found, which provide it with an interesting night life. From BoIombolo you can also get to Venecia, a town where horses can be hired to ride all day, carrying a good supply of aguardiente in your saddlebags, so that you can take a sip at the many stops, ending up at a tavern by night, to listen to old music. A little further on, in the area known as Peñalisa, a road running parallel to the Cauca River can be taken, with the Tusa hill as a backcloth. Seen from the distance, it has the shape of a pyramid.
Taking a detour from the road we get to the town officer, with an important architectural heritage. Here was born the mother of Laura, who was beatified by Pope John Paul. A stop over at the Southwest Archaeological Museum and the Religious Art Museum can also be included. Jerico is famous for its production of carrieles (Ieather shoulder bags), which is why it is the perfect place to buy this typical Antioquian item, where muleteers used to carry all kinds of objects.
After visiting Jerico and returning to the main road, you continue on to get to La Pintada, a town whose landscape is dominated by the Citara rocky peaks, which rise imposingly in the middle of the Cauca Valley. Two interesting places in this town are the old bridge on the Cauca River, "Alejandro Lopez" railway station, and the old bridge on the Río Arma. At this point, you can go up to the town of Santa Bárbara, in order to start the descent to Medellin from Minas hills.
The West Circuit or The Route of Sun and Fruit, towards the western central part of the city we find the district of San Cristobal, known by its flower crops, and also one of the places from where a wide view on the Valle del Aburra can be enjoyed. It leads us directly to "Fernando Gomez Martínez" western tunnel. The "Guillermo Gaviria Correa" road connection, 18 minutes away from Medellin. This modern work of engineering opens the gate to tourism in the western region, also connecting it to the Uraba region. It is the longest and most modern tunnel in Colombia and Latin America, 4.6 kilometers long. It is fitted with the most modern technology in safety and service. This tunnel shortens the trip from Medellin to Santa Fe de Antioquia in more than an hour, and it is part of the long road uniting Antioquia. Santander and Venezuela; it is expected to join the Pan American Highway. The drive down to Cauca along the existing road, takes place among mountainous landscapes of great beauty, which are, besides quite typical of the Antioquian geography. Towards the end of the road, the town of San Jeronimo can be admired, whose white houses glitter in the surrounding green. In this town, which you can reach by taking a detour from the road. there is an abundant variety of fruit, particularly tamarindo. The offer for ecological tourism is also good at places like La Alarcona, Espadas and Aurrá brook, beside in El Cidral, some archaeological remains can be found. Our next destination is the town of Sopetran, which gathers on its streets the liveliest night life in all the western circuit thanks to its varied offer of bars and taverns. However, Sopetran is not only about partying. There are also swimming resorts like La Sopetran La Sucia and Miraldita, and the ecological path La Neverita. Besides, we can find ecological parks El Gaitero. El Salado and El Nicolas, perfect for ecological tourism lovers. On the way to Santa Fe de Antioquia. in the jurisdiction of Olaya, travellers find Occidente Bridge, which was designed towards the end of the 19th century by Colombian engineer José María Villa 115 structure, one of the most important works of engineering in Colombia, is mostly made of wood, a material which was even used in the supporting structure. Besides the bridge, other tourist attractions in Olaya are El Salto and La Toma pools. We finally reach Santa Fe de Antioquia. The colonial past which is scarce in Medellin is reflected here in its full splendor. The cobblestone streets, the balconies and the huge doors in houses give this town an ancient atmosphere, which is enhanced by its many churches, the most outstanding one being Jesus Nazareno church. Besides, due to the fact that it was the capital of Antioquia until 1826, it was the place where the independence of this region was signed. The table where the official document was ratified is still preserved at "Juan del Corral" Museum. Visiting the house of Jorge Robledo Ortiz, known as the Poet of Race is also of interest. The return to Medellin is made along the same way to the sea.
Northern circuit or the Milk Route:
This cold weather sub-region, consisting of seventeen municipalities, gathers milk cattle as its most important economic source. These are high grounds with pure air and green landscapes. Even some moors are found here. According to the interests of tourists, the following internal routes can be followed: The milk road, the agricultural and farming road, the reservoir road, the Faith and Culture road, the moors road, and the trout road. On the way out of Medellin we take the way leading to the north of the Aburra Valley. Shortly before getting to Barbosa, at El Hatillo, we start the ascent to Matasanos hills, among imposing and rough mountains from which paragliders take off above the Aburra Valley. This road leads to the Colombian Atlantic Coast. The first town is Donmatías, an important center for the clothing industry and textile assembly. Some interesting centers to mention are museum house "Luis López de Mesa", the old bridges of Los Leones, Santander and Zea and the church of Nuestra Senora del Rosario. With respect to ecotouristic destinations, it is advisable to follow the stone ecological path which goes along a pine forest on the shores of Riogrande II reservoir, and also to visit eco park Chupadero Los Salados. Along the road leading to the Atlantic Coast we get to the town of Santa Rosa de Osos, famous for its pandequesos (cheese biscuit) , its dairy products, its traditional Dusk Parties, and for being the seat of Fundación Universitaria Católica del Norte (FUCN), the first virtual university in the country, offering a large number of people in the region the possibility to become professionals. This institution possesses inviting green areas and a conventions center, besides the Diocese's inn for group and business activities. For more information, call: (574) 8609822. Then we cross the region of Llanos de Cuivá, with beautiful mountainous landscapes. Santa Rosa is the birthplace of Porfirio Barba Jacob, one of the most important poets in Antioquia and in Colombia, remembered in the museum-school named after him.
Other important monuments are the Palacio de Gobiemo Municipal, designed by Belgian Agustín Goovaerts, and the Sagrada Familia Chapel. Regarding ecological destinations, we cannot forget Saint Joseph Hill, with its misty forest and oakwoods. Along the main road we get to Yarumal, where Epifanio Mejía, author of the Iyrics of the Antioquian anthem and father Marianito, who was declared a blessed man by the Catholic Church, were born. A little further we find Angostura, where father Marianito worked as a parish priest for a good part of his priestly activity. We then return to Santa Rosa de Osos in order to take the road to Entrerríos, where the monolith known as Piedra del Peñol de Entrerríos is found, an allusion to the famous rock in the town of the Antioquian east.
Besides the monolith, it is also interesting to visit the House of Culture, containing 148 pieces used in the traditional tanning of leather, and a collection of 50 pottery objects made by the Catío and Nutabe natives. On La Pontezuela brook, fishing activities are regularly organized, while in the place known as Las Vegas del. Toruro we can appreciate the typical landscapes of this mountainous region.
The following point is the town of San Pedro, from where stems a detour leading to Belmira, a town where a moor with the same name begins. At the Basnica del Señor de los Milagros, a replica of Miguel Angel's "Madonna de la Pietá" can be seen, so perfect that it once served to restore the original. AII the San Pedro lanes possess important landscape riches, which is why travellers can wander around them and admire the mountains where the town is set.
It is now time to come back to Medellin. The city is accessed through the north-west, with the urban landscape in the background.
Tourist and cultural attractions
The tourist attractions of Medellin (a renewed, cultural and intellectual city) are represented by its historical and contemporary buildings, such as churches, museums, theatres, open sky spaces, conservation parks in the urban perimeter, pedestrian paths such as Carabobo, and the new library parks. Perhaps some of the most attractive architectural and urban works in the city center and its surroundings, some of them under construction or recently opened are Explora park, newly renovated Botanic Gardens (and their orchid display, Orquideorama), the Municipal Planetarium, Parque de Los Deseos (The park of wishes), Parque de Los Pies DescalZtt (Park of bare feet) and the five new library parks: Quintana "Tomás Carraquilla", San Javier "Presbitero José Luis Arroyave", Belen Library Park, "Leon de Greiff" La Ladera and Santo Domingo. Recreational and sports park Juanes de la Paz and recreational complex "María Luisa Calle" have also been projected. Added to the above we can mention newly restored Museum of Antioquia, Empresas Públicas de Medellin's intelligent building, Plaza Mayor Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions center and plaza Cisneros. T o sum up, this is a city with a clear cultural and service vocation, added to a long tradition in industry and business, especially in the fields of textile and fashion. It is also important to mention that the more than 20 shopping centres in the city, together with the new commercial compounds being built in El Poblado make up an attractive meeting point for visitors.
Berrío Park
CALLES SO (COLOMBIA)
Berrío Park is the epicenter of the city, where Antioquians have gathered for generations as their main meeting point. The history of this park is closely linked to the one of La Candelaria church, built initially in 1680. Main Square, as it was called from the beginning, was the anteroom of the church, and all parishioners gathered on it before and after the service. Between 1784 and 1892, the public market was located there, and it was also the stage for executions and grandiose public and political events. Like all big cities with a Spanish influence, the wealthiest families lived around the square Which in 1895 changed its name to Pedro Justo Berrío, to honor one of the main political figures in the region in the 19th century. Before turning into the financial zone par excellence in the city, Berrío Park suffered intermittent fires, in 1917, 1921 and 1922. The old houses had to be knocked down to give way to modern constructions where banking and commercial bodies found their place. Probably the greatest transformation took place at the end of the 1980s and at the beginning of 1990, though, when it underwent a process of redesign and an in depth work on its foundations, in order to accommodate the new Medellin metro station. Today it is the meeting place of people whose business is based on banking.
Banco de la República Philatelic Museum CL50 #50-21
It is located in the facilities of the Banco de la República branch, facing Parque Berrío. Here, 28,000 key pieces in the postal and philatelic history of the country are stored. The collections of this museum, which have been opened to the public since June 1977, are made up of postage stamps and stamps of Colombia and other countries and territories issuing them from 1840. It also displays bills and coins issued by the Banco de la República throughout its history. It has received important contributions, including the Kettiger CoIlection.
NUTIBARA HILL CLJOA# 55.64
fomenloyturismol@une.net.com
This symbol of the city has undergone an important physical readjustment with respect to improved access, paths, public areas, tree-planting, landscaping and ecological tourism programs; all this for visitors to enjoy a natural viewpoint in the city. Standing on the southwest, just between Medellin river and "Olaya Herrera" airport and park, Nutibara hill is the best known elevation within Medellin's urban perimeter. With an approximate extension of 33 hectares and a height of 80 meters, it offers an imposing view on the city. This is the largest natural park within the city perimeter. Three of Medellin's main attractions are Iocated on the hill: Pueblito Paisa (Paisa little town), Parque de Las Esculturas (Park of sculptures) and "Carlos Vi eco" open sky theater.
El Pueblito Paisa (Paisa Little Town)
NUTIBARAHILL
It is a replica of a rural village, complete with a church, the priest's house, a school, a chemist's shop, a barber shop, a café, other stores, and a square with a stone fountain in its center. Even though. gives the impression of being old, the Pueblito Paisa on Nutibara hill was built in 1977, to commemorate the 300 years of Medellin's foundation. Next to this small town stands the sculpture of "Cacique Nutibara", a native chief of outstanding importance at the time of the Spanish conquest, in the 16th century. lt was the work of Maestro Jose Horado Betancur. Visitors can find a considerable number of shops selling traditional products and handcrafts, as well as restaurants for typical Antioquian food.
Parque de Las Esculturas (Park of Sculptures)
On the initiative of former Colombian president Belisa Rio Betancur Cuartas, the Museum of Modern Art organized the permanent display of sculptures in the natural setting of this hill. Works by international artists, including Manuel Felguerez (Mexico), John Castles (Colombia), Sergio de Camargo (Brazil), Julio Le Parc (Argentina), Edgar Negret (Colombia), Carlos Cruz Diez (Venezuela), Carlos RoJas (Colombia), Ronny Vayda (Colombia), Alberto Uribe (Colombia) and Otto Hajek (Germany) can be admired.
Open Sky Theater "Carlos Vi eco"
CERRO NUTlBARA CL, 30A, CRA. 55
Inaugurated in 1984, its design was the work of the City Planning Design Department, and the acoustic stage was the work of architect Oscar Mesa. It holds 3,800 spectators. There is al so a restaurant with a view of nature and of the city. It was built in honor of composer Carlos Vi eco Ortiz, a musician born in MedelIin on February 14th, 1900, the son of musician, composer and painter Camilo Vieco.
San Antonio Park
OPPOSITE SAN ANTONIO CHURCH.
AOORESS: CR 46 (ORIENTAL AV.)
Inaugurated on December 14th, 1994, it is one of the most important recreational and cultural venues in the city. It was built on a 33 thousand square meters of terrain. It holds commercial and service areas. Here, several sculptures by Fernando Botero are displayed, including a naked torso. A crescent shaped auditorium offers an ideal place for free concerts which are regularly organized there. Likewise, the offices of the French Colornbian Alliance and Almacenes Éxito operate here. "Porfirio Barba Jacob" ThE'a'ter aod the Army's Batallón are also located here.
Bolívar Park
CAllES S4 (CARACAS) ANO SS (PERÚ) ANO CARRERAS 28 (ECUADOR) AND 49 (YENHUELA)
Like Berrío Park, Bolívar Park is full of history. The grounds it occupies today were the property of English citizen Tyrrel Stuart Moore, who decided to donate them to the city in 1844, on the condition that the area was called Nueva Londres ("New London"). However, citizens favored the name Villanueva, the epicenter of the neighborhood of the same name, which was in force till 1871. In that year it was renamed Bolívar Park, though only in 1923 a statue of the Liberator was placed there. Around it, members of the main families in Medellin also lived for long decades. The main building here is the Basilica or Metropolitan Cathedral, whose construction started in 1875. One of the main activities in this place is carried out every Sunday at 11 :00 A.M., when the 5ymphonic Band of the Universidad de Antioquia plays classical and folk music. This open sky concert is known as the Retreta del Parque. The names of the streets converging there refer to three countries freed from the Spanish domination.
Uíniversidad de Antioquia Assembly Hall (Paraninfo)
CRA.44 # 48-72.
Saint Ignatius Building at the Universidad de Antioquia, in the city center, is probably one of the most important architectural jewels in Medellin. It was the first branch of Universidad de Antioquia, whose origins date back to 1793, year in which the Medellin Cabildo purchased the lands for the construction of a church, a convent and a school. When the setting up of Universidad de Antioquia was declared in 1803, the process of its development and construction was initiated; however, it was only in 1886 that the then called Saint Ignatius Building received the name of Universidad de Antioquia. At first the School of Arts and Trades and the School of Mining were located there. In 1982, this building was declared national monument The assembly hall (Paraninfo) was built during the republican period, as a result of expansion works. This task was under the command of Maestro Horacio Rodríguez. The assembly hall has been the epicenter of cultural development in the department and in the whole country.
Saint Ignatius Square CRA. 44 ANO CAllES 48 ANO 49
For decades it served as the patio for Saint Ignatius School, founded by Jesuits. Remodelled in 1993, the park (next to Universidad de Antioquia's Assembly Hall) has preserved an imposing display of centenary ceiba trees. Another building in the area is Universidad de Antioquia's assembly hall, considered to be part of the city's heritage.
"Pablo Tobón Uribe" Theatre
It has been one of the most traditional artistic stages in Medellin. It is famous for its varied selection of concerts. zarzuela, ballet, drama and recitals by international artists. It holds 800 people. In front of it we find the sculpture "La Bachué", by artist José Horacio Betancur, who also sculpted "Cacique Nutibara", which stands on the hill with the same name. Coltejer Building Since 1972, when its construction, started in 1968, was completed, it has become a symbol of modern Medellin. The 40 storey building is the highest in the city, and at one point it was the main skyscraper in the country. In order to build it, the beautiful location of Junín theatre and hotel Europa had to be demolished. The purpose of building it was to provide for an administrative and corporate seat for Coltejer, one of the oldest and most widely recognized textile industries in the country, and one of the main engines of the Antioquian economy. As an illusion to its origin, it has the shape of a needle. Urban historians agree in pointing out that, from the opening of Coltejer building, Medellin embraced modernism, and it gave way to a new architectural culture, Museo de Antioquia
CR52 #52-43
The Museum of Antioquia was the first museum to be founded in the department; it is the second museum in Colombia, and one of the first ones in South America to have an arts hall. In 1997, a process started to revitalize the institution and to turn in into one of the most important cultural centres in the country and in this part of the continent, In fact, the Museum ( Iocated in Medellin's city center, between Carreras Carabobo and Cundinamarca and between Avenida de Greiff and Calle Calibio) is perhaps the most ambitious urban and cultural project in the Antioquian capital in the past few years. The museum is distributed in two buildings: the old building (Cr 52A 1J 5IA-29, next to La Veracruzchurch), with movie projections, a library service and the School of Arts and Trades workshops, among others, and the main building, gathering most of the permanent and itinerant exhibitions rooms; it is located in what used to be the Municipal Palace, The construction, totally renovated offers a tour across luminous spaces, inviting patios, corridors and gardens, Here, visitors can find shops for arts and handcrafts objects, as well as restaurants and small cafes. Guided visits are offered to groups of up to 30 people, prior booking by telephone. The museum counts several donations from painter Fernando Botero, an internationally renowned artist who was born and raised in Medellin, Donation Botero 2000 counts 158 pieces added to the 18 paintings and 16 sculptures by the same artist already in stock; this donation is permanently exhibited on the third floor of the main branch, In 2004, Botero offered eleven new works of art by renowned international artists to be added to the previous donation, This was the start of the museum's International Wing, composed of four permanent halls, which give life to the South Wing of the building, on the main building's third floor. The museum has a good number of halls, including: the Prehispanic, Colonial and Republican halls, Murals, "Manuel Uribe Angel", Portraits from the 19th century, photography, National Artists, "Francisco Antonio Cano", Sculptures, Antioquian Artists from the 20th Century, Contemporary Art, Colombian Art from the 20th century, besides the halls displaying Botero's donations. The Museum of Antioquia is an artistic point of reference in a city that is expanding its cultural and educational possibilities more and more.
Plaza Botero
With an area of 7,000 square meters, Plaza Botero is another area of the Museum of Antioquia which is destined to events, concerts and fashion shows, Extending itself just in front of the museum, this square permanently exhibits 23 sculptures donated by the Antioquian painter. Besides the sculptures, there are ceiba and yellow lignum vitae trees around this wide space Among the pieces worth admiring we find "The hand", "Eve", "Man on horseback", "Maternity" and "Roman 501dier", among others.
Palacio De La Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
With its florid gothic style, it occupies the old premises of the Palacio de la Gobernación de Antioquia. It is no doubt one of the most representative architectural works in the city. Its design and construction, the work of Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts (1885-1939), were commanded by the then Governor of Antioquia and future president of Colombia, General Pedro Nel Ospina. This work was completed by stages, between 1929 and 1937. By the mid 1960s there were plans to demolish it. Later on, the Gobernación and Asamblea Departament moved to new facilities in administrative center La Alpujarra. Its Art Gallery, on the ground floor hosts artistic exhibitions, and visitors have the opportunity to see them and also to take part in workshops and discussions around the topic.
Palacio de La Cultura
Apart from art exhibitions, the Palacio stores several samples of the Antioquian culture. In its building, for example, is located the headquarters for department of libraries, a phonograph. The Palacio Nacional Center for Musical Documentation, the Historical Archives of Antioquia, Sala Museo "Rafael Uribe Uribe", a café, and a cultural shop.
Instituto de Bellas Artes
The Palacio de Bellas Artes has been the center of arts and culture in Medellin since 1910, when it was founded as a school of music, painting and sculpture. The design of this new republican style building was carried out by architect and artist Nel Rodríguez, in 1925. The octagonal layout turns on its sides in order to give shape to the auditorium. It houses workshops for the teaching of the fine arts. The most outstanding exponents in the city's artistic life have studied in its halls, including Eladio Vélez, Rodrigo Arenas Betancur. Débora Arango, Teresita Gómez and Fernando Botero. Many of them have also been professors at the Institute. Visitors can appreciate the architectural details of the building and attend a series of music events as well as permanent exhibitions from local artists.
Palacio Nacional
CRI2 #48-45
This imposing building, planned in 1925 by the architect Agustin Goovaerts, has a romantic and modern style that, for a long time, was one of the architectural jewels of the city. Today it is transformed into the most prestigious mall of the central city. It has 400 stores, bar, art gaIlery, museum, electric stairways, private security, closed circuit television and wide corridors.
"Pequeño Teatro" Theatre
CR 42 # 10A-12
Founded in 1975, the "Asociación Pequeño Teatro de Medellin" is a non profit artistic association. In 1985 it was pronounced part of Medellin's Cultural Heritage. Since its foundation, it has organized permanent seasons at its premises, as well as presentations in other theaters, both in Medellin and outside the city. The research, creation and teaching activities have turned "Pequeño Teatro" into one of the most stable and representative groups in the Colombian theatre movement. Its novel financing system, known as "free entrance and voluntary contribution", whereby members of the audience offer a voluntary amount of money at the end of the show, has allowed it to find a way to project its creative work to turn art into a way of life, and theatre into a social event Besides hosting theatre seasons. this venue houses exhibitions, workshops for theatre initiation and a school for actors training.
Plazoleta Nutibara CL SJA. CRA. 50
For many generations before, plazoleta Nutibara was a compulsory meeting point. The reason for this was that many important buildings, such as the Palacio de la Gobernación de Antioquia (today known as Palacio de la Cultura), and the traditional Nutibara Hotel were built there. The square has a simple fountain and a small open sky theatre. It is also connected with Plaza Botero and the new headquarters of Antioquia Museum.
Plazoleta de la Veracruz CALLE 51 CARRERA 52
It is located in front of Veracruz church. Its main attractive is a bronze fountain and a marble monument in honor of Atanasio Girardot", a key figure in the Colombian Independence.
"Porfirio BarbaJacob" Theatre
This theatre. which is associated with folk music performances, is named after Antioquian poet Porfirio Barba Jacob, the author of famous poem "Canción de fa vida profÜnda" ("A Song for the deep life"). It is also used for conferences and plays, as well as movies.
"El Águila Descalza" Theatre.
The group El Águila Descalza, which is recognized both nationally and internationally. performs in this beautiful house in Prado neighborhood, which holds an audience of 450. In spite of having undergone adaptations, this theater has preserved its fine wood floors, its plaster roofs decorated by Italian craftsmen from the early 20th century. its skirting boards, doors and windows. This theatre. with its wooden stage and a complete black chamber works as a multiple room for all kinds of artistic demonstrations, theatre. dance, music, literature. cinema. video. painting, artistic workshops, academic conferences, and other cultural encounters.
Antioquia Railway Station CARRERA 52 AND CALLE 43
It is one of the best preserved. and maintained of the old buildings. It is part of the Colombian architectural heritage, thanks to restoration works promoted by the Antioquia Railway Foundation. Its design and construction were the work of engineer and architect Enrique Olarte, who was in front of the process as from 1907. The station opened its doors in 1914. Along its useful life it underwent some reforms and extensions. Today it is a cultural center.
La Alpujarra Administrative Center CL.428 # 52-106
Not far from the Antioquia raiIway station we find La Alpujarra administrative center, an epicenter for one of the most ambitious urban transformation projects in Medellin. La Alpujarra Jouses the main local and regional government branches. In it, the Gobernación de Antioquia, Alcaldía de Medellin, Asamblea departmental and the Concejo municipal operate, among other official dependencies. Starting in 2004, La Alpujarra is part of an ambitious project called Plaza Mayor. which joins it' to the Palacio de Exposiciones, to the new International Conventions Center, to the Metropolitan Theatre, to the Parque de los Pies Descalzos and to the intelligent building of Empresas Públicas de Medellin.
EPM Library
CR54 # 44.48
This project, which was financed by Empress Públicas de Medellin, could be considered to be a monument to technology and progress. It is a futuristic style library, where one can surf around the world through internet and research on specialized topics including science, technology, industry and the environment 1#. Inside, it resembles a big open sky theatre. It is one of the pilIars of the urban renovation plan, and a dear message on what can be achieved by uniting aesthetics, technology and architecture.
Cisneros Square
CALLE SAN JUAN. CR 53
MONDAYS T0 SUNDAYS: 6:00 A.M. T0 11:30 P.M.
This is one of Medellin's new magical places, and it is part of an ambitious city renovation plan which was thought to transform the center of the Antioquian capital and to give it back its role as the conductor of the city. The square of Light, which lies in the place where historically important Plaza Cisneros used to be, is essentially a forest of spiral, 24 meters high lamp posts. It is composed of 300 towers with 2,I 00 spotlights (seven per tower) and 170 floor lights. These modern elements are also mixed with guadua trees and water fountains, platform floors at different levels, and a computer operated illumination system which will indicate the moon phases. It is a kind of artificial forest, with open spaces for mass encounters and gatherings. A design of architect Juan Mánuel Peláez, the Cisneros square, just like the Plaza de los Pies Descalzos, has provided new life to a place that had been wasted in the city. It also offers an interesting opposition to the EPM Library Building, which is located just in front of it. The building's transparent walls will provide a nice view from indoors to the outdoors and vice versa. This idea will no doubt change the face of this area which, up to now, had been neglected by the city.
Plaza de la Luz (Square of Light)
CALLE SAN JUAN. CR 53
MONDAYS T0 SUNDAYS 6:00 A.M. T0 11:30 P.M.
This is one of Medellin's new magical places, and it is part of an ambitious city renovation plan which was thought to transform the center of the Antioquian capital and to give it back its role as the conductor of the city. The square of Light, which lies in the place where historically important Plaza de Cisneros used to be, is essentialIy a forest of spiral, 24-meters high lamp posts. It is composed of 300 towers with 2,I 00 spotlights (seven per tower) and I70 floor lights. These modern elements are also mixed with guadua trees and water fountains, platform floors at different levels, and a computer operated illumination system which will indicate the moon phases. It is a kind of artificial forest, with open spaces for mass encounters and gatherings. A design of architect Juan Manuel Peláez, the Square of Light, just like the Plaza de los Pies Descalzos, has provided new life to a place that had been wasted in the city. It also offers an interesting opposition to the Thematic Library Building, which is located Just in front of it. The building's transparent walls will provide a nice view from indoors to the outdoors and vice versa.
Buildings Vásquez
CR52 # 44-31
These two old architectural jewels of nineteenth century Medellin have returned from their ruins to an urban restoration plan for the city center. This project, led by architect Álvaro Sierra, did not only intervene on these two constructions, but it also includes Works in the Plaza Cisneros and other neighboring areas. The initial construction of buildings Vásquez y Carré has as its common reference point Charles Él Carré (1863 1909), a French citizen who, once he had finished Sacre Coeur Church in Montmartre, Paris travelled to Colombia to take part in several works and projects in Medellin. Carré building, which was erected on grounds bought by Eduardo Vásquez in 1893, was the fírst one to be built. Its initial projection and direction were under the command of Carré himself. It was the highest of its time, and its structural system resembles the coffee dryers in Antioquian farms.
Vásquez building, on the other hand, was designed and built by Carré's students. Due to the fact that the grounds where it was built were similar to the Carré Building's, and because it had the same number of storeys, it was considered to be its twin, though its style was republican with J. French neoclassical influence. Unlike the Carré building, Vásquez building had no balconies, which left its facade flat. Both buildings lost favor and were badly inhabited for decades. After their restoration, they have been taken as the headquarters for the City's Education Secretary. After its restoration, it has been destined to be used as the Secretary of Municipal Education and to house Comfama's offices. Finally, after its renovation, they are connected with the city center, Paseo Carabobo, Berrío park, EPM Library, Plaza de La Luz, La Alpujarra administrative center and Plaza Mayor Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions Center.
Plaza Mayor
Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions Center (141 # 55-BO
With more than 25,000 square meters of squares, gardens and green areas, it offers visitors and convention goers the possibility to have the International Conventions Center and the Palace of Exhibitions (fair grounds) in a single area, which are integrated in a single cultural and tourist complex, together with Metropolitan Theatre, De los Pies Descalzos Park and the Urban Door (an artistic creation). The integration of both venues, achieved in March 2006 gave birth to Plaza Mayor Medellin Conventions and Exhibitions Center, an entity with better options and services for its clients, it is an ideal place for all kinds of shows and events, as both the Palace and the Center provide 12,000 square meters of covered grounds for fairs and exhibitions: 16 halls with varying capacities, from 30 to 3,000 people. Plaza Mayor-Conventions center is a synonym of excellence and a myriad of possibilities. Detail, good taste, adaptability and technology are there to benefít those looking for perfection and satisfaction in the organization of their events. In addition, Plaza Mayor Exhibitions Palace provides the most important setting for fairs and exhibitions in the city. Its experience and trajectory are reflected in more than 25 fairs and 150 events per year.
In general, its design and structure turn Plaza Mayor into a point of reference in the city, connected with Medellin's national and international projections and its cultural and educational orientation. International Conventions Center (RA. 52 # 14-30, Displaying world class architectural construction and cutting edge technology, the International Conventions Center. whose construction started in July 2003 and finished in April 2005, is the biggest venue of its kind in Colombia, and the most modern one in the region. Its huge competitive advantage lies in the fact that it has incorporated the current Palacio de Exposiciones and the Medellin Metropolitan Theatre as supplementary stages. In the same area, the Interactive Museum and the Parque de los Pies Descalzos offer a wide range of possibilities for entertainment. This project has been approved by the Alcaldía de Medellin, the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, Medellin's Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia and the Institute de Desarrollo de Antioquia (Idea). With a covered area of 30,000 square meters, its great hall can hold 3,200 people. Due to its flexibility, it will be possible to divide it into six minor areas. It offers a VIP lounge and a press lounge, and it is connected to 25,000 square meters of green areas and open spaces.
Metropolitan Theater of Medellin
l41#57-30
It is at present the largest cultural venue in the city. Inaugurated in 1987, it was the precursor of the new public area in Main Square. It stands out for its sober but imposing architectural design. It holds 1,634 spectators. The main room also displays an austere design, with uncovered brick walls. Besides holding artistic and musical events, this theatre also complements the Palacio de Exposiciones in the celebration of large meetings and conferences.
Empresas Públicas de Medellin Building
It is one of the most modern buildings in Colombia, with a high level of automation, which maximizes its efficiency. It is made of concrete and steel, and all its access ways, security, elevators, escalators and lighting are controlled through computerized systems. It has become one of the architectural icons of the city, and it is one of the dominant structures on the banks of Medellin River.
Parque de
los Pies Descalzos (Park of Bare Feet)
This is the main open sky space in the Main Square area. Its design and oriental atmosphere offer silence and peace which provide a sharp contrast with the noise of the city. Among its main attractions we find the sand park, water fountains, a Zen garden, guadua trees forests and wooden tables. Its main visitors are the inhabitants of the Antioquian capital, as well as tourists, and officials from Empresas Públicas de Medellin, whose imposing and modern intelligent building dominates the western bank. The park, surrounded by outdoors cafés and restaurants is a contribution of Fundación EPM to regenerate this area, which was depressing before. The Interactive Museum is located in its uppermost area. Both occupy an area of 30,411 square meters.
EPM Interactive
It is a monument to science and technology, two disciplines which are widely spread in the city. Financed by EPM, this museum allows visitors to appreciate the application of phenomena and processes of the main energy services such as electricity, network gas, aqueduct, sewer system and telecommunications. With 22 rooms distributed in four pavilions, every thing that is on display can be touched. It offers nearly 200 experiments to be activated.
Museum of Modern Art
This museum, surrounded by a square full of trees, and located in the same area where the famous Pilot Public Library of Medellin works, gathers the best samples of contemporary art, including national and foreign artists. It is a creative institution par excellence, which collects samples of plastic and audiovisual arts, architecture and design Its permanent and modern exhibitions show pieces that range from sculptures, assemblies and paintings to photographs and engravings. One of its greatest points of interest is the Débora Arargo collection, since it gathers the most significant work of this Antioquian artist in the country. Another major attraction is the projection of art cinema. It is also the seat for the Video International Biennial Exhibition, which takes place in September.
Medellin's Pilot Public Library for Latin America
CRA. 64 # 50-31.
METRO STATION: SURAMERICANA
www.bibliotecapiloto.gov.co It is one of the most important cultural bodies in Colombia and Latin America. It has been open since 1954, thanks to an agreement with Unesco, The United Nations cultural branch. Up until1992 it worked as an autonomous entity, with the support of official and private contributions. That year it became a dependency of the Ministry of Colombian Education. It stores an amazing variety of books and documents (physical and digital) and it is a center of research and a meeting place for students, academics and intellectuals.
The Sala Antioquia, for example, stores the most complete bibliographic and artistic collection in the department and in the neighboring zone, Viejo Caldas, where the influence of Antioquian culture is historically strong. The photo archives contain more than 1.5 million still pictures, from 1849 to our days.It also stores the personal files of eminent men of letters, such as Manuel Mejía Vallejo and Carlos Castro Saavedra. as well as León de Greiff library, among other treasures. Its video library includes more than 7,000 titles.
Fundación Casa Museo "Pedro Nel Gómez" FUNDACiÓN
PEDRO NEL GÓMER MUSEUH HOU5E CR51 # B5.14PBX:(574 FAX:13)B565 MONDAY TO SATURDAYS: 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. MONDAY AND HOLlDAYS: 10:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
Painter Pedro Nel Gómez has been considered one of the pioneers of modern art in Colombia. This house, now turned into a museum, is the place where he lived and worked. Its walls are painted with some of his best murals. Other paintings and sculptures from this artist are also exhibited there. The value of his murals measuring more than 200 meters of frescos has been widely recognized abroad, and some critics have not hesitated to call him, the best mural artist in Latin America. This collection is composed of more than 1,500 pieces, including water colors, oil paintings, pastels, engravings, sculptures and wood carvings. His art library gathers more than 500 volumes.
Universidad de Antioquia Museum
CR 67 # 5J-108
Founded in 1942, this museum stands just at the heart of the Universidad de Antioquia campus, one of the oldest universities in Colombia. It is one of the most frequently visited museums in the city, especially by students, since it gathers 40,000 pieces related to visual arts, natural science, history and anthropology. It also includes arts exhibition and concert halls.
"Joaquín Antonio Uribe" Botanic Garden
CRA 52 # 73-298
The Botanic Gardens, part of Medellin's cultural heritage and one of the greenest areas in the city, is currently undergoing important institutional, architectural and urban renovations, including its museums, within Medellin's Mayor's Office Strategic Project. Starting in 2005. this renovation process is expected to be completed in 2007. Broadly speaking, visitors will enjoy new public spaces, the recovery of the lake, the stream and wide green areas, besides the new orchid display (Orquideorama), considered to be the focal point of renovation and the heart of the Botanic Gardens. Patio de Las Azaleas (azaleas court) and El Científico buildings are other important works. The latter will gather the tasks corresponding to the herbarium, the laboratory and the garden offices. Their construction will be completed on the first half of 2007. In short, it is an amazing garden, offering a variety of areas for long Iasting enjoyment One of ways to access is by metro, Universidad station, very close to the gardens.
"Jesús Emilio Ramírez" Town Planetarium
CR 52 # 71-117 Like the Botanic Gardens.
The Town's Planetarium is near Universidad de Antioquia. It gathers a battery of powerful telescopes, which have been classified among the first ones in Latin America. Around 300 people can sit in the projection room, covered with a dome 17.5 meters in diameter. In recent years it underwent complete renovation to improve all its services, including the library, computer room and auditorium, where movies are also shown. It is possible to get there by Metro, Universidad station.
El Parque de los Deseos (The Park of Wishes)
CAlLES 71 ANO 72. CARRERAS 52 AND 53
TUESDAYS TO SUNDAYS: 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M.
This park has been described as an "open space to observe the universe". Based on the experience acquired with the Pies Descalzos Park, in the area of Main square, Fundación Empresas Públicas de Medellin started this work, whose main purpose is to get visitors to lie down and look at the stars. Because of its closeness to the Planetarium, the Botanic gardens and the Universidad de Antioquia, their idea is to promote interest in the cosmos, and to make science popular. Eleven interactive attractions related with public services and astronomy are offered. 12,000 square meters located on the block surrounding carreras 52 and 53 and Calles 71 and 72, "will provide dignity" to MedelIin. The parking building serves as a theatre box, from where movies on astronomy shows are presented. Museo Casa Gardeliana W457650(574) 212 0968 EVERY DAY: 9:00 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. Famous Argentinian tango singer Carlos Gardel died in Medellin. when his plane had an accident. Since then and before then the city hosts a deep rooted tango culture.
Founded on February 14th, 1973 in Manrique neighborhood by Argentinian Leonardo II Nieto Jardon, this museum is a meeting place for tango lovers. Valuable memorabilia from the time of Gardel can be appreciated. Celebrities like Hugo del Carril, Alberto Echague, Oswaldo Pugliese, Agustín lrusta and many other personalities have visited its stage.
Fundación Cementerio de San Pedro (San Pedro Cemetery) (R51 # 68.68
& Built in 1828 and declared a national monument in 1999, this cemetery is a central part in the cultural and architectural heritage of the city. Although it holds sculptures and architectural works of Latin American funeral art, this place has started to stand out as a new meeting place for artistic expression. Local and national art collections are preserved here, and on full moon nights, concerts, story telling, drama and dance shows are organized. However, the most significant trait are the funerary monuments in memory of personalities who have stood out in the arts and politics, such as Antioquia's ex-governor Pedro Justo Berrío, former presidents Mariano Ospina, Pedro Nel Ospina and Carlos E. Restrepo, painter Pedro Nel Gómez, leader and statesman Francisco Antonio Zea among others.
Universidad de Medellin Theater
(R 87 # 30.65 Inaugurated in 1985, this theater, with a capacity for 1,700 people, offers the largest artistic and cultural arena in the city. At first it was exclusively assigned to university and academic activities, but it was soon put to the service of the whole community. Its stage conditions are unique, and it is used for operas, zarzuela, concerts, dance and ballet performances, theatre plays and conferences. During its whole existence this theatre has had as its honorary guest the Medellin Philharmonic Orchestra.
El Castillo Museum
(L 9SUR # 32.269 It is an architectural jewel in the Antioquian geography. In the best style of the Loire castles in France, it possesses a gothic medieval design, and French style gardens. Its halls and rooms are used in exhibitions and classical and contemporary music concerts. It holds a collection of paintings by national and foreign artists. Painting, sculpture and ceramics workshops, among others, are organized there. Due to its welcoming atmosphere, it is used in fairs and cultural festivals. "Luis Echevarría Villegas" Cultural Center and Library.
CR 49 # 7IUR-SO, AV. LAS VEGAS PBX:
This building, considered to be a monument to modern architecture, was inaugurated by the end of the 1990s. Architects Juan Fernando Forero and Cirfos Julio Calle took part in the project, proposing a design that is in, books. Another futuristic aspect of this building is that it combines the traditional library and the electronic library. In spite of its modernity, some renaissance concepts have been applied in the management of inner areas in order to access information sources and reading areas. It has the latest technology in order to facilitate consultation.
Corporación Otraparte CR 43A # 27ASUR-11 AV EL POBLADO
In this house, Antioquian philosopher Fernando González lived and thought. It is a meeting place for admirers and followers of his ideas. The property where Corporación Otraparte works has been linked with the family of this intellectual since 1798. The design and construction of the house, which dates back to 1940, was achieved with the collaboration of famous friends such as painter, engineer and architect Pedro Nel Gómez. With a predominantly colonial style, the house is today part of an architectural and cultural project to offer visitors a place to isolate themselves from the world. The pieces and books displayed tell the story of González's life, and a small bookshop offers samples of his works. PeriodicaIly, movie cycles are organized.
Museo de la Madre Laura CR 92 # 34D-21 BELENClTO TOWN
The museum is located at the Provincial House of the Congregation of Missionaries of Mother Laura. It exhibits a variety of items of the native cultural heritage, and objects belonging to different ethnic groups.
1# Explora Park
CARRERAS S2