Culture of Medellin. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Located in a picturesque area, Medellin is famous for its natural attractions. This is a beautiful city, the first mention of which refers to the beginning of the 17th century. Thanks to the attentive and reverent attitude of local residents, Medellin managed to preserve not only the pristine natural splendor, but also historical values: ancient churches and villas, cobbled streets and picturesque quarters can be found at every step.

Family holidays with kids in Medellin. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.

Medelin is an incredible place for active family leisure. There are numerous entertainment centers in the city suited to every fancy. The Parque de Las Aguas is invariably popular among …

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One of the main attractions is the Basilica de la Candelaria - a beautiful church made in the best traditions of the Spanish style. Until now, the building has remained intact, therefore it fully reflects the architectural features of the past centuries. In the park Bolivar vacationers can observe another important religious landmark - the Metropolitan Basilica.

Built in the early 20th century, it is the largest brick church in South America. Tourists would certainly appreciate the interior of the church, each of its decoration piece is a valuable religious artifact. A great place for hiking is the Paise district, which is one of the oldest quarters of the city. Like many years ago, today you can find a huge number of craft workshops and souvenir shops. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Cuisine of Medellin for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe

Medellin will meet the travelers with various restaurants serving ethnic cuisine. The city features numerous gastronomy establishments of different trends. The Carmen restaurant is one of …

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Preserved in the city and several ancient squares, the largest among them is the Plaza de Toros la Macarena. Important social events and national holidays always take place here. Walking around the Plaza Botero will be interesting for connoisseurs of sculpture, its main adornments are the masterpieces of Fernando Botero, a famous sculptor who was born and lived in Medellin. An impressive collection of his works is kept by the museum of Antioquia.

Among other city sights is the old university, which continues to operate today. Its building is of a great interest from an architectural point of view, and the beautifully designed adjoining territory with an abundance of plants will be a pleasant place to relax. There is also a delightful Botanical Garden, the main pride of which is a collection of orchids. For travelers who likes rural attractions, we would recommend visiting the nearby town of Santa Fe de Antioch. On its territory there are many buildings of different epochs, and the surroundings are famous for the abundance of natural attractions.

Authentic traditions, festivals and lifestyle of Medellin inhabitants

The main event of the cultural life of the city of Medellin is the annual fest named Feria de las Flores or the Festival of the Flowers. This is a great flower parade which is accompanied …

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The picturesque Parque Arví nature reserve deserves attention. It is a great place for hiking or trekking. It is also valuable from an archaeological point of view because it was known in pre-colonial times. You can find traces of ancient tribes here. You should definitely visit the park called Parque de la Luz in the evening. Hundreds of huge pillars are beautifully illuminated at this time here. It is worth noting that the park was considered quite criminal before this decision was made. However, nothing reminds us of this past today. Parque de Las Esculturas is a harmonious combination of green landscapes and majestic statues. It is sure to appeal to any tourist. You should definitely take a walk in the park.

There are also numerous religious attractions in the city. Each building of the shrine is worthy of a visit. However, some of them deserve special attention. For example, Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola will appeal to tourists. Its exterior was created in the Baroque style. The interior of the building is designed in a colonial style. Virgen Rosa Mystica also deserves attention. This is a stone altar with a statue of the Virgin Mary, standing among human gifts. Local people often come here to get a blessing in some business. Parroquia Santa Gema Church is also very interesting. It attracts attention with its non-standard architecture and beautiful interior decoration.

Your active city break in Medellin. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here

Medellin boasts plenty of interesting entertaining places to visit which can help to sufficiently vary a city tour adding new emotions and sensations to the Medellin visit. Tourists …

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The educational institution Universidad de Antioquia was built by decree of Charles IV of Spain in 1803. It is also worth attention. The university was expanded in the 1960s. It is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Colombia today. Administrative buildings are also beautiful in Medellin. This is, for example, El Centro Administrativo La Alpujarra. The beautiful "Monumento a la Raza" erected by Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt is located in front of this building. Edificio Plaza de la Libertad building is a magnificent masterpiece of modern architecture. It was built in 2010. The building is also a great viewing platform. It is one of the tallest buildings in Medellin. Fantastically beautiful views of the Colombian city open from the top floor.

Bird sculpture by the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero - Boat Quay

The building of the railway station Edificio Del Ferrocarril de Antioquia was erected in 1929. It also deserves a separate description. Its construction was hampered by the fact that agriculture did not actually exist in the city until the XIX century. It was entirely dependent on gold mining. Therefore, its construction was impractical. The hilly terrain also caused difficulties. However, the presence of coffee plantations had a significant impact on the construction of the building. A transport hub was required to transport coffee to other cities and states. A visit to La Casa Grande Coffee Hacienda should definitely be included in the tourist itinerary. You can find out all about the history of coffee production in the capital of Antioquia here.

Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Medellin

1. Tourists visiting the city of Medellin for the first time are strongly recommended to explore its territory being only accompanied by city guide. Only central streets are safe for alone …

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Edificio San Ignacio is an important tourist destination. The building was built in the neoclassical architectural style in 1803. Decoration on doors, windows, arches, balustrades, and cornices especially attracts travelers. Palacio de Bellas Artes Museum is interesting as a place where beautiful exhibits are collected. They will certainly appeal to art fans. The museum is also a remarkable example of colonial architecture. It was built by Nel Rodriguez in 1925. Paseo Carabobo is perfect for walking, which will be remembered by tourists. Many interesting architectural and historical monuments are located here. You can also take a walk around Cementerio Parroquial la America. This is a unique cemetery. Its walls are painted with beautiful graffiti.

El Castillo Museo y Jardines is also noteworthy. This is a magnificent ensemble of a building built in 1930 in the Gothic style and a beautiful French garden with magnificent fountains and sculptures. The building is also interesting for its history. You should definitely listen to the story about this during the tour. The museum's exposition includes works of fine and sculptural art, as well as porcelain, glass, and household items. Interesting events are often held in the castle gardens. Several remarkable cultural institutions are located in the city. You can take a cultural break and watch one of the beautifully theatrical, musical or dance performances here. Teatro Metropolitan, Teatro Lido, and Teatro Prado el Aguila Descalza are such theaters.

In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Medellin and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Medellin and surroundings

This guide to cultural sights Medellin is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.

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Reference information

Map of all art museums

Art galleries in Medellin and around
♥ Art museum 'Museum of Antioquia' Medellín, 5.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Art museum 'Medellín Museum of Modern Art (MAMM)' Medellín, 8.6 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Map of all churches

Cathedrals and basilicas near Medellin
♥ Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Girardota, 13.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Concatedral de San Nicolás el Magno, Rionegro, 23.6 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Catedral de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Jericó, 24.8 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Basílica de Nuestra Señora de las Misericordias, Santa Rosa de Osos, 39.9 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Catedral Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, Santa Rosa de Osos, 40.5 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción, Santa Fe de Antioquia, 43.7 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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♥ Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Chiquinquirá, Sonsón, 69.3 km from the center. On the map Show on the map

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Culture of Medellin. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

City tours, excursions and tickets in Medellin and surroundings

Photogallery of cultural heritage of Medellin

Landmarks of culture on Medellin map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Medellin