Medellín attractions

Medellin, birthplace of sculptor Fernando, Botero, loves modern art. The remodeled Medellín Modern Art Museum (MAMM) debuted in 2009 in a converted steel mill with a theater to show independent films and lots of space to show off its growing collection, including works by local painter Débora Arango.

Those who know tango may be familiar with Carlos Gardel, the celebrated tango musician who helped make Medellín the capital of tango in Colombia. Although Gardel died in an airplane accident in 1935, his legacy (and tango itself) is celebrated in this compact museum through exhibits and special events.

Officially called the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Medellín Metropolitan Cathedral is one of the largest brick buildings in the world and the largest cathedral in South America. Designed by French architect Emile Charles Carré and completed in 1931, the tawny towers took 56 years to construct.

Wrapping around an artificial lake in northern Medellín, Parque Norte is an expansive theme park filled with rides and games for kids and adults alike. Attractions include mini bumper cars for little kids, a "prehistoric jungle" filled with massive replica dinosaurs, and a thrilling Kamikaze ride that slings visitors upside down and back again.

Eje Cafetero (aka the Coffee Axis or Coffee Triangle) produces some of the finest coffee in the world. Comprising the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda, the region is also known for its unique hacienda-style architecture and friendly locals. Verdant, steep-sloped valleys make Eje Cafetero visually stunning as well.

Stretching across the Cauca River in Antioquia, this 984-foot (300-meter) suspension bridge—built in 1895—was once the longest suspension bridge in South America and the third-longest such structure in the world. While it's no longer breaking any records, it continues to provide an essential link between Olaya and Santa Fe de Antioquia.

The expansive San Antonio Plaza, which overlooks the mountains of Medellín, was inaugurated in 1994 as a cultural center. The plaza was struck by tragedy the following year when a bomb detonated during a concert and killed innocent people. Today, the square functions as an important memorial to Medellín’s turbulent past.

There are few places outside Buenos Aires that capture the spirit of tango as well as Patio del Tango (Tango Patio) in Medellin, a restaurant and performance venue that thrums with the passionate energy of the Argentine dance. Medellin’s connection to tango is due largely to Carlos Gardel, arguably the most famous tango singer in history, who tragically died when a plane crashed in the city in 1935 and whose legacy is treasured here.