The Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe is the most recognisable building in Medellín: Flemish Gothic, banded in black and white, spiked with towers, like a Belgian cathedral transplanted to the tropics. It sits on the edge of Plaza Botero, entry is free, and almost everyone photographs the facade without going in — which is exactly the mistake, because the inner courtyard and its spiral staircase are the best thing about it.
What to see & do
1. The facade
Probably the most recognisable building in Medellín: Flemish Gothic, with horizontal black and white bands, pointed towers and the air of a Belgian cathedral transplanted to the tropics. It was designed by the Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts and construction began in 1925.
2. Why it was never finished
The original project was never completed as conceived. Work stopped, resumed decades later, and the building ended up a hybrid between Goovaerts' design and what could be finished afterwards. Look carefully from the square and you can see where one stage ends and the other begins.
3. The courtyard and the spiral staircase
This is what almost nobody sees, because most visitors stay outside photographing the facade. Go up to the upper floors and lean over the central courtyard: the spiral staircase seen from above is the most photographed image of the interior and one of the best in the city.
4. The exhibition halls
The palace works as the departmental cultural centre, programming temporary art and photography shows and housing the historic archive of Antioquia. What is on changes every few months.
5. The view over Plaza Botero
From the upper windows you see the whole square and the sculptures from above — a different perspective, and free.
Our tours to this place
The Palace of Culture is a star stop on our Urban, Panoramic and Full tours, beside Plaza Botero. See it with a guide and keep the stories:
Related tours
Practical info
- Getting there: metro line A, Parque Berrío station. It stands on the edge of Plaza Botero, impossible to miss.
- Admission: free. Check the current opening hours before you go — it is an institutional building and closes on some days.
- How long: thirty to forty-five minutes, unless an exhibition holds you.
- How to combine it: it is literally across from the Museum of Antioquia and inside Plaza Botero. All three fit into one morning without walking more than two hundred metres.
- Safety: you are in the heart of the historic centre. By day, with the usual precautions, it is fine: bag in front and phone away when you step out into the square.
- Don't miss: go up to the upper floors. The courtyard and the spiral staircase are the best of the building and you miss them entirely if you only look from the street.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance fee?
No, access is free.
What is inside?
Temporary exhibition halls, the historic archive of Antioquia, and the central courtyard with its spiral staircase.
Can you go up the towers?
The upper floors and the courtyard are open to the public during normal hours. The towers themselves cannot be visited.
How long does it take?
Half an hour is enough to walk through it and look down into the courtyard.
What are the opening hours?
It is an institutional building and closes on some days of the week, so check the current hours before you go.
Gallery
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