About Santa Fe de Antioquia
Santa Fe de Antioquia is beautiful colonial town 58 km north of Medellín, making it a good place to visit on a side trip.
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.
Must do’s
1. Savor the colonial atmosphere
Stroll around the adorable streets, admire the Iglesia de Santa Bárbara and visit the free museum Juan del Corral. This museum about the history of the region, is located in a beautiful colonial building and worth a visit. Old crafts are also still practiced, so you can see silversmiths at work in their small studios and buy a beautiful piece of silver jewelry.
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 stay in Santa Fe de Antioquia a bit longer, you won’t have to get bored. 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
From Medellín, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive to Santa Fe de Antioquia (terminal del Norte). You can also take a tour including transportation book a tour operator. From the Andes you travel to the lower town of Santa Fe de Antioquia, while passing coffee and banana plantations.
Climate and best time to go
Climate
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 stay overnight?
€ 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.
