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The small town of Palestina, located in Colombia’s Coffee Region, sits on a ridge with beautiful views in every direction.
Introduction to Palestina
Palestina was founded on October 20, 1855, by settlers from Antioquia. It was named after Palestine to pay homage to the land of Jesus. The founders were Montegranario Hoyos, Anacleto López, Eusebio Ángel, José Giraldo, Antonio Vélez, Isaac Restrepo, and Patricio Salazar. Today, the main economic activity is coffee production. The town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
There’s really not much to see in the town itself. The best thing about it is the drive. There’s spectacular scenery no matter which road you take to get there. Once you’re in town, you’ll have access to the great views.
Getting to Palestina
The nearest town is Chinchiná. You can catch a bus from there or from the city of Manizales.
Plaza
Palestina is basically two roads running parallel to each other for about six blocks. At one end is the town plaza, which contains a few colonial buildings, the town hall (alcaldía), and the church.
Church of Santa Barbara
The Church of Santa Barbara (Iglesia de Santa Bárbara) is quite simple. From the outside doesn’t really look like a church at all. The nave is a nice open space. You’ll find some beautiful stained glass windows in the apse.
Cultural Center
A few blocks east of the plaza is the town’s Cultural Center (Casa de la Cultura), which was founded in 1978. It’s dedicated to Gildardo Ángel Isaza. Locals can learn music, dance, poetry, literature, and art at the Cultural Center.
