Downtown Medellín Walking Tour
Medellín’s brash downtown makes for a compact history tour comprising stoic remnants from the colonial era, brick-and-mortar evidence of Medellín’s reign as Colombia’s most important industrial center in the early 20th century, and the vibrant public spaces, modern transportation systems, and futuristic architecture showing this proud city’s 21st-century optimism.
Begin your walking tour at the Parque Berrío Metro station and walk five minutes north to the Plaza Botero.
Plaza Botero
Most visits downtown begin under the shadows of the Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe (Cra. 51 No. 52-03, 8am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 8am-2pm Sat., free), which occasionally hosts art exhibits. The Plaza Botero (in front of the Museo de Antioquia, Cra. 52 No. 52-43) gets its name for its 23 corpulent bronze sculptures by Fernando Botero. Passersby often pose for snapshots in front of the sculptures, such as La Mano (The Hand) and Eva (Eve). One of the most prolific, and by far the best known, of contemporary Colombian artists, Botero donated these works to his hometown of Medellín. His paintings and sculptures of rotund people often portray campesino (rural) life, but many of them are also commentaries on the violence in Colombia.
Peatonal Carabobo
To the south, the Peatonal Carabobo is a pedestrian walkway that extends for eight blocks. Lined with shoe shops, five-and-dime stores, and snack bars, it’s busy, loud, and colorful. (Although there is usually a police presence, be sure to watch your stuff.)
On the right-hand side is Medellín’s oldest church, the brilliantly white Iglesia de la Vera Cruz (Cl. 51 No. 52-38, tel. 4/512-5095), which dates to 1682. It is often filled with working-class faithful, sitting or standing in meditation and prayer. It’s a refuge of quiet in this busy commercial area.
The Belgian architect who designed the grandiose Palacio Nacional (Cra. 52 No. 48-45, tel. 4/513-4422) in the 1920s probably never expected that it would become the domain of around 400 vendors of discount tennis shoes and jeans. Built to house governmental offices, today the corridors of this historic building are filled the chorus of “a la orden” (“at your service”) from hopeful shop attendants. Towards the end of Peatonal Carabobo is Donde Ramón, a small kiosk in the middle of the walkway that is jam-packed with antique objects like brass horse stirrups or old carrieles (leather handbags) from Jericó.
Parque de las Luces
After years of abandonment and urban decay, in 2005 the artificial forest of the Parque de las Luces or Plaza Cisneros (Cl. 44 at Cra. 52) was opened in an effort to rejuvenate the area. The park, consisting of 300 illuminated posts, looks somewhat odd during the day but is spectacular at night when it shines. Check it out by car at night; it is not safe to roam about after dark.
On the east side of the plaza are two historic early-20th-century brick buildings: the Edificio Carré and Edificio Vásquez (Cl. 44B No. 52-17, tel. 4/514-8200). When they were built they were the tallest buildings in Medellín. These buildings were important warehouse facilities during the industrial boom of the early 20th century. The plaza used to be the home of the main marketplace.
On the western side of the plaza is the Biblioteca EPM (Cra. 54 No. 44-48, tel. 4/380-7516, 8:30am-5:30pm Mon.-Sat.), a stunning public library sponsored by the electric company EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín), built in 2005. In addition to reading rooms, there are occasional exhibitions and cultural events held at the library.
Across from the Parque de las Luces on the southern side of Calle 44 is the Estación Ferrocarril (Cra. 52 No. 43-31, tel. 4/381-0733), the old main train station. There’s not much to see here, except for a train engine and forgotten old tracks.
Plaza Mayor
To the west of the Estación Ferrocarril is the Centro Administrativo La Alpujarra (Cl. 44 No. 52-165), which houses the Departamento de Antioquia government offices. The sculpture Homenaje a la Raza, by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, stands in the middle of the large intermediary plaza. Just beyond is the Plaza de la Libertad (Cra. 55 between Clls. 42-44), a complex of modern office space and interesting public space complete with urban gardens.
Cross the pedestrian bridge over the lanes of the Metroplús bus station. (Opened in 2013, Metroplús is the latest addition to Medellín’s transportation network.) Here is the Plaza Mayor (Cl. 41 No. 55-80), the city’s preeminent convention and event venue; it has a fair share of nice restaurants. The Teatro Metropolitano (Cl. 41 No. 57-30, tel. 4/232-2858), a 20th-century brick building, hosts concerts.
Finally, the Plaza de los Pies Descalzos (Cra. 58 No. 42-125) is a plaza filled with a guadua (Colombian bamboo) forest and fountains, where you can take off your shoes and play. It’s surrounded by eateries on one side and the massive Museo del Agua (Cra. 57 No. 42-139, tel. 4/380-6954, 8am-6pm Tues.-Fri., 10am-7pm Sat.-Sun., COP$4,000) on the other. In the distance is a long-standing Medellín architectural icon: the Edificio Inteligente (Cra. 58 No. 42-125, tel. 4/380-4411). Built in the late 1950s, it has served as the headquarters of EPM, the utility company.
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