Medellin is a proud city. The Antioquia region (where Medellin is located) has 300+ years of amazing history, including gold mining, coffee production, and so much more. But people don’t think of that when they think of Medellin. Instead, they remember the past 40 years when the city became plagued with drug cartels and crime, earning its name as the most dangerous city in the world.
Since 2003 through, the city has been undergoing a massive transformation. One of the many great examples of the urban renewal effort can be found at Comuna 13. The city neighborhood located on the steep mountainside used to be the most dangerous neighborhood in the most dangerous city in the world. But through a committed effort from the government, community projects and the people of Comuna 13, the neighborhood is now a safe and beautiful place to live and visit.
To understand the transformation in full, I’ll point you to this Guardian article which goes into much more detail than I ever could from my half day tour.
We took the Graffiti Tour with Toucan Cafe & Tours and had an amazing afternoon. I was amazed by the quality of the work and the stories that they tell. What’s great about this tour is that it is lead by artists from Casa Kolacho, which is a school that teaches local Comuna 13 youth about graffiti, hip hop, DJing and breakdancing. By teaching kids these skills, they show them that there is so much more that they can do with their lives than the set career paths that used to define the area. The money from the tour directly benefits this group.
I hope you enjoy taking a peek into this beautiful neighborhood and are be inspired to see Medellin in a different light.
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Graffiti Tour! (Kenny is on a curb, he didn’t suddenly get a foot taller than me.) -
Welcome to Comuna 13 -
Just soaking up the views before starting our tour. -
In an effort to reclaim Comuna 13 from its violent history, they brought brightly colored cans of paint into the comuna and let people chose whatever color they wanted to paint their home. The idea was that if you were angry or upset, walking outside into this brightly colored neighborhood would make you feel better. -
I can’t express just how beautiful some of this work was. -
The view from a lookout point near the top of the comuna. -
Lovebirds Graffiti -
Before they built the outdoor escalators, the people of the area had to climb these steep steps to get to their homes. -
These outdoor escalators are a symbol of the urban renewal in the city. The people in Comuna 13 (and the many tourists that have flocked to the area) can now get up and down the steep mountain barrio so much faster and safer, only adding to their economic growth. -
This is part of a tribute to a sad story, but what came out of it was a community that said “Enough is enough. Stop fighting.” -
So many hills! In this picture, it’s our tour group making our way down, but we saw cars and motor bikes zooming up and down, and even old men carrying huge sacks making their way UP hills just like this. -
The whole tour our guide talked up these mango popsicles so we had to try them! It’s basically just frozen mango chunks (nothing artificial here!) served with a lime juice (in the cup I’m holding) and salt! I get the hype! -
This park built into the neighborhood was built to celebrate life. -
This was just a bird I liked -
Kenny took pictures of all the bird art because he loves me, but this is one of my faves! -
They didn’t talk to us at all about this artwork, but what I took from it was a symbol of their welcoming hospitality toward foreigners to not only their comuna, but all of Medellin. -
This is a representation of the government gambling with the lives of the people in Comuna 13 in the 80s-90s. You’ll find Comuna 13 and the date of this painting written on the dice. -
Another view of the comuna. -
Another example of the quality and beauty of the walls in Comuna 13. -
Below the flower, the words translate to “We are transformed.”
Planning a Trip to Medellin?
That’s awesome and we’re jealous! Our Medellin travel guide has everything you need to plan your trip and is a great place to start. We’ve got you covered on everything from our perfect 1-4 day Medellin Itinerary to our Medellin Coffee Guide for all things coffee. Be sure to check out our favorite things to eat, drink and do in Medellin plus a video of our Top 10 Medellin experiences. Wondering how much all this will cost? We’ve got you covered with our Medellin travel costs infographic.