WHY MEDELLIN?
MEDELLÍN, A LEADING CITY IN ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
We have one of the most ambitious innovation strategies in Colombia to foster economic development in Medellín. Such strategy facilitates clean and sustainable economic development through innovation and cultural and creative industry. The city invests a significant percentage of its annual GDP in science, technology and innovation.
In 2019, the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution was inaugurated in the city of Medellín, entering the network of allies of the World Economic Forum, and consequently joining cities such as San Francisco, Beijing, Mumbai and Tokyo, thus becoming the first city in Latin America and an epicenter for innovation in the region.
CITY OF FLOWERS AND SILLETEROS
Since the beginning of the 20th century, flowers have been the main product traded by farmers, best known as Silleteros, coming from Santa Elena and other areas east of Medellín. In 2015, this 150-year-old tradition was declared intangible heritage of the Nation as it connects agricultural, commercial and artistic knowledge that portrays the identity of the region. The variety of flowers, their aromas and colors can be appreciated in the gardens that adorn the department at any time of the year, leaving a particular stamp to the territory and turning Medellín into the city of Eternal Spring (better known in Spanish as La ciudad de la Eterna Primavera)
This symbol of Antioquian culture is internationally recognized thanks to the Desfile de Silleteros, a parade and an artistic and cultural event that takes place in August during the Medellín Flower Festival (La Feria de las Flores).
CITY OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
During the last decades, the Aburrá Valley has focused on transforming itself into a green city, starting with its integrated transportation system for sustainable mobility.
Among the means of transportation introduced by the Department of Mobility of Medellín there is our world-renowned Metro system composed of the Metro (subway), Metrocable, Metroplús, Tranvía (tramway), and the Encicla public bicycle system.
This initiative also includes a commitment to transformation and improvement of conventional buses and cabs by changing their operation to an efficient electric system. All these services will help you move easily around the metropolitan area while helping the environment.
INCLUSIVE CITY WITH WIDE GASTRONOMIC OFFER AND ACTIVE NIGHTLIFE
Strolling through Medellín means indulging in unique flavors thanks to its wide gastronomic offer, ranging from the exploration of our local products in tours of the city’s Plaza Minorista, to the experience of molecular cuisine at El Cielo restaurant.
Medellín offers locals and visitors varied, accessible and international options to taste food not only in the city’s gastronomic corridors such as Provenza and Manila in El Poblado, La Calle de la Buena Mesa in Envigado or the Mercado del Río and Mercado del Tranvía markets; but also in the hundreds of restaurants, street stalls and food trucks scattered throughout the city.
Nightlife is very similar. There are five main entertainment centers: El Parque Lleras and Las Palmas, located in El Poblado; La 70, in the Estadio – Laureles area; La 33, in Belén; and Barrio Colombia, in Los Industriales area. This conglomerate made up of themed bars that put on different musical rhythms, pubs, discos and Fondas – discotheques of typical Paisa music, please both those who want intense party nights and those who just want to enjoy a drink and chat.
HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
In Medellín, Higher Education Institutions interact within a dynamic of cooperation and networking. Their main objective is to coordinate efforts to enhance the capabilities of the academic community. That is why they do their best to be at the service of society, providing high quality training.
HEI’s proposal is not only intellectual, but also human and ethical. It seeks to work together with the State and the productive sector to create opportunities for all students, from research, and thus promote entrepreneurship and innovation which are two approaches that characterize the city.
In addition to that, the human talent, modern infrastructure, cultural activities and sports scenarios, among others, make Medellín an excellent destination for pursuing higher education programs.
“MEDELLÍN - CITY OF BIODIVERSITY AND ETERNAL SPRING”
Medellín, capital of the department of Antioquia, is located in the Aburrá Valley, on the central mountain range of the Andes, at an altitude of 1,538 meters above sea level. Due to its geographical location, it has a privileged climate with an average temperature that ranges between 16°C and 26°C, which is why it is known as the “City of Eternal Spring” – La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera. Throughout the year there are usually two rainy seasons: the first one, from April to May, and the second one, from September to October. The rest of the year the weather is drier, and its climate is mild, pleasant and cozy; perfect for you to enjoy a comfortable stay.
Such climate allows living a diversity of outdoor experiences and a spring season that is daily enjoyed thanks to the preservation of the nature which, even though within a city, Antioquians from the mountains take care of. Its great biodiversity encourages you to enjoy and meet multiple animal species such as beetles, butterflies, birds and hummingbirds, as well as flowers, insects and tropical plants. In Medellín you can visit at least 30 green corridors, ecological parks and renaturation projects, among them: Los Parques del Río, the Parque Arví, the Jardín Botánico, the Parque de los Salados, and the “guardian” hills, among others.
Finally, the Government, companies and universities are committed to sustainability, therefore it is possible to frequently hold events related to the subject and addressed to residents and visitors. The experience in Antioquia will always be full of adventure and dynamism to get away from the hustle and bustle and be one with other species.
THE KINDNESS OF ITS PEOPLE: A RECOGNIZED AND REMEMBERED FEATURE
The kindness of its people is recognized and remembered by all those who travel to this destination and to nearby places.
Socializing in Medellín is a serious matter taken in a laughing manner. A warm word, some friendly information or an encounter with spontaneity are always welcome in Medellín. Although there are maps around the city or delimited routes for travelers and local residents, the people of Medellín will always be willing to help others to find their way around, to find a good product or a good place for leisure and entertainment.
MEDELLÍN, CITY OF EVENTS
In recent years, the city has experienced exponential growth in meeting tourism as it has become the venue for renowned national and international events and festivals.
Medellín has hosted important events such as La Feria de las Flores, Colombiamoda, the International Poetry Festival, the International Tango Festival, and the Book Festival in venues such as Plaza Mayor Convenciones and Exposiciones, the Orquideorama of the Jardín Botánico, the museums Museo de Arte Moderno (MAMM) and Museo El Castillo, the Parque Explora, and in the city’s sports venues. Likewise, Medellín has been recognized as a global city thanks to meetings that have taken place here such as the World Congress of Entrepreneurship of the World Economic Forum – Latin America (2016); the World of Business Ideas – WOBI (2017); the Annual Conference of Learning Cities UNESCO (2019) and the OAS General Assembly (2019), not to mention some other sporting events such as the 2010 South American Games and the Tour Colombia 2.1 (2019).
Its infrastructure of services for large-scale events combined with other attractions such as its geostrategic location and its natural wealth turn it into a phenomenon of social and urban transformation. The city’s complementary entertainment offer makes Medellín the perfect place to hold fairs, congresses, conventions, sporting events, and concerts, among others, which have an important impact on issues such as politics, economy, science, technology and innovation.
ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
The cultural legacy of its inhabitants and their fascination for expressing themselves through music, painting, dance, poetry and other artistic expressions make Medellín an epicenter of art and culture, recognized nationally and internationally. Medellín’s artistic proposal is noticeable in its surroundings, from the fusion with nature and the use of color and shapes to represent emotions, to the works of its local urban artists in the musical and artistic fields.
The city comprises important museums, theaters and spaces for art and culture, such as: Museo de Antioquia, with more than 5,000 pieces covering all periods of history and a variety of temporary and traveling exhibitions of national and international artists; Plaza Botero, an open-air space of 7,000 square meters in the heart of Medellín which permanently exhibits 23 magnificent works by master artist Fernando Botero; Palacio de Bellas Artes, a 1910 building that has served as education center for great exponents of the city’s artistic life, such as: Eladio Vélez, Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, Débora Arango, Teresita Gómez and Fernando Botero; among others.
DISCOVER THE MARVELOUS PLACES OF THE ANTIOQUIA REGION
Near the city, in a 2-hour drive, you will find wonderful landscapes and towns with a great variety of options to enjoy with family or friends.
To the east, in the municipality of San Rafael, you can enjoy the beautiful crystalline waters that characterize the town, including El Bizcocho River, La Oscura pool and La Cazuela waterfall; it is an excellent place for ecological hikes. You can also visit the famous municipality of Guatapé where you will find a beautiful and colorful village and the impressive Piedra del Peñol, a 220m monolith overlooking the Guatapé dam after climbing 740 steps. You can also take a boat or planchón if you would like a ride to enjoy the reservoir.
To the west, known for its warm climate, you will find the beauty of the colonial architecture of Santa Fe De Antioquia with a variety of hotels for relaxation and sunbathing.
If you head to the south of the department, you will get to Venecia, a municipality known for its warm climate and the Cerro Tusa, considered the biggest natural pyramid in the world, perfect for those who enjoy trekking. Also, if you are one of those who like outdoor sports, in the municipality of Necoclí, an 8-hour drive from Medellín, you can enjoy beautiful beaches and water sports such as rowing, kitesurfing and diving.
The mountain range finds its long breath in Medellín. Through “guardian” hills, Medellín is surrounded by a geographical past that testifies to a city nestled in a fertile valley and smiling to its inhabitants over time. Its road accessibility allows Medellín to have a route of access to incredible landscapes that await your visit.
To find out more about the tourist and cultural offer of Medellín and Antioquia, click here: “Life in Medellín/ Tourist and cultural offer”
MEDELLÍN: COST, QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL-BEING
The supply and quality of prices in inputs, services and products in Medellín is recognized worldwide. Its variety of local markets and its access to different means of transportation, nationally renowned, allow saving time and effort, positioning it as a walkable city that inhabitants and visitors experience from different points of view, whether on bicycles, roads or vehicles.
Medellín and the Aburrá Valley allow you to enjoy your stay in Colombia in different ways thanks to its cost and quality of life as its inhabitants have more opportunities to live different gastronomic, night, natural and service experiences at a good price. Just to give you an example: Accessing a beauty service such as going to the hairdresser, barbershop or getting a manicure/pedicure, among others, is cheaper in Medellín than in many other places in the world. The same happens when visiting a spa or aesthetic center which are also of excellent quality, not that expensive, and contribute to your well-being.
Likewise, services such as home repair and maintenance are also provided at a good cost. When it comes to grocery shopping you will also see that there are options for all budgets, from farmers’ markets in the plazas, to organic markets in shopping malls or with home delivery service. Also, as this is an entrepreneurial city, you will find many proposals from independent designers for clothing, home decor, miscellaneous, etc., that fit a variety of styles and budgets.
This set of elements, along with the different means of transportation offered by the city – including the “metro experience”, praised for its impeccable service, and the quality and friendliness of its people make life in the Eternal Spring a pleasant experience in every way.
