Amalfi is a traditional town in the northeastern Antioquia region, located 147 kilometers from Medellín and includes a forest reserve area with a rich variety of flora and fauna.
It is also a peaceful destination with impeccable urban planning similar to a chessboard, where two monuments commemorate the famous tiger that was hunted in 1949 after devouring more than a thousand cattle in the region.
This tiger, which was actually a fierce jaguar, became a myth present in the rich oral storytelling of the people of Amalfi, representing this town full of natural parks, plateaus, valleys, mountains, countless bodies of water, and beautiful streets through which the history of Spanish and Antioquian conquistadors and settlers unfolded.
How to get there?
Located in the Central Mountain Range of Colombia, Amalfi features all thermal floors due to the different altitudes of its topography. For example, the urban area predominantly experiences a cold climate, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 22 degrees Celsius. However, there are higher and lower temperatures, depending on the altitude of its mountains and slopes.
It is one of the largest municipalities in Antioquia (with approximately 22,000 inhabitants), due to the settlement of Antioquian and foreign inhabitants attracted by the region's mineral and water resources and the beauty of its landscapes.
The Spanish arrived during the conquest period in search of gold, but it was not until the 18th century that some merchants from the Atlantic coast founded a village in what is now the Portachuelo district. It was only during the Antioquian colonization that the town was founded as it is known today.
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60 rural districts are part of this 1,210 square kilometer municipality, which mainly depends on agriculture and livestock. Amalfi has the largest fique (a plant used for fiber) cultivation on the continent and numerous fruit crops such as lulo and soursop.
To explore its valleys, mountains, and slopes, the inhabitants use the Chiva, a traditional bus with a staircase, and other regional transport. The Land of the Tiger is also known for the widespread use of bicycles as a means of transportation in the town center.
The urban area
The main park, Carlos Segismundo de Greiff, named in honor of the Colombian-Swedish engineer and geographer who designed the town's urban layout, is a modern park, a true canvas that can be seen from the air with multiple details.
It features wide corridors crossed by beautiful gardens, with floors made of fine natural stone in various tones, forming patterns that give the square an artistic atmosphere. Ancient Ceiba trees provide freshness to the surroundings and serve as a roof for the beautiful central fountain, whose streams represent the different indigenous cultures of the region and the many sculptures permanently displayed.
Monuments to the national heroes, the creator of the national anthem's lyrics, Efraín Galeano, and steel sculptures by renowned Colombian artists Omar Rayo (Mariposa) and Enrique Grau (Rita), invite visitors to explore art and literature.
Two bronze monuments of the jaguar and decorative colored bicycles complete the charm of this place, which also houses the greatest artistic work since 1843: The Church of the Immaculate Conception. At its entrance is a monument to the Colombian saint, Mother Laura Montoya Upegui, an educator and Catholic missionary who made her first communion in this town.
At night, the park becomes a gathering and chatting space, complemented by a light show that captivates those who visit.
Nature and Adventure Tourism
In its origins, Amalfi was an indigenous population. Cultures such as the Tahamíes, Yamesíes, and Guamocoes inhabited this territory, and some mestizo descendants remain, with local expressions of their language, place names, the worship of the jaguar, and the famous petroglyphs that can be visited in the El Encanto district.
In any of the routes and experiences offered by official tourist operators in Amalfi, you will encounter surprising natural wealth. Eucalyptus, cedars, laurels, walnuts, and many other varieties of trees (many of them fruit-bearing) create a dense forest landscape, an ideal corridor for species like jaguars, chameleons, parrots, parakeets, rabbits, tapirs, and a wide variety of snakes and birds.
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From the four guardian hills surrounding the town (namely, Alto del Cristo or Alto de las Cruces, Alto de la Virgen or Alto de la Linea, Alto de Maruchita, and Alto del Río), one can admire the beauty of the landscape and the town's design.
As for the water resources, the Porce, Riachon, Pocoró, El Mata, Monos rivers, and numerous streams flow through the town and its lands, feeding the two reservoirs, Porce II and Porce III. Numerous natural waterfalls, such as the Tequendamitas and the Caracolí Waterfall, provide perfect settings for contemplation, hiking, extreme sports, and a deep connection with nature.
The Julio Assuad Ecopark is an ecological park where you can enjoy hiking and visit a lake while spending an unforgettable day surrounded by the region's endemic vegetation.
In the Botanical Garden, you'll find a native forest, a natural reserve where the San Ignacio Spring, a potable water spring, arises from the earth and serves as the aqueduct supplying the entire town with water. It is a peaceful and tranquil place, ideal for family relaxation and a picnic day.
Come to Amalfi!
Amalfi is a true treasure to discover, a town of kind and hardworking people in the middle of a dreamlike place, eager to welcome you. It is, without a doubt, a destination full of Antioquian pride, where you'll find all the charms of the Antioquian culture.
