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For other uses of Medellín, see Medellín (disambiguation).

**City of Medellín**

Country	Colombia
Department	Antioquia
Temperature	22.5°
Locations - Latitude: - Longitude	6°15' North 75°36' West
Area	382 km²
Distance	400 km to Bogotá.
Population - Total (2002) - Density	2.025.290 hab. 5320,75 hab./km²
Rivers	Río Medellín
Imagen:
Mayor's office

Medellín is the capital city of Antioquia, one of the constituent departments of Colombia, since 1826. The city is located at 6°15′N 75°36′W / 6.250°N 75.600°W / 6.250; -75.600. With a population of 2.3 million (4.2 million in the greater metropolitan area) it is the second largest city in the country, after Bogotá.

midday in front of the Church of the True Cross (*Iglesia de la Vera Cruz*)

The metropolitan area of Medellín lies within the Aburrá valley at an altitude of 1,538 meters and is bisected by the Medellín river which flows northward. North of the valley are the towns of Bello, Copacabana, Girardota and Barbosa. To the south of the valley lie Itagüí, Envigado, Sabaneta, La Estrella and Caldas.

Aburrá Valley from Quitasol hill looking south with Bello in the foreground and Medellín in the background

Through history Medellín has gone by different names: Aburrá de los Yamesíes, San Lorenzo de Aburrá, San Lorenzo de Aná, Valle de San Bartolomé, Villa de la Candelaria de Medellín and Medellín. The name of Medellín originally came from "Metellium", the ancient Latin name for today's town of Medellín, Extremadura in the province of Badajoz, Spain. "Metellium", in turn, is derived from the name of the Roman founder of the city in 75 AD, Cecilio Metello. The capital of Antioquia was named after said Spanish town in honor of the earl of that city, Pedro Portocarrero, who was the president of the Consejo de Indias of Spain at the time.

Besides being the industrial capital of Colombia, Medellín is usually called Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera (Everlasting Spring City), Capital de la Montaña (Mountain's Capital), Ciudad de las Flores (City Of The Flowers), Capital de las Orquídeas (Orchids' Capital), La Bella Villa (Beautiful Village) and Tacita de Plata (Little Silver Cup).

Medellín is also home of many universities that serve mainly the province of Antioquia. Among the most important are Universidad de Antioquia, Universidad Nacional, Universidad EAFIT, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana and Escuela de Ingenieria de Antioquia.

The main airport serving the area is José María Córdova International Airport, located in Rionegro. Served by a variety of local carriers, it also has inter-continental service on American Airlines and Avianca to Miami and COPA to Panama City. There is also the Olaya Herrera Airport for regional flights. The city is also conected from north to south and from west to center by a "metro" line system (Metro de Medellin); a cable car system, called Metrocable, also connects the Metro to the northeast of the city. Important community centers are Parque de los pies descalzos (Barefooted Walking Park), Parque de los deseos (Dreams Park), the municipal zoo and the Botanical Garden.

Festivals and events

La Feria de las Flores is the most important carnival of Antioquia and it is done in Medellín at the beginning of august every year, since 1957. This carnival has several activities such as antique cars parade, desfile de silleteros (flower carriers parade), horse ride down the streets, exhibition of fondas from much of the towns in Antioquia, etc.

Other festivals are the International Poetry Festival (June), Myths and Legends parade (December).

External links

Medellín is also a small municipality in the province Badajoz, Spain.

Medellín de Bravo is also a small municipality in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

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 The [[metropolitan area]] of Medellín lies within the [[Aburrá valley]] at an altitude of 1,538 meters and is bisected by the [[Medellín river]] which flows northward. North of the valley are the towns of [[Bello]], [[Copacabana]], [[Girardota]] and [[Barbosa]]. To the south of the valley lie [[Itagüí]], [[Envigado]], [[Sabaneta]], [[La Estrella]] and [[Caldas]].
-[[Image:ValleyofAburra.jpg|right|thumbnail|[[Aburrá Valley]] from [[Quitasol]] hill looking south with [[Bello]] in the foreground and Medellín in the background]]
+[[Image:ValleyofAburra.jpg|right|thumbnail|[[Aburrá Valley]] from [[Quitasol]] hill looking south with [[Bello, Antioquia|Bello]] in the foreground and Medellín in the background]]
 Through history Medellín has gone by different names: Aburrá de los Yamesíes, San Lorenzo de Aburrá, San Lorenzo de Aná, Valle de San Bartolomé, Villa de la Candelaria de Medellín and Medellín. The name of Medellín originally came from "Metellium", the ancient [[Latin]] name for today's town of [[Medellín (Spain)|Medellín]], [[Extremadura]] in the province of [[Badajoz|Badajoz, Spain]].  "Metellium", in turn, is derived from the name of the Roman founder of the city in 75 AD, Cecilio Metello.  The capital of [[Antioquia]] was named after said Spanish town in honor of the earl of that city, [[Pedro Portocarrero]], who was the president of the [[Consejo de Indias]] of [[Spain]] at the time.