Santa Fe de Antioquia, former capital of the province of Antioquia until 1826, is located approximately 1h30 from the city of Medellin and constitutes a radical change!

Indeed, the Spanish colonial architecture with its high doors that allow the entrance of horses, its white facades with its colored windows, its patios and fountains give the visitor an impression of another era.

It is also impressive to experience a radical change of climate in Medellin so quickly, temperatures around 20 degrees, and in the place a tropical climate, hot and humid, due to the low altitude and the location near the equator.

In October 1584, Felipe II declared the city of Santa Fe de Antioquia capital of the homonymous province, which would remain so until 1826, when finally the city of Medellín, with a location near the Medellín River, surpassed it for its greater economic power. growth and easier geographic access.

The city and its surroundings are characterized by their great variety of exotic fruits, some endemic to the region, such as the wild pineapple, and others from other countries, such as the tamarind of African origin. At a gastronomic level, of course it is recommended to try the classic “Bandeja Paisa” with its red beans, rice, avocado, fried egg, chorizo, fried bacon bits and plantains! It is also possible to taste the coffee produced in the region.

The visit of the city carried out in the framework of the school Nueva Lengua allowed us to admire El Parque Principal Simón Bolívar with its shady alleys and the statue of the liberator of Latin America, then walk through the center of town before having lunch and resting for a while by the pool.

Santa Fe de Antioquia also benefits from an interesting cultural offer, in particular the Juan Del Corral museum on the history of the city and its relationship with the Spanish colonization, as well as dance (especially Tango), music and film festivals.

From December 22 to 31 it is also possible to attend the "Día de los Diablitos", a carnival tradition that dates back to 1653, derived from the only day of rest for the slaves, who then dressed up as white people with masks and colorful clothes.

At the end of the day, it was also possible to visit “El Puente del Occidente”, a 291-meter-long bridge inspired by the Brooklyn Bridge technique, built by María Villa Villa, originally from Santa Fe.

To live a special experience that really helps to put Spanish into practice to discover part of another culture, do not hesitate to take classes and participate in trips that the school can organize, and suggestions or ideas are of course welcome!

This article was originally written in French

By Claire Allievi from France