Once run from the shadows by the cartels of the infamous drug-lord Pablo Escobar. Medellin has thrown off the shackles of its violent past and strives for a peaceful future. A symbol of hope, the city has rapidly modernised over the past decades. Its clean and efficient Metro system is the envy of the rest of the continent. Moreover urban regeneration programs have reduced poverty in the less affluent neighbourhoods.
Historic Medellin
Medellin represents everything that is great about Colombia. The lush, rolling mountains of the Northern Andes provide the backdrop to every photo. The most perfect climate imaginable year round with average temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius or 72 degrees Fahrenheit result from its unique location close to the equator, but at the perfect altitude to make the temperature just right. This perfect climate has led to the city being dubbed “la cuidad de primavera eterna” or the city of eternal spring.
Founded in 1616 by the Spanish Conquistadores, the population of the settlement grew sixfold in the first half of the 20th Century. Medellin quickly became the center of the industrial revolution of Colombia. The city’s wealth grew from the export of gold and coffee, products that are still synonymous with the region today. Today the city is home to the textile and fashion industries of Colombia. The imposing Coltejer Building, the tallest building in Medellin and fourth biggest in Colombia, standing proudly over its residents, being the home of one of the biggest textile manufacturers in the country.
The drug wars led by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s threatened to put an end to this progress. Fear and insecurity made Medellin become one of the most dangerous cities in the world. While crime rates have dropped significantly from this dark period of the county’s history, culturally Escobar is a figure who still divides opinion to this day. His legacy is as an anti-establishment icon for those who oppose the unpopular government policies which still contribute to high levels of inequality throughout the country.
The People of Medellin
Paisas (residents of Medellin) are tremendously proud of their cultural heritage. While this may be true they are unanimously focused on moving forward and putting their past problems behind them. There is a profound feeling that being here you are witnessing history in motion as every year the city’s modernization accelerates ahead. This is visible through the construction of the award winning Metro system and also its integrated cable cars. These are equally important in giving the residents of the poorest neighborhoods the opportunity to make an easy commute to the industrial hubs of the city. This in particular has reduced crime rates drastically even in the most troubled areas. The chaos of the Pablo Escobar era seems a distant memory.
Modern Day Medellin
A journey to present day Medellin is to witness a city discovering its identity in the modern world. Think Berlin in the years after the fall of the wall or South Africa following the fall of apartheid. Medellin has undoubtedly seen pain and destruction, but the phoenix that is rising from the flames of the drug wars is breathing new life into the city. In contrast to its chequered past, Medellin is now one the most up and coming travel destinations in the world.
If you want to party, what better place than the city with the most beautiful women in the world? In Parque Lleras the open air bars spill out onto the street until the early hours. Alternatively if you’re looking for restaurants, Medellin has the widest choice of international cuisine in the country and in recent years the bar has been pushed higher and higher.
The sights of Antioquia are not restricted solely to Medellin however. Use the city as your base and a wealth of day trips are at your disposal too. From the historic pueblos seemingly stuck in time such as Jardin or El Retiro to stunning natural wonders like The Rock at Guatape. Where else can you jump on a city center bus and 30 minutes later be suddenly in the middle of an untouched wilderness of mountains as far as the eye can see?
