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Barcelona is the nearest town to the touristic Recuca coffee plantation in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.

 

Introduction to Barcelona, Colombia

Barcelona was founded in 1914 and belongs to the municipality of Calarcá. It’s quite a large town and I’m surprised it’s not a municipality itself. To be honest, there’s no real reason to visit but we decided to stop and check it out while passing through on our way to the towns of Buenavista and Pijao.

Town crest of Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia
Town crest


 

Plaza de Bolívar

The focal point of the small town is Plaza de Bolívar. It’s a decent sized plaza that has a few nice buildings, the unattractive Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen), and not much more.

Plaza de Bolívar in Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia
Plaza de Bolívar
Plaza de Bolívar
Plaza de Bolívar
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Buildings on Plaza de Bolívar in Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia
Buildings on the plaza

 

Where to Eat in Barcelona, Colombia

There’s a great place just outside town we like to stop at for lunch. We’ve also had coffee on the plaza.

 

Alfredo Café

Looking to grab a cup of coffee, we had two choices. We spotted a quirky looking place on the plaza called Baracoa and Alfredo Café across the street. Baracoa was completely empty while Alfredo Café had a good crowd. The choice was simple.

Baracoa
Baracoa
Alfredo Café in Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia
Alfredo Café

Alfredo Café has fast and friendly service and a decent atmosphere but the coffee is so-so. Good thing we were on our way to Café San Alberto in Buenavista!

Alfredo Café
Alfredo Café
Sitting area at Alfredo Café
Sitting area
Cappuccino at Alfredo Café
Cappuccino

 

El Mirador La Mona

On another trip through the area, we stopped for lunch at El Mirador La Mona. It’s located just a few minutes drive past Barcelona at the turn to Pijao and Córdoba.

The street in front of El Mirador La Mona
The street in front of El Mirador La Mona

This roadside hole-in-the-wall serves the best bandeja paisa I’ve ever had in Colombia as well as a delicious sancocho. We’ve turned it into a must-stop just about every time we pass through.

Bandeja paisa at El Mirador La Mona outside Barcelona, Quindío, Colombia
Bandeja paisa
Sancocho at El Mirador La Mona
Sancocho

 

Map of Barcelona, Colombia

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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