Plaza Botero

Plaza Botero is one of the most visited spots in downtown Medellín. It's an open-air museum with 23 bronze sculptures by Fernando Botero. It opened in 2002 as part of an urban renewal project and today it's a meeting point for tourists and locals.

It's on Avenida Carabobo, near Parque Berrío metro station, surrounded by the Museo de Antioquia and the Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe. The sculptures, with Botero's voluminous shapes, show people, animals and everyday objects, and people come up to touch them and take photos.

Entry is free. Nearby there are restaurants, craft shops and the Laboratorio del Café, to try local coffee.

What to see

• The 23 bronze sculptures by Botero, now heritage property of the city (Alcaldía de Medellín).
• Works like Hand, Sphinx, Dog, Horse, Cat and Sleeping Venus (Museo de Antioquia).
• The Museo de Antioquia and the Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe, in the same area.

Getting there

• Metro: Parque Berrío station (Line A) (Metro de Medellín).
• Bus: route C6010 (Metro de Medellín).

Tips

• Go during the day: there's a better atmosphere and more security.
• Combine it with the Museo de Antioquia and the Palacio de la Cultura, on the same plaza.
• The city has an online map of Medellín's sculpture heritage (geo.patrimoniomedellin.gov.co) to locate works by Botero and other artists.
• Other Botero works downtown: four in Parque San Antonio and La Gorda (Female Torso) in Parque Berrío.