Medellin
the capital of the Antioquia department is located in northwestern Colombia and
lies cradled in the Aburra Valley, bisected by the Medellin River which runs
North and South. With its year round warm temperatures it is also known as the
“City of Eternal Spring”. It´s population is about 3 Million, which makes it
the second largest city of the country. In addition, the city stands out as one
of the major cultural centers in Colombia as it hosts national and
international recognised events such as the Flower Fair, the International
Poetry Festival, and many more. But
Medellin was not always like these days! The history of Medellin in the last
two decades is a history of outstanding positiv changes:
El Patron Pablo Escobar is probably the most famous person of
Medellín. In the 70s and 80s, Escobar established his drug-empire in the
capital of the department of Antioquia. During that period Medellín was known
as the most important place of cocaine trade worldwide. But Medellín took a
step further and has changed entirely. Today the city is a successful and
upcoming place in Colombia. Icon of the urban renaissance is the construction
of the biggest open air-escalator in the world. Since December 2011 the
escalator carries citizens and people from all over the world through the
district of Comuna 13. This open air-escalator is something really
special.
Besides in
medellin there is the Metrocable a gondola lift system implemented by the City
Council of Medellín with the purpose of providing a complementary
transportation service to that of Medellíns Metro. It was designed to reach
some of the least developed suburban areas of Medellín and it is largely
considered to be the first Cable propelled transit system at South America.
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| Metrocable of Medellín |
Another
attraction of Medellín is the Flower Festival. Since 1957 people around the
world has been visiting the city just to become a part of that traditional
event. During the 10 days of celebration the streets, parks, gardens and
balconies of Medellín are becoming a colorful place of flowers. Indeed, the
highlight of the festival is the procession of the Silleteros. Here men, women
and children are carrying individually designed flowers on their shoulders as a
expression of their life and personal story. Therefore, this custom was
declared as a cultural heritage in Colombia.
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| Flower Festival of Medellín |
In the centre of Medellín you will find the
Sculpture Park which contains more than 20 sculptures donated by Maestro
Fernando Botero a son of Antioquia and Colombia’s best-known artist.
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| Sculpture Park of Medellín |
Over the
whole year Medellín offers a wide range of amazing attractions. In the center
of Medellín you find the wonderful romanesque cathedral. The architecture and
the organ concerts are quite impressive. In addition, there are a numerous of
museums and theaters, modern shopping centers and plenty of events during the
whole year.
Go ahead
and discover the city of spring. Medellín is waiting for you.
