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The heart of the Aranjuez district of Medellín contains some excellent educational and cultural attractions. The best place to see them is at University Station (Estación Universidad), which is a few metro stops north of El Centro. Aranjuez corresponds to Comuna 4 of Medellín.
Park of Desires
The metro exits onto the Park of Desires (Parque de Los Deseos). It’s an interactive space built in 2003 by the city of Medellín and EPM, a local utility company. The park offers eight different attractions representing the dreams, desires, and achievements of humanity. They include a heliostat, a replica Muisca observatory, the world of the winds, a celestial sphere, distant voices, a sundial, an eclipse, and sunshine.
A large open space sitting between the Planetarium and House of Music (see below) is used for events. Free concerts, movie nights, art exhibitions, thematic workshops, aerobic exercises, and other events are often held there. A fountain and sandpit are also located at the park.
The first time I visited, the Park of Desires was full of booths featuring local crafts and souvenirs. They were set up as part of the Flower Festival occurring at the time.
House of Music
On the south side of the park is the House of Music (Casa de la Música), which was also built by EPM and the city of Medellín. It has two auditoriums and offers free music and dance training programs, music recitals, and more.
Medellín Planetarium
The Medellín Planetarium (Planetario de Medellín) is located on the north side of the Park of Desires. It features many shows and exhibits about the universe. I haven’t had a chance to visit yet. Adult admission for foreigners is COP$31,000 (as of July 2024) and it’s open daily.
Medellín Botanical Garden
North of University Station is the Medellín Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico de Medellín), which is covered in another post. This beautiful botanical garden has several plants and trees from different ecosystems found in Colombia. The paths are pleasant to walk through. I visited when it hosted part of the Flower Festival and a few years later to see the garden in its normal state.
Parque Explora
Across the street is Parque Explora, which is covered in another post. It’s an excellent hands-on science museum where you can learn about the human body, physics, and animals.
University of Antioquia
Finally, to the west of the Park of Desires is the campus of the University of Antioquia (Universidad de Antioquia). It’s the oldest departmental university in Colombia, founded in 1803. When I have a chance, I’ll walk through the campus and add some photos here. There’s also a museum to visit.
