Last updated on .
Támesis is a town in the southwest of the Antioquia department in Colombia. It’s surrounded by great natural beauty.
Introduction to Támesis
Támesis was originally inhabited by the indigenous Chamí people. The modern town was founded as San Antonio de Támesis on December 25, 1858, by Pedro Orozco Ocampo and his wife Rafaela Gómez Trujillo. It’s named after the River Thames, which Rafaela had admired on a visit to London during her youth. The town became its own municipality in 1864.
Today, Támesis is an agricultural town with an ecotourism industry. There are several different types of hotels in the area and visitors can enjoy hiking, a range of extreme sports, waterfalls, and caves. You’ll also find pre-Columbian petroglyphs outside the town.
Our visit was a very short one due to lack of time. We were passing through on our way to Jericó and could only enjoy a short walk around the main plaza. We plan to go back in the future with the aim of taking in some hikes and seeing some of the natural and historical sites outside town. After that, I’ll update this post with more meaningful information.
As for our impression of the town itself, it’s beautifully set in the mountains that were shrouded in fog during the hour we spent there. The biggest negative is that the roads are in horrible condition throughout pretty much the entire town.
Parque Principal
Parque Principal is the lively main plaza of Támesis. It’s surrounded by a mixture of traditional and modern buildings filled with shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, banks, and government offices.
In the center is a park with tall trees and a coffee kiosk where many locals were enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee. You’ll also find busts of Colombian President Mariano Ospina Pérez (1891-1976) and local benefactor Manuel Gómez (1875-1941). On the east side are fruit and vegetable stands.
Church of San Antonio
On the west side is the Church of San Antonio (Iglesia de San Antonio). The first chapel was built in 1858 and there have been a total of five buildings. Two were destroyed during earthquakes in 1962 and 1967. The current church was designed in the Romanesque style by Italian architect Giovanni Scorela. It’s 64 meters long and 49 meters high. Inside is an image of the Miraculous Fallen Lord (Milagroso Señor Caído).
Támesis Town Hall
The Támesis Town Hall (Casa de Gobierno Municipal) is on the south side of Parque Principal. It’s the most attractive building on the plaza, with colorful doors and shutters as well as balconies.
Painted Stairs
If you follow Carrera 9 north of Parque Principal, you’ll come to a stairway. Walk down to the bottom to enjoy the colorful shapes and floral designs painted on the steps and side walls. There’s also a nice view from the top of the stairs.
