Unique Things To Do Around Medellín

An Overview of Medellín

Medellín serves as the capital of Colombia’s Antioquia province, known as “The City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate and lush surrounding mountain-forests. The city is a popular destination for digital nomads and remote workers and gains large crowds during its annual Flower Festival. Since the city has evolved into a travel nexus due to its restaurants, bars, scenic mountains and coffee clubs, there are many unique things to do around Medellín.

Unique Things To Do Around Medellín

Parque Arví

Undoubtedly home to some of Colombia’s most impressive nature features, Arvi park is an ecological nature preserve and a major Pre-Hispanic archeological site. The park is home to a famous pre-Hispanic thru-route known as the Camino Cienza de Leon, thought to be over 1,500 years old. Much of the park is defined by ancient, towering forests, lush walls of moss and impressive bubbling streams. The park can be reached Medellín metro system, which includes a series of beautiful overlooks by gondola lifts.

The Gondolas of Medellín

Beginning in Acevedo Metro Station, this gondola lift system, also known as the Metrocable, extends over Medellín‘s vast urban sprawl, extending up steep mountains and into the Santo Domingo Neighborhood. The route allows for impressive overlooks, as well as a method for cheaply accessing Parque Arví.

Parque de las Luces

This public plaza is known for its distinctive art installation created from 300 standing pillars which light up at night, mirroring the phases of the moon.

Comuna 13

Otherwise known as San Javier in Zone 4 of Medellín, Comuna 13 was once one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. But a vast rehabilitation and regentrification process turned the barrio into a dramatically different setting. Now, hoards of tourists visit the area to seek out the exemplary number of murals and artworks found on dozens of surfaces.

Museo Casa de la Memoria (House of Memory Museum)

This solemn, well-designed museum is home to powerful historical lessons recalling the decades of armed conflict within Colombia.

Museum of Antioquia

This is a prominent art museum in Medellín which houses a large number of work by famed local artists Fernando Botero and Pedro Nel Gómez.

Plaza Botero

This large plaza is one of the most prominent in the city, known for hosting celebrations, public artworks, iconic statues by the artist Fernando Botero and bordering the Museum of Antioquia and the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture. The plaza is the heart of Medellín’s “Old Quarter.”

El Castillo Museum and Gardens

This museum has the appearance of a rather beautiful castle. The building is home to exhibitions of different artworks, including porcelain pieces, stained glass artworks, unique antiques, compelling paintings and impressive sculptures.

Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe

Housed inside an handsome, distinctly-patterned building, the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture houses numerous cultural programs, including concerts, conferences, art exhibitions and public lectures. The site also has a historical photograph archive, a café, a large library and a permanent art gallery.

Pueblito Paisa

This kitschy neighborhood is found atop a steep hill in the city. The town is a life-sized replica of a traditional community in Antioquia, designed to give visitors a colorful taste of Antioquian culture, architecture and styles. The replica has bright buildings, a quaint, white church, a small garden complex and a pretty town square with a fountain in the center.

Joaquin Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden of Medellín

This is a nice Botanical Garden located near the Parque Explora Science Museum and the Medellín River. The park space has educational exhibits, a pleasant butterfly house and an interesting geometric awning-plaza.

Day Trip La Ceja

La Ceja is a small town which is a popular tourist destination and day trip from Medellín. The area is beloved for its entertainment venues, which include restaurants, cafés, bars, the Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá religious art venue, the Buey River Waterfall, Pantanillo River, the Gregorio Gutiérrez González House of Culture and numerous street stalls. The area is known as a hallmark gastronomic area for the Paisa Region, with custards, jams, arequipes, chocolate treats and panelitas being especially iconic.

Day Trip Guatapé and El Peñón de Guatapé

Guatapé is a colorful Andean resort town with many buildings decorated with bright bas-reliefs. The town sits alongside the large Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, which operates as a popular water-sports destination. The most distinct feature of the region is Piedra del Peñol, a gargantuan granite rock with dark stone walls rising over the region. Also known as “El Peñón de Guatapé” the stone summit can be reached y climbing hundreds of switchback steps for dominating views of the lake-filled landscape.

El Palacio Egipcio

This is an Egyptian heritage museum located in Medellín. The museum also serves as a cultural center which promotes the sharing of thoughts and ideas between concepts across the world.

La Casa de las Piedritas

This private residence is a beautiful home tied into a visionary love story. The house, which was made from individually carried rocks, stones and pebbles as crated by a man named Santiago hand-crafting an entire stone house for his wife, Gloria.

Read more about unique things to do around Medellín and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Blog.

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