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Caramanta is an attractive small town in the southwest of the Antioquia department of Colombia.
Introduction to Caramanta
Caramanta was founded on May 2, 1825, by Gabriel Echeverri and Juan Santamaría. It was originally under the jurisdiction of Fredonia until it was elevated to a municipality on February 8, 1842.
Today, Caramanta is an agricultural town that seems stopped in time. It’s quiet and full of colorful homes, usually without a foreigner in sight. It’s about a 3 ½-hour journey from Medellín, but worth the trip if you’re interested in seeing a quaint Antioquian town that retains its authenticity and hasn’t been hit by tourism.
Parque Principal
The main plaza of Caramanta is a spacious area with a beautiful park in the center. In the center of the park is a fountain as well as benches under the shade of tall trees. It’s a great place to sit and relax.
The plaza is lined on all four sides with colorful colonial buildings with balconies. They’re filled with restaurants, cafés, shops, bars, and municipal offices.
Along the north side of the plaza you’ll find a row of stands selling fruits, vegetables, honey, panela, and other local products.
Ruana Monument
Caramanta is known as the Capital of the Ruana, which is a traditional Colombian garment similar to a poncho. It’s typically made of wool and worn by farmers and people living in colder areas. In the center of the plaza you’ll find a monument to the ruana. There’s also a smaller ruana for photo ops.
Church of the Immaculate Conception
The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción) is on the northeast corner of the plaza. It’s considered one of the most beautiful churches in Antioquia. It’s 55 meters long and 17 meters wide. The spire reaches 32 meters in height.
The first stone on the Neo-Gothic church was laid on December 9, 1919, and it was completed in 1934. It was designed by Tomás Uribe and Belgian architect Augustin Gooevarts (1885-1939). Most of the funding was donated by Olegario Gil.
The church has three entrance doors. There’s a central nave with two aisle, and chapels at the end of each aisle. The walls of the aisles are decorated with ceramic representations of the Stations of the Cross and there’s a wooden confessional on each side.
The main altar, made of Carrara marble, was imported from Italy in 1954. The altarpiece contains images of the Immaculate Conception flanked by the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the left and St. Joseph on the right. The pulpit is located on the left side of the nave. The Walcker Orgelbau organ, installed in 1955, is considered one of the finest in the country.
Carrera 20 in Caramanta
The most scenic part of Caramanta is the two blocks of Carrera 20 leading north into the plaza. It’s lined with colorful homes and buildings decorated with beautifully carved balconies and window frames. The best views are walking uphill towards the plaza.
Casa del Tango
At the corner of Carrera 21 and Calle 17, two blocks south of the plaza, is the Casa del Tango. This small local bar is decorated with portraits with famous stars of tango and features a mural of tango dancers at La Boca in Buenos Aires.
Exploring Caramanta
Here are a few more photos I took while wandering the streets of Caramanta:
Where to Eat in Caramanta
We didn’t have a meal but we did stop into one place for a cup of coffee.
Café Canela
Café Canela, on the north side of the plaza, serves traditional breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and pastries. Service is friendly, but we weren’t too impressed with the coffee.
