All about Santa Fe de Antioquia Colombia
About Santa Fe de Antioquia
Santa Fe de Antioquia is the oldest settlement in the region (1541) and used to be the capital of Antioquia. The city with about 25,000 inhabitants has been declared a national monument because of its beautiful architecture. You will find atmospheric narrow streets, white houses and the Plaza Mayor Simón Bolívar.
Santa Fe de Antioquia is 58 km north of Medellín, making it a good place to visit on a side trip.
Must do’s
Stroll around the adorable streets, admire the Iglesia de Santa Bárbara and visit the free museum Juan del Corral. Dit museum over de geschiedenis van de regio, ligt in een mooi koloniaal pand, alleen daarom al een bezoek waard. Ook worden er nog oude ambachten beoefend, zo kun je zilversmeden aan het werk zien in hun kleine ateliertjes en een mooi zilveren sieraad kopen.
2. Walk across the Puente de Occidente
This 291-meter-long hanging bridge over the Cauca River, is located 5km outside the city. You get there with a ride by mono cab (tuk-tuk). From the bridge, you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area. The bridge was built in 1895 and named a national monument. Fun detail: designer of the bridge, José Maria Villa, was also involved in the design of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
3. Explore the area on horseback
Even if you have Santa Fe de Antioquia for a little longer visits, you won’t have to bore yourself. Among other things, you can go horseback riding, rafting and paragliding in the area.
Photo: Paseos a Caballo Santa Fe de Antioquia-Carlos Lopez
Plan your trip
How to get there.
Climate and best time to go
Santa Fe de Antioquia is located at an altitude of 550 meters. The climate is tropical and it is very warm compared to cool, high altitude Medellín. You can visit Santa Fe de Antioquia year-round.
Events
*Fiesta de los Diablitos
This festival with lots of music, dancing and parades is the oldest and most popular celebration in Antioquia, having originated in 1653. The festival commemorates the day of rest given to slaves at the time; one (!) day on December 28 each year. To celebrate their freedom on this day of rest, the slaves dressed up as their “masters” and drank and partied late into the night. The festival is held during the last week of the year.
*Easter celebration
The Easter celebration during Semana Santa (Easter week) is one of the biggest happenings in Santa Fe de Antioquia. The celebration attracts many spectators. Semana Santa is a popular travel period for Colombians, so if you want to experience the Easter celebration, book your hotel early. (Photo: RCN radio)
Where to spend the night?
€ price range up to €25
€€ price range €25 – €75
€€€ price range above €75
# Tip 1
Take a look inside the colonial hotel Mariscal Robledo
The hotel on Parque de la Chinca oozes history and is the 4e oldest hotel in Colombia. The cozy hotel is decorated with many antiques and has its own library. Nice to see, even if you’re not going to spend the night there.
# Tip 2
Taste the local specialty, the Pulpa de tamarindo
The pulp of the tamarind fruit has a sour taste and is sweetened with sugar. This is then made into sweets, the Dulce de tamarindo which you can buy at the stalls on the Plaza Mayor, among other places.