A Bit About Medellín’s Corregimientos

TLDR? Medellin is not only the capital of fashion, it also owns the largest corregimiento in Colombia.

Medellin is a bigger city than you think. Like many Colombian cities, Medellin’s urban areas are divided into comunas, which are then divided into neighborhoods. Outside the comunas are the corregimientos, the rural areas of the Paisa city. 

Read ahead to learn about Medellin’s corregimentos! 

Difference Between Vereda and Corregimiento in Colombia

To understand the townships of Medellin, you first need to understand the difference between corregimientos and veredas. 

These words may be unfamiliar to you regardless of whether or not you’re a Spanish speaker, and the way Colombia is divided up may seem a bit strange. Don’t worry – I’m here to explain it to you. 

The veredas are the subdivisions of the corregimientos, normally home to a small number of inhabitants. 

The corregimientos are too small and lacking in resources like hospitals to be considered a municipality like Itagüí and Envigado.

What Are the Corregimientos That Are Surrounding Medellín?

Medellín is currently divided into 16 comunas, which in turn are divided into neighborhoods.

The comunas make up the urban area of Medellín, where most of the city’s commercial and tourist activity takes place. However, unlike other cities, Medellín’s rural area is visited by tourists as well. 

The City of Eternal Spring is home to a total of five corregimientos divided into veredas. Allow me to walk you through them! 

1. San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal is so close to Medellín, some places in this area are a mix between corregimiento and city. 

Recognized for their flower crops, San Cristóbal’s large variety of flower species are exported to different countries across the world. 

The corregimiento was once home to the Living Museum of Flowers, where a collection of local flowers and plants were once exhibited. Unfortunately, the museum closed down a few months ago and is currently a nursery. 

Another great tourist stop in San Cristóbal is the Cerro El Picacho viewpoint. This eco-park is located between San Cristóbal and the comuna 12 de Octubre, an area that mixed between corregimiento and comuna. 

El Parque Biblioteca Fernando Botero is a small space for art in San Cristóbal, a sculpture garden displaying the works of Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero at the door of the library. 

2. Santa Elena

Santa Elena is one of the best-maintained and most beautiful green areas in the city of Medellin, a small forest where visitors can enjoy different species of flora and fauna while doing some hiking. 

Nicknamed the “Balcony of Medellín,” locals consider it a little slice of paradise. 

This corregimiento is also known for hosting Silletas, the world’s most extravagant flower festival. Their designs have filled the parades of one of the most important events in Medellín for years. 

Santa Elena is more than just flowers.  The Parque Aví, one of the area’s largest tourist centers, is located here, accessible by a metrocable from Medellín. 

It is the corregimiento known for its Silletas. Its inhabitants are mostly responsible for giving life to the flower festival. His designs are the ones that through the years fill the parades of one of the most important events in Medellín.

Santa Elena is more than flowers. The Parque Aví is located here, a sprawling park and one of the area’s biggest tourist destinations, accessible by metrocable from Medellín.

3. San Antonio del Prado

The San Antonia del Prado corregimiento is known for being the largest in Colombia.

Surrounded by a beautiful park, the architecture of the town’s main church is meant to resemble a castle, and is a top tourist destination. 

You can enjoy beautiful views and delicious traditional Antioquian food in the surrounding area. 

Within the corregimiento, guests can visit different hills and natural viewpoints to immerse themselves in the natural world. 

4. San Sebastián de Palmitas

San Sebastián de Palmitas boasts the most peasant-grown crops, where you can find oranges, chontaduro, and even avocados. 

One of the quietest places in Medellín, its chillier climate and beautiful landscapes make it a welcoming place for tourists and inhabitants alike. 

To see the corregimiento from a different angle, you can take the teleférico to San Sebastián over the countryside and check out some views of the mountainous terrain. 

5. Altavista

Made up of eight veredas, Altavista truly lives up to its name. 

Located just ten minutes from Medellín, Altavista boasts easy access to both urban and rural areas and is one of the best places to play sports, enjoy nature, or snap a few photos for your social media profiles. 

Climb the Cerro de las Tres Cruces for a great view, or hike through ancestral paths once walked by indigenous people. I recommend trying the Camino de Guaca path. 

Just a Little Bit About the Corregimientos of Medellin

Hopefully, you’ve learned a bit more about Medellín after reading this article! 

The corregimientos are truly places worth visiting on your trip to Medellín. Get out there and explore them! 

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