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Banco Santander (Map; Carrera 49 No 50-10)

Bancolombia (Map; CC Oviedo) Good for cash advances on Visa cards.

CC Oviedo (Map; Carrera 43A No 6 Sur-15) There are lots of moneychangers, ATMs and bank branches in Centro Comercial (CC) Oviedo.

Citibank (Map; Carrera 43A No 1A Sur-49, El Poblado)

Davivienda (Map; Poblado Exito) Inside the Exito supermarket.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Tourist office (Subsecretaría de Turismo; Map; 444 4144, 232 4022; www.culturayturismomedellin.com; Av Alfonso López) In the Palacio de Exposiciones.

VISA INFORMATION

DAS ( 238 9252; Calle 19 No 80A-40, Barrio Belén; 8am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri) For visa extensions. From El Poblado take the Circular Sur 302/303 bus heading south along Av Las Vegas, or take a taxi (COP$6000).

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Sights

MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES

In the grand art-deco Palacio Municipal, the Museo de Antioquia (Map; 251 3636; www.museodeantioquia.org; Carrera 52 No 52-43; adult/student COP$8000/4000; 10am-5:30pm Mon-Sat, to 4pm Sun) is Colombia’s second-oldest museum and one of its finest. The collection includes pre-Columbian, colonial and modern art collections, as well as many works donated by native son Fernando Botero. For more Botero, head across the street to the Plazoleta de las Esculturas (Map), home to more than 20 of Botero’s sculptures.

Botero’s massive bronze woman’s torso, La Gorda (Map) reclines in front of the Banco de la República in Parque Berrío. There are three more Botero sculptures in Parque San Antonio, including the Pájaro de Paz (Bird of Peace; Map).

The Casa Museo Pedro Nel Gómez (Map; 233 2633; Carrera 51B No 85-24; admission free; 9am-noon & 2-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon Sat) has an extensive collection of the works of prolific Medellín artist Pedro Nel Gómez (1899–1984), set in the house where the artist lived and worked.

Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe (Map; 251 1444; www.seduca.gov.co; Carrera 51 No 52-03; admission free; 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri, to 2pm Sat), adjacent to the Berrío metro station in an ornate black-and-white building, hosts concerts and events, art expositions, conferences and workshops. Check its website for what’s on.

Rodrigo Arenas Betancur (1919–95), Colombia’s favorite designer of monuments, is also well-represented in Medellín. His sinuous, 14m-high Monumento a la Vida (Map; Centro Suramericana, cnr Av Colombia & Carrera 64B) was unveiled in 1974. Even more impressive is Monumento a la Raza (Map; Centro Administrativo La Alpujarra, Calle 44), which tells the story of Antioquia in dramatically twisting metal. It’s set in the grounds of the Parque de la Luz (previously known as Plaza de Cisneros) amid a small forest of 24m-tall spiral lamps.

On the campus of the Universidad de Antioquia be sure to check out the Museo Universitario (Map; 219 5180; http://museo.udea.edu.co; Calle 67 No 53-108; admission free; 8am-5:45pm Mon-Thu, 8am-3:45pm Fri, 9am-12:45pm Sat). It has an interesting collection of pre-Columbian pottery, as well as galleries devoted to art and the natural sciences. Out the front is the Monumento al Creador de la Energía (Map), another trippy, grandiose sculpture by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur.

Located in what looks like an unassuming apartment building in a leafy suburb west of the city center, the Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín (Map; 230 2622; www.educame.gob.co; Carrera 64B No 51-64; admission free; 10am-1pm & 2-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat) stages changing exhibitions of contemporary Colombian art.

Occupying a mock-Gothic castle built in 1930 in El Poblado, the Museo El Castillo ( 266 0900; Calle 9 Sur No 32-269; admission COP$7000; 9-11am & 2-5pm Mon-Fri, 9-11:30am Sat) was once home to a wealthy Antioquian landowner. Inside are the family’s belongings, including furniture and artwork from around the world. Outside there are pleasant, French-style formal gardens.

Parque Explora (Map; 516 8300; www.parqueexplora.org; Carrera 52 No 73-75; admission COP$7000-25,000; 8:30am-6pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun) is a science museum kids will love, and may tickle the adult’s inner child