Downtown Medellín: Plaza Botero, Museums and Markets

The city center is busy, noisy and full of history. Here’s how to see the best of it in half a day.

El Centro is the historic and commercial heart of Medellín. It is crowded and chaotic, but it holds the city’s most important cultural sights within a few blocks of each other.

Plaza Botero

Fernando Botero, Medellín’s most famous artist, donated 23 of his bronze sculptures to the city. They fill the plaza in front of the Museo de Antioquia, whose collection includes many more of his paintings and works by other Colombian artists. Next door stands the striking black-and-white Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe.

Nearby stops

• Parque Berrío and the colonial church of La Candelaria.
• Parque de las Luces, a plaza filled with tall light poles that glow at night.
• Pueblito Paisa on Cerro Nutibara, a replica of a traditional Antioquian village with views over the city.
• Plaza Minorista, the main covered market for tropical fruit and local food.

Practical notes

• Use Parque Berrío or San Antonio metro stations; both are a short walk to the plaza.
• Visit during the day and keep valuables tucked away.
• A free walking tour is an easy way to get your bearings.

Quick facts

• Botero sculptures: 23 in the plaza
• Museum: Museo de Antioquia
• Metro: Parque Berrío