Medellin is situated in a high valley between the central and western Andes Mountains. It is Colombia’s second largest city and was named after the village birthplace of Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who began the colonisation of South America.
Once known as the home of the nororious drug lord, Pablo Escobar, it is has won international recognition for its urban regeneration - most notably Communa 13 - where motor cycle paths, cable cars and escalators have been introduced that have transformed the lives of those living here. This area is now a major tourist site, with break dancing on display and some of the best graffiti in the country.
The sculpture park and miniature version of a traditional Colombian township on Nutibara Hill are also fascinating and offer panoramic views over the city.
The city is also rich in art. In front of the Antioquia Museum you can see no less than 23 large bronze statues donated to his home city by Fernando Botero, the country's most famous contemporary artist. The art-deco Palace of Fine Arts is Colombia’s second oldest museum and houses a superb collection of pre-Columbian, colonial and modern art.
Outside the city, a visit to climb the 740 steps up the massive El Penol Rock is not to be missed. Afterwards you can walk the streets of nearby Guatape, one of the most photogenic colonial cities in the country.
Colombia is the second largest producer of flowers after the Netherlands, with Medellin hosting an enormous Flower Festival once a year. You can take a day trip to visit one of these flower farms. You can also take a tango tour and have fun being guided through the best musical venues and the monuments to the great exponents of the dance and of course fantastic live shows. A histro-musical experience not to be missed.
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