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	MEDELLIN Colombia Compliments of

BRIEF HISTORY
Discovered by Spanish explorer Jeronimo Luis Tejelo in 1541 but the settlement of Medellín was founded later, in March 2, 1616 by Spanish conqueror Francisco Herrera y Campuzano under the name of San Lorenzo de Aburra. In 1675 the name was changed to Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín. Not until 1813 did the villa get a denomination of city. Thirteen years later it was proclaimed capital of the Department of Antioquia, after government officials decided to move out from Santa Fe de Antioquia.

Like the other Colombian large urban centers, Medellín remained quite small until recent times, namely the postwar period up until the 1970s, when it developed into the nation's industrial powerhouse and attracted many rural people seeking work or safety from political and social turmoil.

TODAY’S CITY
Medellín is a beautiful city, modern and yet true to its regional characteristics. It is a curious mix of entrepreneurial business drive and creative expression, whether it is in the arts or fashion. Indeed Medellín is where passion meets fashion, and its home to one of the world’s most vibrant textile shows. It is a place for conventions and meetings, home of prosperous business and industries, and the warmest people.

Medellín is also home of many universities that serve mainly the province of Antioquia. The actual economy of Medellín is the second largest of Colombia after Bogotá and is lead by a powerful group of people from the private sector known as the Sindicato Antioqueño (Antiocheans Union) and formally known as the Grupo Empresarial Antioqueño (Antiochean Industrious Group).

It is the capital of Antioquia and has over two million inhabitants. Besides being called the "industrial capital of Colombia", Medellín is also called "Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera" (The City of Everlasting Spring), "Capital de la Montaña" (Mountain's Capital), "Ciudad de las Flores" (City Of The Flowers), "Capital de las Orquídeas" (Orchids' Capital), "La Bella Villa" (Beautiful Village).

GEOGRAPHY
The city sits safely in a bowl, surrounded by verdant mountains, its skyline competes with the mountain tops for attention; it has an area of 382 km², 16 comunas (districts), 5 corregimientos and 271 barrios. The metropolitan area of Medellín lies within the Aburrá valley, located at a height of 1538 mts (5046 ft) above the sea level. The Medellín River crosses the valley from north to south, besides Medellín de valley hosts other nine towns: Barbosa, Girardota, Copacabana, Bello, Envigado, Itagui, Sabaneta, La Estrella and Caldas.

CLIMATE
With an average temperature of 24 °C (75 °F ) Medel lín is usually called “the city of the eternal spring”, mainly from march to may and from September to November.

A GLIMPSE OF WHAT TO DO AND PLACES OF INTEREST

• Medellin’s tourist attractions are represented by its historical and contemporary buildings, churches, museums, theatres and open sky spaces.
• Basilica de la Candelaria is one of the few colonial buildings left.
• The Basilica Metropolitana in the Parque de Bolivar was completed early in the 20th century and is thought to be the largest brick church in South America.
• Pueblito Paisa is a replica of a typical Antioquiana village, complete with handicraft shops.
• Plaza Botero displays a number of works by Fernando Botero, the internationally known Medellín sculptor who specializes in oversized human figures. More of his works are in the Museo de Antioquia.
• Plaza de Toros la Macarena
• The JardÍn Botánico JoaquÍn Antonio Uribe has an annual orchid exposition in the Orquideorama.

Other places of interest are:

• Berrio Park
• Antioquia Museum
• San Antonio Park
• Bolivar Park
• Universidad de Antioquia Assembly Hall
• “Pablo Tobon Uribe” Theater
• Saint Ignatius Square
• Coltejer Building
• Museum of Antioquia
• Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Plazoleta Nutibara
• Palacio Nacional
• Plazoleta de la Veracruz
• Antioquia Railway Station
• EPM Library
• EPM interactive Museum
• International Convention Center
• Museum of Modern Art
• Joaquin Antonio Uribe Botanic Gardens
• Cisneros Square
• Parque de los pies descalzos (Park of Bare Feet)

• Banco de la Republica Philatelic Museum

Special Events

One of Medellín’s best kept secrets is its incredible Christmas festival of lights. More than 20 million lights cover a two mile stretch of the river that runs through  downtown.

La Feria de las Flores (The Festival of Flowers) is the most important festival of Antioquia and it takes place in Medellín in early August. The event has been celebrated every year since 1957. This festival has several activities such as antique cars parade, Desfíle de Silleteros (flower carriers parade) – men who parade carrying huge shield like constructions decorated with beautiful flowers depicting scenes, flags etc., horse rides down the streets, exhibition of fondas from much of the towns in Antioquia, and there are other related activities that congregate thousands of locals and tourists.

Other festivals are the International Poetry Festival (June) (which received the 2006 Right Livelihood Award ), and the Parade of Myths and Legends (December).

The city provides a great escenario for shopping, with its textile industries and various malls like El Tesoro (the newest and largest commerial center, sporting walkways with fantastic views overlooking the city), Camino Real (downtown location, very nice), Unicentro, San Diego (the oldest comercial center), Oviedo (next to Hotel Four Points Sheraton), Viscaya and Monterey; people can buy everything at great prices including art, handcrafts, leather and shoes, apparel and textiles, gold, etc.

Medellín is also known for its health Tourism offering top quality clinics and hospitals for treatments such as plastic surgery, refractive