Medellin is a bustling, modern city where the people love to dance and party, but also work hard. Paisas are famous across Colombia for their entrepreneurship and innovative ideas.
Where there were once off-limits, violence-ridden neighborhoods, you'll now find the metrocable, a cable car transportation system that connects the city's less fortunate with the job opportunities in the valley. Where once stood dilapidated buildings you will find Botero's Park, where Fernando Botero (a Paisa, himself) has donated dozens of his famously plump, somewhat comical statues. You'll also find modern architecture, such as the Spain Library, a large, geometrically-shaped building at the top of the one of the metrocable lines, and another public library in the shape of an inverted trapezoid downtown in the Parque de Las Luces. Medellin has seen such rapid change and development in the last ten years, that it is considered an international role-model for bringing change to struggling cities.
Along with its modern architecture, Medellin is also the fashion capital of Colombia, and as such is probably the shopping capital, too. From El Hueco, where the downtown markets sprawl for several city blocks, to El Tesoro, where Medellin's well-to-do's peruse designer wear from both Colombian and international designers, there is no shortage on malls here - and most of them are modern and stylish like the rest of the city.
Medellin is also famous for its nightlife. From nightclubs that pump electronic music, to small bars with traditional wood furniture that play old
vallenatos and typical Colombian music, there is a nightlife scene for all types. Of course, if you want to learn to dance the Colombian way, you should head to a salsa bar and take some lessons from the locals.
When you've had enough of the fashion and the city lights, the mountain setting and spring-like climate also lend Medellin quite well to outdoor adventures. You can go mountain biking or paragliding to get a view of the city from above, and you can go horseback riding on mountain trails.
At Christmas time, you can stroll down the street along the river and admire the enormously impressive lights display with 3-D designs and animated light fixtures. At this time, the streets fill with people, always in a cheery, Christmas spirit, and the light displays are lined with local artists, musicians, and of course, plenty of stands selling traditional local foods.
Feria de las Flores
More than any of the topics above, Medellin is famous for the annual
Feria de las Flores, which takes place around the first week of August. During the 10 days of the "Flower's Fair," the parties leave the bars and clubs and head for the streets. Highlights of the
Feria include a parade of flower-growers from the mountains, who proudly march through the streets with tremendous, bright arrangements of exotic flowers on their backs, and the parade of over 10,000 horses (called the
cabalgata).
During the
cabalgata, the locals mount their most prized horses and trot or walk through the city. Those who
aren't on a horse line the streets with large tents where they drink
Pilsen, the local beer, and
Aguardiente Antioqueño, the local brand of the famous Colombian liquor, as they watch and make critiques of the horses as they pass by. The most pure, beautiful horses are admired by the locals and are an important status symbol for the riders. However, if you really want to see the cream of the crop, you should go to the show of
Paso Fino horses, where you can admire this incredibly elegant, strong but classy breed of horses who are native only to Colombian and Puerto Rico.
Paso Finos are known for their erect posture, and their smooth, four beat, lateral ambling gait, that make them truly beautiful to watch.
As if this weren't enough, there is also a world-renowned flower display at the city's Botanical Gardens all week, where you can see hundreds of species of astonishing orchids, Colombia's proud national flower, and brilliant heliconias. To top it off, there is also a parade of antique cars that have their own prestigious place in Medellin, and several other celebratory events and parties throughout the week where flower arrangements are always displayed.
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