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The Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture (Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe) is one of the most iconic buildings in Medellín. It’s located in El Centro, between Plaza Botero and Plazoleta Nutibara.
History of the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture
The Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture was designed by Belgian architect Augustin Goovaerts (1885-1939) in the Gothic Revival style. It was built between 1925 and 1937 to house the offices of the department of Antioquia. Construction was halted between 1929 and 1932 due to the Great Depression. The government later moved to the La Alpujarra Administrative Center in the 1980s.
After the government vacated the building, there was much debate about its future. Some people suggested it become a shopping center while others wanted it demolished. In 1986, it was designated a cultural center. A year later, the building was renamed after Rafael Uribe Uribe (1859-1914), a diplomat and general for the Colombian Liberal Party rebel army who fought in the Thousand Days’ War.
Architecture of the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture
The original plans for the building included space for 300 offices over five floors, a large departmental assembly hall, a library, and a museum. The plans were scaled back and the building only has four floors and a central courtyard.
The dome is considered an architectural masterpiece and is a symbol of the city. The metal supports were imported from Belgium
Visiting the Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture
The building is open to the public daily except Sundays. Admission is free (as of May 2023) and the entrance is on the southeast corner. All I had to do was leave my ID at the front desk with security. Be aware that the entire building may not be open due to special events, and all information in the museum rooms is in Spanish.
Architecture Exhibit
The first room I entered contained an exhibit on the architecture of the building. It included information on the building’s history and phases of construction, a profile on the architect, the architectural style, photos, and construction fragments.
Rafael Uribe Uribe Museum Rooms
The next couple rooms featured an exhibit on the life of Rafael Uribe Uribe. The first room covered his family and upbringing and marriage. On display was a beautiful wooden armoire. I was also able to get a good look at the dome from this room.
The second room focused on Uribe’s military career. Some of the artifacts on display were his swords and a cannon support.
Temporary Exhibits
A few of the other rooms included temporary art and photography exhibits. My favorite room contained works by Colombian artist Raúl Fernando Zuleta. They consisted of actual historic paintings given a humorous touch with the artist’s depiction on what he believed was happening outside the frame.
Hallways
After seeing the exhibits, I was able to wander through the hallways to admire the architecture from the inside. It was only possible to walk around the first and ground floors.
From the windows on the west side, I could get a good look at Plaza Botero and the Antioquia Museum.
Patio of the Azaleas
The final part of the building I was able to visit was the outdoor courtyard, the Patio of the Azaleas (Patio de las Azaleas). It’s a beautifully landscaped space with an iron fountain in the center and two palms on the east side.
