Medellín and the Aburrá Valley area has many beautiful Catholic churches and we look at the top 14 churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley in this article, which are worth seeing. We also provide a recommended itinerary to see the top churches.
These top 14 churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley use several architectural styles including Byzantine, Colonial, Eclectic, Gothic, Greek-Roman, Neo-Byzantine, Neo-Gothic, Neo-Romanesque, Renaissance and Romanesque.
Over a period of seven months the Medellin Guru website covered the most beautiful churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley in an article series on this website.
We looked at a total of 33 churches in this series. And this is the most comprehensive look at Medellín’s churches by any English-language website that I am aware of.
In conducting research of churches, I visited over 75 churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley and took over 1,200 photos. The reason for doing this series is that unfortunately the travel guidebooks in English about Colombia and Medellín are missing most of the beautiful churches in the Medellín metro area.
Our church series has been very popular with readers with a total of over 85,000 page views and over 17,000 shares of all the church articles in the series.
The top 14 churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley in this top churches article were chosen for their beauty and historical value. In addition, they were chosen based on the popularity of the individual church articles on the Medellin Guru website.
The following list of the top 14 churches in Medellín is in order by the total number of views and shares each church article had on the Medellin Guru website:
Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello
1. Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello
Address: Calle 51 # 49-44, Bello
Year opened: 1947
Architecture style: Neo-Byzantine
Phone: +57 4 275 0554
Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello is arguably the most beautiful church in the Aburrá Valley. This church is very impressive with the most beautiful interior out over 75 churches I have seen in the Medellín metro area.
Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario is even reportedly considered to be a museum due to all the religious artwork found in the church. And it’s located in the municipality of Bello, which is north of Medellín in the Aburrá Valley.
The central nave inside Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello
The church has a decorated façade and decorated columns, walls and arches. In addition, it has a big range of artwork inside including murals, beautiful stained-glass windows, carvings, paintings, sculptures, reliefs and liturgical objects.
Stained-glass window in Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Construction of this church started in the early 20th century with first the foundation. But construction was suspended for a variety of reasons and some repair work was done to the nearby Hato Viejo Chapel, so it could continue to be used.
The project to build Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario was resumed in 1936 and the church reportedly opened in 1947.
The article about Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello was one of the most popular articles on the Medellin Guru website with over 23,000 views and over 3,200 shares on Facebook.
Nazareno in Medellín, photo by SajoR
2. Iglesia Jesús Nazareno
Address: Carrera 52 # 61-30, El Centro, Medellín
Year opened: 1953
Architecture style: Gothic
Phone: +57 4 263 0333
Iglesia Jesús Nazareno (Jesus of Nazareth Church) is considered one of the most beautiful churches in Medellín. Iglesia Jesús Nazareno is one of the most distinctive buildings in Medellín. And you definitely notice this church when going by in a Medellín metro train on Line A.
The central nave in The central nave in Iglesia Jesús Nazareno
Iglesia Jesús Nazareno has a Gothic architecture with some French touches. Inside the church is decorated in white with gold trim. And there are many pieces of religious art found in this church. In addition, the church has many impressive stained-glass windows.
One of several stained-glass windows inside Iglesia Jesús Nazareno
Iglesia Jesús Nazareno was reportedly built by Claretian missionaries in the twentieth century from 1941 and 1953. This beautiful church is part of the religious heritage of the city of Medellín.
Catedral Basílica Metropolitana
3. Catedral Basílica Metropolitana
Address: Carrera 48 #56-81, El Centro, Medellín
Year opened: 1917
Architecture style: Neo-Romanesque
Phone: +57 4 513 2269
Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María (Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellín) is the main church of the Archdiocese of Medellín and is the largest church in the city.
Furthermore, it’s considered the most important church in the city, as it’s the seat of the Archbishop of Medellín. In addition, the church is considered a tourist attraction in the city.
This Roman Catholic church is reportedly the largest brick cathedral in the world. And it’s supposedly the largest church in South America. About 1,120,000 adobe bricks were used in the construction of the church. This neo-Romanesque style church is located in El Centro, directly north of Parque Bolívar.
The central nave inside the church
The interior of Catedral Basílica Metropolitana is brick with many columns. And the church has many works of art, including paintings and sculptures by renowned artists. In addition, this large church has 76 impressive stained-glass windows. Also, it has a large organ the was built in Germany in 1932.
Stained-glass window in Catedral Basílica Metropolitana
When Valerio Antonio Jiménez became the bishop of Medellín in 1868, he insisted on construction of a new church in the city. This was due to Iglesia de La Candelaria being used by the Diocese at the time was considered too small.
Construction of the church started in 1875. But construction was suspended because of the civil war in Colombia from 1876 to 1877. In 1982, construction resumed but was suspended again due to claims of incompetence of the initial architect, Felipe Crosti.
Finally, the principal construction of the church was completed in 1917. And the first mass was held in the church that year. There was additional construction work in the church later to add the altar, pulpit and other ornamental works plus make other changes to the church.
In 1948, Pope Pius XII granted the liturgical title of Basilica Minor to the church. And Catedral Basílica Metropolitana was named a National Monument of Colombia in 1982.
Iglesia San Joaquín
4. Iglesia San Joaquín
Address: Carrera 69 # C5-05 – San Joaquín barrio in Laureles-Estadio, Medellín
Year opened: 1960
Architecture style: Byzantine
Phone: +57 4 230 8160
Iglesia San Joaquín is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in the San Joaquín barrio of the Laureles-Estadio comuna in Medellín.
This Roman Catholic church, also known as Parroquia de San Joaquín, is reportedly the second largest church in Medellín. And it is full of many beautiful stained-glass windows and pieces of religious artwork. This large church is quite impressive to see.
The central nave in Iglesia San Joaquín
Inside the church you will find a beautiful grey and brick interior. Iglesia San Joaquín has a many beautiful stained-glass windows that were designed in Colombia. Also, the church has an organ that is reportedly the second largest organ in Colombia.
One of the beautiful stained-glass windows in Iglesia San Joaquín
Parish priest Jorge González wanted to build a church for the San Joaquín barrio, which used to be a barrio with the name Los Libertadores.
The local community raised funds for a new church through bazaars and other means. The church was built in the 1950s and reportedly was inaugurated in 1960 by Joaquín Ordóñez, archbishop of Medellín.
Iglesia Señor de las Misericordias
5. Iglesia del Señor de las Misericordias
Address: Calle 67 # 47-6, Manrique, Medellín
Year opened: 1931
Architecture style: Neo-Gothic
Phone: +57 4 263 5821
Iglesia del Señor de las Misericordias is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in the Manrique neighborhood of Medellín north of El Centro.
Inside Iglesia del Señor de las Misericordias
Inside church you will find a beautiful interior that is white with beige trim. And there are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church including several beautiful stained-glass windows.
A stained-glass window in the church
Iglesia Señor de las Misericordias was reportedly built between 1921 and 1931. The church was designed in a neo-Gothic-style by architect Andrés Lorenzo Huarte.
Iglesia Señor de las Misericordias and the adjacent convent were declared a cultural, artistic and religious patrimony of Medellín in 1999.
Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
6. Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Address: Calle 35 # 48-8, Barrio Cólon, Medellín
Year opened: 1945
Architecture style: Gothic
Phone: +57 4 232 0525
Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in Medellín, which is worth seeing – particularly if you like stained-glass windows. It’s a Gothic-style church with some beautiful stained-glass windows and other religious artwork.
This church is located near San Diego mall. When you travel on the Medellín metro from Poblado station towards El Centro, this Gothic-style church is very noticeable on the right side of the metro as you approach the Exposiciones metro station. The needle towers on this church really stand out compared to the surrounding buildings.
Inside Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Inside the church you will find a beautiful interior that is yellow and white. The main altar in the church is made of marble and it is decorated with mosaics. And it was made by the artist E. Bibolotti from Italy.
There are many additional pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church. In addition, the church has many beautiful stained-glass windows.
One of the beautiful stained-glass windows in Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
In April 1944, Monsignor Joaquin Garcia Benitez, Archbishop of Medellín at the time, ordered the construction of this church and an architect was found. And construction of the church began in 1945. The church was sufficiently completed in 1951. So, it could start to be used.
Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis in Envigado
7. Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis in Envigado
Address: Carrera 42 # 37 Sur 20, Envigado
Year opened: 1897
Architecture style: Greek-Roman
Phone: +57 4 331 2393
Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in Envigado, which is worth seeing. The church is best known for its impressive and beautiful main altar.
This Greco-Roman church is located in Envigado, which is directly south of El Pobaldo. The church is located next to Parque Envigado, which is one of the most popular parks in the Medellín metro area.
Inside Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis during mass
Inside this church you will find a beautiful interior that is green and white with some gold trim. Also, the main altar in the church is very impressive. And there are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church. In addition, the church has many simple stained-glass windows.
The impressive main altar in Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis
In the mid 1800’s, a small church in Envigado had become too small and was unable to support the increasing population of the area. Permission for building a new church was granted by the Bishop of Medellín. And construction of the new church in Envigado started in late 1859.
But the project was quickly halted in 1860, due to a civil war in Colombia. Construction resumed several years later and Igelsia de Santa Gertrudis officially opened in February 1897.
The facade of Iglesia de Santa Ana in Sabaneta
8. Iglesia de Santa Ana in Sabaneta
Address: Carrera 44 # 69 Sur 08, Sabaneta
Year opened: 1930
Architecture style: Eclectic
Phone: +57 4 288 0122
Iglesia de Santa Ana is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in Sabaneta, which is worth seeing. The church is particularly popular on Tuesday each week when thousands of devotees from across the Medellín metro area flock to this church.
Iglesia de Santa Ana is located next to Parque Sabaneta, which is one of the most popular parks in the Aburrá Valley.
The central nave in Iglesia de Santa Ana
Inside the church you will find a beautiful interior that is white with some gold and pink trim. There are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church. In addition, the church has many beautiful stained-glass windows.
One of many beautiful stained-glass windows in Iglesia de Santa Ana
The construction of Iglesia de Santa Ana reportedly started on August 27, 1896 on land of Luis María Montoya Restrepo. This Roman Catholic church was completed in 1930 by Ramón Molina.
On September 10, 1968, on a Tuesday at 4:00 pm., Father Arcila was celebrating mass when some parishioners reportedly saw the appearance of the Virgin.
Due to this occurrence, on Tuesdays every week, thousands of devotees from across the Medellín area flock to this church to ask favors. And some favors have reportedly been fulfilled and have been called miracles.
So, Tuesdays are normally the days with the biggest influx of people to this church where a mass is held every hour, from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The church is frequently full for many of the mass sessions on Tuesday, with the crowd extending outside the church. And on Tuesday each week, the church, Parque Sabaneta and the nearby restaurants transform into what seems to be a spiritual hive of activity.
Furthermore, Iglesia de Santa Ana was consecrated in 1990 as the Marian Sanctuary of the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Girardota
9. Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Girardota
Address: Calle 7 and Carrera 15, Girardota
Year opened: 1910
Architecture style: Neo-Romanesque
Phone: +57 4 289 3012
Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Girardota is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in the Girardota municipality northeast of Medellín, which is worth seeing if you like old and historic churches.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario is a large brick, Neo-Romanesque-style church that has many beautiful stained-glass windows and pieces of religious artwork. And it has a history that traces back to 1890.
The central nave in Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Girardota
Inside the church you will find a beautiful brick interior with some wood trim. Furthermore, there are many pieces of religious artwork and stained-glass windows to be found throughout this church.
Stained-glass windows in Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
In 1702, a small chapel was constructed in Giradota called the Vice-parroquia of the Virgin of the Rosary. This small chapel began to host a large number of pilgrims who came to worship the image of the fallen Lord in the church. So, the capacity of the small chapel was insufficient.
On March 10, 1890, work began on the new church. By 1902, the foundations had been completed and the walls were being built. By 1910, the church was sufficiently completed that it could be used.
In 1988, this church was elevated to the rank of cathedral, when Pope John Paul II created the diocese of Girardota.
In addition, this church is considered one of the main pilgrimage sites of the Aburrá Valley. Inside it is the image of the fallen Lord of Girardota. Hundreds of miracles are attributed to him and people travel there to fulfill their promises.
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá in La Estrella
10. Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá in La Estrella
Address: Calle 81 Sur # 61-16, La Estrella
Year opened: 1923
Architecture style: Neo-Gothic
Phone: +57 4 279 0141
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located next to Parque La Estrella in the La Estella municipality south of Medellín, which is worth seeing if you like old churches.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá in La Estralla is a neo-Gothic-style church that is considered a sanctuary in honor of the Virgin of the Rosary.
The central nave inside Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá
Inside the church you will find a beautiful interior that is white with green, gold and pink trim. Furthermore, this Catholic church has many beautiful stained-glass windows and many pieces of religious artwork.
One of several stained-glass windows in Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá
Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá was designed by Martín Rodríguez in a neo-Gothic style. The church reportedly was inaugurated in 1923.
This notable church in La Estrella was named a Minor Basilica on April 16, 1986.
Iglesia San Antonio located in El Centro, Medellín
11. Iglesia San Antonio
Address: Carrera 48 # 44-55A, El Centro, Medellín
Year opened: 1902
Architecture style: Renaissance
Phone: +57 4 511 7374
Iglesia San Antonio is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in El Centro in Medellín, which is worth seeing. The church is best known for its large dome, which is reportedly the largest dome found in Medellín. The dome in the church is also one of the largest domes found in Colombia.
The church is located next to Plaza San Antonio, which is also worth seeing. Plaza San Antonio has four Fernando Botero sculptures including one that has a violent history.
Iglesia San Antonio is one of the most traditional churches found in El Centro, yet it’s one of the least visited. Iglesia San Antonia is a Renaissance style church that is dedicated to San Antonio de Padua.
The central nave in Iglesia San Antonio
Inside the church you will find a beautiful interior that is white and red with some gold trim. Most noteworthy is the large dome in the church, which has some simple stained-glass windows as well as some artwork near the dome. Also, there are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church.
The sizable dome inside Iglesia San Antonio
The architect for the church was Filipe Crosti and it was built over a period from 1874 to 1902. And the church underwent a major renovation over a period of nearly two decades from 1929 to 1945. During this time, the large dome was added to the church as well as additional altars and the organ.
Iglesia de la Veracruz
12. Iglesia de la Veracruz
Address: Calle 52 # 52-18, El Centro, Medellín
Year opened: 1803
Architecture style: Colonial
Phone: +57 4 512 5095
Iglesia de la Veracruz is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in Medellín, which is worth seeing if you like old churches. Furthermore, this Catholic church has many pieces of religious artwork.
Iglesia de la Veracruz is one of the oldest churches in Medellín, as it dates back originally to 1682.
Inside Iglesia de la Veracruz
Inside the church you will find a beautiful interior that is white with some gold trim. And there are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church.
The main altar in Iglesia de la Veracruz
In 1682, Captain Juan Céspedes de Hinestroza, reportedly began the construction of the Hermitage de la Veracruz on land purchased from Luis Acevedo Rides. The church was completed in 1712, thanks to the help of a group of European immigrants.
In early 1791, the church was approaching ruin with a threat of collapse. So, it was demolished. And in December 1791, rebuilding of a replacement church started. The new church opened in November 1803.
Iglesia de la Veracruz was declared a cultural heritage of Colombia on March 12, 1982.
Iglesia de La Candelaria in Medellín, photo by SajoR
13. Iglesia de La Candelaria
Address: Calle 49 # 50-85, El Centro, Medellín
Year opened: 1776
Architecture style: Colonial
Phone: +57 4 231 4907
Iglesia de La Candelaria is reportedly the oldest church in Medellín with a history that goes back to 1649.
The formal name of this church is Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria). But the church is more popularly known as Iglesia de La Candelaria.
Iglesia de La Candelaria is worth seeing, as it’s the oldest church in Medellín. This colonial church located in El Centro could potentially be added to our recommended tourist itinerary for a day in Medellín while visiting the nearby Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia.
The church is located in the La Candelaria (El Centro) neighborhood on Medellín. This neighborhood takes its name from the church. The church was the primary church of the Diocese of Medellín starting 1868 until the much larger Catedral Basílica Metropolitana opened.
The central nave in Iglesia de La Candelaria
Iglesia de La Candelaria is a colonial building in neoclassical style. Iglesia de La Candelaria’s interior is whitewashed with gold trim. Also, the main altar is white with gold trim. In addition, there are many pieces of religious artwork to be found in this church.
The main altar inside Iglesia de La Candelaria
Iglesia de La Candelaria was used by the first parish of the city of Medellín. It’s history traces back to 1649, when a wood church with a thatched roof was built on this location. In 1712, the church had to be rebuilt due to deteriation of the initial church.
But this second church on the site wasn’t of sufficient durability. So, it didn’t last very long. Most notably, it was torn down and the construction of the current masonry church building on the site started in 1768. And the church was inaugurated in 1776.
In 1998, Iglesia de La Candelaria was named a National Monument of Colombia.
Iglesia el Calvario
14. Iglesia el Calvario
Address: Carrera 48A # 77-04, barrio Campo Valdes #1 in the Aranjuez comuna in Medellín
Year opened: 1941
Architecture style: Romanesque
Phone: +57 4 212 0130
Iglesia el Calvario, also known as Parroquia el Calvario, is a notable and historic Roman Catholic church located in the Aranjuez comuna in Medellín.
Iglesia el Calvario is a sizable Romanesque-style church that has several beautiful stained-glass windows and many pieces of religious artwork that make it worth visiting. It’s a large brick church and is one of the largest churches in Medellín.
The central nave inside Iglesia el Calvario
Inside the church you will find a beautiful brick interior with some brown and wood trim. In addition, the church has several beautiful stained-glass windows but they are relatively small considering the size of the large church. Also, there are many pieces of religious artwork to be found throughout this church.
One of the stained-glass windows in the church
Historically the barrio of Campo Valdes in the Aranjuez comuna in Medellín only had a small provisional chapel until October 1933, when agreement was reached with the parish priest of Iglesia Veracruz to build a new church in Campo Valdes.
The archdiocese of Medellin decided that the Campo Valdes neighborhood needed a church. Campo Valdes was considered a somewhat violent neighborhood and it was felt that the church would provide some spiritual help.
Land was donated for building the church and the original design of the church had two towers. But once they started construction it was determined that the land wouldn’t support the weight of two towers. So, the design was revised to a single tower that made the church weigh less.
Recommended Itinerary to see the Top Churches
It is not really possible to see all 14 churches on this top churches list in one day, as some churches are only open in the mornings. And several churches are not located in Medellín but are located in other nearby municipalities in the Aburrá Valley, as seen in the above map.
Five of the churches are located near to each other in El Centro. So, they are easy to see. This includes Iglesia Jesús Nazareno, Catedral Basílica Metropolitana, Iglesia San Antonio, Iglesia de la Veracruz and Iglesia de La Candelaria.
You could see all five of these churches in El Centro in a morning. So, I would start at Iglesia San Antonio first and also stop at Plaza San Antonio to see the Fernando Botero sculptures.
After visiting Iglesia San Antonio, the second stop is Iglesia de La Candelaria, which is less than a 10-minute walk. And next is Iglesia de la Veracruz, which is less than a five-minute walk.
Next is Catedral Basílica Metropolitana which is located about a 10-minute walk from Iglesia de la Veracruz.
Finally, after Catedral Basílica Metropolitana, you could take a short taxi ride to Iglesia Jesús Nazareno, which is nearby. It’s about a 10-block walk but I don’t recommend walking, as this is a rough neighborhood.
Iglesia de Santa Ana in Sabaenta is also easy to see as it is normally open during the entire day and also early evenings. So, you could combine seeing this church with a visit to popular Parque Sabaneta.
The other eight churches require some planning to see as they are more scattered and normally are open mostly in the mornings and late afternoons:
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello
- Iglesia San Joaquín
- Iglesia del Señor de las Misericordias
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
- Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis in Envigado
- Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Girardota
- Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Chiquinquirá in La Estrella
- Iglesia el Calvario
So, we recommend calling before visiting any of these eight churches to make sure they are open before visiting.
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 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:
- Catedral Basílica Metropolitana – the main church of the Archdiocese of Medellín and the largest church in the city.
- Iglesia de La Candelaria – the oldest church in Medellín, which is also a National Monument of Colombia.
- 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.
- Iglesia Jesús Nazareno – another of the most beautiful churches in Medellín.
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro – a beautiful Gothic-style church in Medellín.
- Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús – a neo-Gothic-style church located in Barrio Triste in Medellín.
- Iglesia de San José – a Boroque-style church located in El Centro, Medellín.
- Iglesia del Señor de las Misericordias – a neo-Gothic-style church located in the Manrique neighborhood of Medellín.
- Iglesia San José – a Romanesque-style church located next to Parque Poblado in El Poblado.
- 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.
- Iglesia de San Ignacio – a beautiful church in El Centro with a Baroque-style exterior and colonial interior.
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora – a Roman-style church located next to Parque Belén in Medellín.
- Iglesia el Calvario – a Romanesque-style church in the Aranjuez comuna in Medellín.
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Sufragio – a neo-Romanesque-style church in the Boston barrio in Medellín.
- 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.
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores – a Neo-Byzantine-style church in the La América comuna in Medellín.
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón – a beautiful Neo-Gothic-style church in the Buenos Aires comuna in Medellín.
- Iglesia de Cristo Rey – a beautiful church in the Guayabal comuna of Medellín with many beautiful stained-glass windows.
- 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.
- 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.
- Iglesia de El Niño Jesús de Praga – a beautiful church in the Villa Hermosa comuna in Medellín.
- 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:
- Iglesia de Santa Gertrudis – a beautiful church in Envigado located next to Parque Envigado.
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario – a church located in Bello that is arguably the most beautiful church in the Aburrá Valley
- Iglesia de Santa Ana – a very popular church in Sabaneta located next to Parque Sabaneta.
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario – a historic church in Itagüí near Medellín with a history that traces back to 1743.
- Nuestra Señora Chiquinquirá – a beautiful church in La Estrella with a Neo-Gothic-style.
- 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.
- 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.
- Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario – a Neo-Romanesque-style church located in the Girardota municipality northeast of Medellín.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
The Bottom Line: Top 14 Churches in Medellín: The Beautiful Churches in Medellín
Only four of the 14 top churches in Medellín listed in this article are found in any of the 10 English language Colombia travel guidebooks I have. So, 10 of the churches in this top churches list are not found in any guidebooks including the #1 and #2 churches in this article.
Unfortunately, in my experience, most travel guidebooks in English about Colombia are missing many of the best places in the cities and pueblos in Colombia.
Consequently, we 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.
Sign up for the Free Medellin Guru Newsletter – You can see all of the previous Medellin Guru weekly email newsletters and sign up here.
Editors note: on May 21, 2018 added Iglesia San Joaquín after visiting this church that was recommended by a reader. Also added Iglesia el Calvario to make this article the top 14 churches in Medellín.
12 thoughts on “Top 14 Churches in Medellín: The Beautiful Churches in Medellín”
Thank you Jeff, your article is amazing, great description about all these beautiful churches in Medellin, enchanted city, with beautiful weather, great people and amazing country side places to enjoy.
Oops, sorry for the “this”, instead of “these”
Thanks, edited your comment to say “these”.
Jeff, I can only echo the other comments. It is really interesting how many of them are not in the colonial style but rather more European. The painted interiors of many of them do seem more colonial. I especially like the one in Laureles. Please note the word “altar” – spellcheck is not very discerning when it comes to homophones. Thanks again. Take care.
Thanks for catching what spellcheck doesn’t catch. Fixed to “altar” in the article.
This is a well-researched article with great photos of the beautiful churches in Medellin. This should be required reading for any expat that thinks Medellin doesn’t have any history. And I agree with the comment above that the English language travel guides about Colombia suck.
Wow this is a great article about the beautiful churches in Medellin. Thanks so much for your wonderful site where I have learned so much.
Thanks for writing about the beautiful churches in our city with your wonderful church series. I just discovered your site that is so helpful.
Thanks for this nice article and your series about the churches in Medellin. Clearly this took a lot of time to do so I appreciate your efforts. I also agree that travel guidebooks about Colombia suck and are missing so many places.
Great article with nice photos of these beautiful churches.
Thanks for this wonderful article about the beautiful churches in the Medellin area. Your church series is impressive with all the photos and history of each church.
Thanks so much Jeff. I was hoping you’d post this. thought I was going to skim it. But ended up getting caught in their beauty and history. May be back later or tomorrow for a closer look , but will take a closer look. Some, remind me of churches throughout The EU.