Museum of Antioquia, Medellin (must see)

The Museo de Antioquia has a rich history that dates back to its inception in November 1881. Its early years were marked by various challenges, including periods of crisis, closures, and reopenings, and it operated under the name of the Zea Museum.

During its early years, the museum earned recognition as the first in Antioquia and the second in Colombia. However, it wasn't until the generous support of the renowned artist Fernando Botero that the institution truly began to flourish, eventually becoming an iconic center of art in Medellín.

Fernando Botero played a pivotal role in the museum's development by donating a significant portion of his own artworks and providing both financial and artistic assistance. In 2000, under Botero's guidance, the museum found a new home in the historic Municipal Palace and adopted its current name, Museo de Antioquia.

Within the museum's walls, visitors can explore a diverse array of art forms, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, and objects of historical significance.

The Museo de Antioquia proudly houses permanent works by local artists such as Debora Arango and Pedro Nel Gomez, whose contributions illuminate the regional artistic landscape. However, the museum's crowning jewel is the extensive collection of over five thousand artistic pieces by Fernando Botero, making it the largest repository of his works in the world.

To ensure accessibility to visitors from around the globe, some of the artworks are accompanied by descriptions in English.