Iglesia San José is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in Medellín, which is worth seeing if you like old churches. Furthermore, this Romanesque-style Catholic church has many pieces of religious artwork. This church is located in El Poblado across Avenida Poblado from Parque Poblado.

There are other churches in the Medellín metro area also named Iglesia San José.  So, don’t be confused. There is also one located in El Centro and another one in Envigado.  In addition, there are other churches in the metro area with San José in the name like Iglesia San José Obrero in Bello.

Iglesia San José in El Poblado, photo by SajoR

Iglesia San José in the early 1900s, photo courtesy of Iglesia San José

History of Iglesia San José

Iglesia San José in El Poblado is a Romanesque-style church that was built in the mid-1800s. And it opened in 1867.  The architect who designed the church plans and directed its construction was Horacio Mario Rodríguez Márquez.

Belgian Architect Agustín Goovaerst designed the central altar, the communion rail, the pulpit and the pews. And architect Jesús María Mejía reportedly collaborated.

During the early 1900s the area around the church was predominately rural. And the church was reportedly rebuilt in the 1920s due to deterioration of the building.

The main altar in Iglesia San José

Inside Iglesia San José

Inside the church you will find a beautiful interior that is white with gold, green and maroon trim. And the church has wooden pews.

One of the beautiful stained-glass windows in Iglesia San José

Another of the stained-glass windows

And another beautiful stained-glass window in the church

One of many pieces of religious artwork in the church

Another piece of religious artwork

There are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church including several beautiful stained-glass windows.  Reportedly the stained-glass windows in the church were made in Cali.

Confessional in the church

Like many other churches in the city, Iglesia San José has confessionals on both the right and left sides.

In addition, Iglesia San José is a smaller church than the other churches we have looked at.

How to Get to Iglesia San José

Iglesia San José is located about nine blocks east from the Poblado metro station on Line A of the Medellín metro system. The church is about a 10-minute walk uphill to the church from the Poblado metro station.

This is a major street that is safe to walk on during the day. Also, if you aren’t looking for the exercise walking uphill, there are normally taxis available at the Poblado metro station.

Iglesia San José located across Avenida Poblado from Parque Poblado, photo by Lucas Gentili

In addition, the church is located across Avenida Poblado from Parque Poblado. And it is located about three blocks from Parque Lleres.

Furthermore, all taxi drivers in Medellín will know where Parque Poblado is located.

Website: https://sanjosedelpoblado.wordpress.com/

Address: Carrera 42 # 9-37, El Poblado, Medellín

Phone: +57 4 268 7363

Email: sanjosepoblado@arqmedellin.co

Hours: Monday to Friday: 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday: 6:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm, Sunday: 6:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Christmas lights in Parque Poblado in 2017

Parque Poblado

Iglesia San José in El Poblado is located across the street from Parque Poblado.  Parque Poblado is located at the intersection of Avenida Poblado and Calle 10.

Parque Poblado is a plaza that is one square block plaza, which has Iglesia San José across the street on one side and small shops and restaurants on the other sides.

During Christmas, Parque Poblado always has some Christmas lights set up. In addition, the park has a number of shade trees. So, it is a convenient place to meet up with friends.  And sometimes there are booths set up along Avenida Poblado selling arts and crafts.

Around the park within a few blocks you will find many restaurants, bars and shops. And the popular nightlife area Parque Lleras is only three blocks away.

The Beautiful Churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley

In the metropolitan Medellín metro area (Aburrá Valley), there are over 300 Roman Catholic churches. Most notably, there is a complete list of all the churches of the Archdiocese of Medellín.

We have looked at a total of 33 beautiful churches in the Medellín metro area and the Aburrá Valley in a series on this website. And 22 of the churches we have looked at in detail are in Medellín:

1. Catedral Basílica Metropolitana – the main church of the Archdiocese of Medellín and the largest church in the city.
2. Iglesia de La Candelaria – the oldest church in Medellín, which is also a National Monument of Colombia.
3. Iglesia San Antonio and Plaza San Antonio – the church with the largest dome in Medellín located next to Plaza San Antonio with four Fernando Botero sculptures.
4. Iglesia Jesús Nazareno – another of the most beautiful churches in Medellín.
5. Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro – a beautiful Gothic-style church in Medellín.
6. Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús – a neo-Gothic-style church located in Barrio Triste in Medellín.
7. Iglesia de San José – a Boroque-style church located in El Centro, Medellín.
8. Iglesia del Señor de las Misericordias – a neo-Gothic-style church located in the Manrique neighborhood of Medellín.
9. Iglesia San José – a Romanesque-style church located next to Parque Poblado in El Poblado.
10. Iglesia de la Veracruz – a colonial church with a history that goes back to 1682, which makes it one of the oldest churches in Medellín.
11. Iglesia de San Ignacio – a beautiful church in El Centro with a Baroque-style exterior and colonial interior.
12. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora – a Roman-style church located next to Parque Belén in Medellín.
13. Iglesia el Calvario – a Romanesque-style church in the Aranjuez comuna in Medellín.
14. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Sufragio – a neo-Romanesque-style church in the Boston barrio in Medellín.
15. Iglesia de San Benito – a neo-Romanesque-style church with a history that traces back to 1678, which make it one of the oldest churches in Medellín.
16. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores – a Neo-Byzantine-style church in the La América comuna in Medellín.
17. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón – a beautiful Neo-Gothic-style church in the Buenos Aires comuna in Medellín.
18. Iglesia de Cristo Rey – a beautiful church in the Guayabal comuna of Medellín with many beautiful stained-glass windows.
19. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores – a beautiful Neoclassical-style church in the Robledo comuna of Medellín, which is also a National Monument of Colombia.
20. Iglesia del Cementerio San Pedro – a beautiful church built in 1929 that has some of the most beautiful stained-glass windows found in the churches in Medellín.
21. Iglesia de El Niño Jesús de Praga – a beautiful church in the Villa Hermosa comuna in Medellín.
22. Iglesia San Joaquín – a beautiful church in the Laureles-Estadio comuna in Medellín that is reportedly the second largest church in Medellín.

Also, we have looked at the principal church in each of the other nine municipalities in the Aburrá Valley:

1. Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis – a beautiful church in Envigado located next to Parque Envigado.
2. Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario – a church located in Bello that is arguably the most beautiful church in the Aburrá Valley
3. Iglesia de Santa Ana – a very popular church in Sabaneta located next to Parque Sabaneta.
4. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario – a historic church in Itagüí near Medellín with a history that traces back to 1743.
5. Nuestra Señora Chiquinquirá – a beautiful church in La Estrella with a Neo-Gothic-style.
6. Catedral Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes – a Neoclassical-style church with a history that traces back to 1793 and is located in the Caldas municipality south of Medellín.
7. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción – a Baroque-style church with a history that traces back to 1715 and is located in the Copacabana municipality north of Medellín.
8. Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario – a Neo-Romanesque-style church located in the Girardota municipality northeast of Medellín.
9. Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua – a Neo-Romanesque-style church located in the Barbosa municipality northeast of Medellín.

Also, we looked at two smaller colonial-style churches while looking in detail at two nearby larger churches:

1. Hato Viejo Chapel – a colonial-style church in Bello built between 1772 and 1796. It’s also a National Monument of Colombia. We looked at Hato Viejo Chapel while covering Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
2. Capilla de María Auxiliadora – a colonial-style church in Barbosa built between 1773 and 1776. We looked at Capilla de María Auxiliadora while covering Iglesia de San Antonio de Padua.

In addition, we looked at Las Lajas Sanctuary located in Ipiales, Colombia, which is considered the most beautiful church in Colombia. Also, it’s considered by many to be one of the most beautiful churches in the world.

Inside Iglesia San José in El Poblado

The Bottom Line: Iglesia San José

Iglesia San José in El Poblado is not found in any of the 10 English language Colombia travel guidebooks that I have. But it’s worth stopping to see this beautiful and historic church. And it’s easy to get to since the church is located next to Parque Poblado, which is not far from the Poblado metro station.

Seems like, in my experience, that most of the travel guidebooks in English about Colombia are missing many of the best places in the cities and pueblos in Colombia.

Consequently, we have covered the beautiful churches in the Medellín metro area in a comprehensive series on this website. Most noteworthy, we did this since a majority of the beautiful and notable churches in the city are missing from the English-language travel guidebooks about Colombia.

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