14 Best Sights in Medellín, Colombia

The botanical gardens span about 33 acres and have more than 600 plant species, including heliconias, zamias, and azaleas. With plenty of spaces to explore, most notably the orchidarium, whose striking wooden hexagonal structure rises above the trees forming the park's centerpiece, a visit here makes for a nice half-day break from city life. Stop by the excellent In Situ restaurant, which has views of the garden and offers picnic lunches that you can take into the garden.

The Antioquia Museum contains a collection of 188 paintings and sculptures by native son Fernando Botero. Known for depicting people and objects with a distinctive "thickness," Botero donated part of his personal collection to the museum (the bulk of his gift went to Bogotá). The plaza out front completes the Botero circle, with 23 sculptures dotted between trees, benches filled with chatting locals, and two fountains designed by the artist as well. The museum also offers a grand overview of Colombian art, with salons dedicated to pre-Hispanic, colonial, Republican, and contemporary art. There are free tours in Spanish daily, which take in both the museum and the works in the plaza. English-speaking guides are available, but tours have to be organized at least two days in advance.

The Metropolitan Cathedral's ornate coffee-color facade soars above the Parque de Bolívar. Designed by the French architect Charles Carré and built in 1875, it's South America's largest cathedral, and the third-largest brick building in the world.

Do not confuse the church with "La Catedral," the name given to notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's elaborate mansion outside Medellín. Escobar was held under house arrest there for a year prior to his escape and subsequent murder in 1993.

Distinguishing the interior of the 1803 baroque Veracruz Hermitage are its white walls and columns with gilded capitals. Just off a picturesque plaza, it's a quiet escape from Medellín's noisy streets.

The 1930s Gothic-inspired Castle Museum, with beautiful French-style gardens of sweeping lawns and exuberant flower beds, was once the home of a powerful Medellín family. On display are their furniture and international art collection. A fully catered picnic on the lawns can be arranged if you call ahead. A basket for two with wine will cost around 80,000 pesos.

One of Medellín's most iconic architectural works, the Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe was designed by Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts in the early 1920s, but took over 80 years to make its grand appearance. It's striking Gothic facade and soaring dome, once home to the provincial government, is now the office of the Director of Culture of Antioquía and houses a library and a range of gallery spaces with rotating exhibits. For those who speak at least some Spanish, look out for the cycle of Cine en la Cúpula, where the interior of the dome becomes a temporary cinema. Entrance to the Palacio is free, but guided tours are only available through the website for groups of more than 10 people.

This small concrete plaza, the city's nucleus since its construction in 1680, is overwhelmed by the city's elevated train, at this writing, the only one of its kind in Colombia. Nearby is the colonial church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. To the south, the Banco de la República building stands next to a huge female torso sculpted by native son Fernando Botero. On the bank's other side, a bronze fountain and marble monument honor Atanasio Girardot, an 18th-century champion of Colombian independence.

Despite its location in the middle of crowded Medellín, this shady park has a generous amount of open space. In the evening it's popular with young people who congregate on the steps of the nearby cathedral. The small Lido theater, on the eastern side of the square, has borne witness to the growth of Medellín's theater and cinema since its construction in 1945.

This small sculpture park near the peak of Cerro Nutibara is a maze of paths dotted with modern and traditional sculptures by Latin American artists.

As you enter this reproduction of an old-time Antioquian village, you'll see a traditional town square with a small church, town hall, barbershop, school, and village store. For your present-day needs, it also has a small, serviceable restaurant and several souvenir shops. The views over the city alone are worth the visit.

Eighty kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Medellín is the province's former capital, Santa Fe de Antioquia. Founded in 1541, the town is now a colonial showpiece, with cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. It's well known for its orfebrería (gold work). Visit the workshops on Carrera 10 between the cathedral and the river.