Santa Elena – Medellín

Santa Helena, a humble Antioquia town and the origin of Medellín’s floral displays.

The small town of Santa Elena is located just east of Medellín high in the mountains and approximately 16km away from the city centre. The weather is normally cooler due to its elevation and its soils are rich with nutrients that local farmers take advantage of for growing an abundance of tropical and local varieties of flowers, may of which are exported to international markets abroad. Santa Elena is also the birthplace of the ornate flower arrangements called silletas that are the cornerstone of the Flower Festival, or Feria de las Flores in Medellín.

This industry is celebrated every year in what has become one of Colombia’s most famous events, the Feria de las Flores. Held every year in August, typically a dry month for Medellín, this festival incorporates the local expert flower growers of Santa Elena. Inhabitants from the different hillsides surrounding the town build amazing works of art with the seasonal flowers. These pieces are built using natural materials including a wooden base upon which a wide variety of flowers are decorated. Afterwards, the Silleteros march down from the mountainside village of Santa Elena with the designs, called silletas strapped to their backs.

The flower festival’s main event is the silletero parade in which hundreds of beautiful silletas, that were made the night before in Santa Elena can be seen making their way down their route through streets of Medellín in huge parades. Many citizens and tourists alike make a pilgrimage every year to the small town of Santa Elena the night before the parade in order to witness the artistic construction of their designs and to toast their work.

Santa Elena also offers year-round attractions as well to local, national and foreign visitors. One of these ecological marvels is Parque Arví with its expansive 11,000 hectares of natural reserve that extends into the municipalities of Medellín, Bello, Copacabana and Envigado. Sunsets from the ecological park are very popular tourist attraction. Viewpoints such as La Laguna, Patio Bonito, La Meseta, La Paloma and Cerro Verde offer a wide variety of viewing points as one takes in the lush green surroundings of the area. The park can be accessed from multiple locations including the towns of Santa Elena.

Parque Arví contains an abundance of bird species including 119 different types currently on record. The reserve also boasts more than 163 different species of insects that can be found along its paths, around the lakes, forests and streams that throughout the park. Outdoor sports are also popular at the park including such activities such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing and kayaking. At Montevivo, a few minutes away from Parque Central, there is an expansive system of ropes that have been constructed that allow for the practice of canopy and other climbing sports.

Mixed in with the natural ambiance of the area are hidden culinary treasures to be discovered such as the restaurant Donde Edward in which one can savour the gourmet rabbit dishes that are well known in the region. On the road from Medellín to Santa Elena one can also find the Conejos y Conejos Restaurant as well as Sancochos Edilma, a place specialising in Antioquia stews. The main square in Santa Elena is the meeting place for those who wish to embark upon other activities in this general area.