The Restful Record: Medellin, Colombia

In this episode of The Restful Record, we explore the rich history of Medellín, Colombia—the "City of Eternal Spring." Relax as we take a slow, soothing journey through Medellín’s transformation from a rugged colonial town to a vibrant cultural centre known for its cartel past, innovation, lush landscapes, and warm climate.

Listen as I guide you through the city's past, from its early days of gold and coffee trade to its modern rebirth as a center of art, technology, and urban renewal. This episode is designed to help you unwind, featuring gentle storytelling, calming breathwork, and soft background sounds to ease you into restful sleep.

Perfect for: Falling asleep faster,  Stress relief & relaxation, Travel lovers & history buffs

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Podcast cover art image by Eric Nopanen.

Transcript

Welcome to tonight’s episode of The Restful Record. Whether you're here for relaxation, to de-stress, or to help you fall into a deep sleep, we welcome you. This season we take a gentle journey through time, exploring the stories of different cities around the world. Before we dive into tonight’s city, let's take a moment to relax. Close your eyes, settle into a comfortable position, and take a slow, deep breath in through your nose... hold for a moment... and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Let the weight of your day melt away as you breathe in calm and breathe out any tension you might be carrying. With each breath, feel yourself sinking deeper into relaxation. Now, as we drift through the history of tonight’s city, let the soothing rhythm of my voice guide you deep into relaxation or sleep.

 Nestled in the lush Aburrá Valley of the Andes Mountains, Medellín is a city that thrives in perpetual spring. With its mild climate averaging between 17°C (63°F) and 28°C (82°F) year-round, it has rightfully earned the nickname La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera—The City of Eternal Spring. Unlike many tropical regions that experience extreme seasonal shifts, Medellín enjoys a steady balance of warmth and rainfall, creating a green, vibrant environment. Towering mountains embrace the city on all sides, offering breathtaking views and a landscape rich with cascading waterfalls, rolling hills, and fertile soil. This climate makes it an ideal setting for a variety of flora, from towering wax palms—the national tree of Colombia—to vibrant orchids, which flourish in Medellín’s many gardens and parks.

 Beyond its picturesque scenery, Medellín is home to a fascinating array of wildlife. The surrounding forests and nature reserves shelter exotic birds like the Andean motmot, toucans, and even the rare yellow-eared parrot. Butterflies of every hue dance through the air, while small mammals like the agouti scurry beneath the lush vegetation. The city’s botanical richness is celebrated every year during the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival), where dazzling floral arrangements highlight the region’s deep-rooted connection to nature.

 Long before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, this region was home to the Nutabes, Aburrá, and other Indigenous groups who thrived in the fertile valley. These early inhabitants cultivated maize, beans, and other crops, mastering agriculture in the mountainous terrain. But their expertise extended beyond farming—they were skilled metalworkers, particularly in goldsmithing, creating intricate jewelry and ceremonial artifacts that reflected their spiritual and social traditions. Today, traces of their craftsmanship can be seen in Colombia’s famed Museo del Oro in Bogotá, a testament to the artistic and technological sophistication of these pre-Columbian societies.

 The Nutabes and Aburrá people also had extensive trade networks, exchanging goods like salt, textiles, and gold with neighboring communities. Their culture was deeply connected to the land, with settlements strategically placed along rivers and mountain ridges. However, with the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, their way of life was disrupted, and many Indigenous communities were displaced or assimilated into the new colonial system. 

 Spanish colonization reshaped the region, and in 1616, the Spanish officially founded Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Medellín. What began as a small colonial settlement would eventually grow into one of Colombia’s most important cities, shaped by trade, agriculture, and innovation.

 Medellín’s location in the Aburrá Valley was key to its early development. The region’s mild climate and fertile soil made it ideal for farming, while its mountainous surroundings provided natural protection. Over time, the settlement expanded, attracting Spanish settlers and Indigenous laborers who worked the land and built the foundations of what would become a major economic center. 

 Medellín’s transformation from a quiet colonial settlement to a bustling city was driven in large part by the Antioquian Gold Rush of the 19th century. As gold deposits were discovered in the surrounding mountains, prospectors, merchants, and laborers poured into the region, seeking their fortune. This influx of people spurred rapid urban expansion, with Medellín emerging as a key economic hub in Colombia. The newfound wealth from gold mining not only fueled construction and trade but also laid the foundation for a thriving business culture that would define the city for generations.

 Mining quickly became central to Medellín’s identity, shaping its economy and social structure. The wealth generated by gold extraction helped fund infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, which improved connectivity between Medellín and the rest of the country. Additionally, the gold boom led to the rise of a powerful merchant class, many of whom reinvested their fortunes into textiles, coffee production, and industry—sectors that would later drive Medellín’s economic success.

 By the late 19th century, Medellín found itself deeply entangled in Colombia’s ongoing political turmoil, particularly during the Thousand Days’ War (from 1899–1902). This brutal conflict between the Liberal and Conservative parties devastated much of the country, and Medellín, as an emerging economic center, was not spared. The war disrupted trade and agriculture, leading to food shortages and economic distress among the city’s growing population. Skirmishes and political violence erupted throughout the Antioquia region, as Medellín's elites and working-class residents found themselves divided by the ideological struggle that was tearing Colombia apart.

 Despite the hardships, Medellín managed to retain its status as a key industrial and commercial hub.  While the conflict left scars—both in terms of human loss and political instability—it also reinforced the region’s strong sense of identity and self-sufficiency. As peace slowly returned, Medellín’s entrepreneurial spirit helped it recover, setting the stage for its transformation into Colombia’s industrial powerhouse in the decades that followed.

 In the early 20th century, Medellín emerged as a crucial part of Colombia’s booming coffee industry, solidifying its role as a commercial and cultural center in the Coffee Triangle. As global demand for Colombian coffee surged, the city’s economy flourished, with new trade networks, infrastructure, and financial institutions supporting the export of high-quality beans. Medellín's strategic location and growing transportation links helped connect coffee farmers from the surrounding Antioquia region to international markets. This period of prosperity not only fueled urban growth but also shaped Medellín’s identity, fostering a strong entrepreneurial spirit 

 Medellín became the epicenter of the global cocaine trade in the late 20th century, largely due to the rise of the Medellín Cartel, an organization led by the notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Born on December 1, 1949, in Rionegro, Colombia, Escobar grew up in nearby Medellín and began his criminal career in petty crime before moving into drug trafficking in the 1970s. By the 80s, his cartel controlled the majority of cocaine smuggled into the United States, making him one of the richest men in the world. However, this wealth came at a devastating cost to Colombia, as Medellín became one of the most dangerous cities on Earth, plagued by assassinations, bombings, and a war between cartels and the Colombian government. Escobar portrayed himself as a Robin Hood figure, funding housing projects, schools, and even a soccer team for Medellín’s poor, though his generosity was overshadowed by the extreme violence he orchestrated.

 Escobar’s power and influence made him nearly untouchable for years. He even managed to negotiate his own imprisonment in 1991, building his own luxurious prison, known as La Catedral, where he continued running his operations. However, after escaping in 1992 to avoid extradition to the U.S., the Colombian government, with the help of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and vigilante death squads known as Los Pepes, launched an intense manhunt. On December 2, 1993, Escobar was tracked down and killed on a rooftop in Medellín, bringing an end to his direct reign over the city. His death, while a turning point, did not immediately end the violence, as rival cartels and paramilitary groups fought for control of the drug trade in the years that followed.

 Following Escobar’s death, his family faced intense scrutiny and exile. His widow, Maria Victoria Henao, and their children fled Colombia, eventually settling in Argentina under assumed identities. His son, Juan Pablo Escobar, later changed his name to Sebastián Marroquín and has since distanced himself from his father’s legacy, speaking out against the violence of the drug trade. However, some of Escobar’s relatives, including his brother Roberto Escobar, remained in Medellín and sought to capitalize on his infamy by creating tourism businesses centered around his legacy. While the Medellín Cartel itself was dismantled, remnants of Escobar’s empire influenced later criminal organizations that emerged in Colombia.

 Despite its dark past, Medellín has undergone a remarkable transformation in the decades since the fall of Escobar. The city has invested heavily in urban renewal, social programs, and public infrastructure. The infamous period of cartel dominance remains an important chapter in the city's history, but today, Medellín is known more for its innovation, tourism, and thriving arts scene than for its violent past. While the legacy of Pablo Escobar continues to spark debate, Medellín has worked hard to move beyond the shadow of the cartel era, proving that a city once defined by crime can rebuild and redefine itself.  It was even named the Innovative City of the Year by the Wall Street Journal in 2013.

 Today, Medellín stands as a testament to transformation. Once known for its turbulent past, it has reinvented itself through innovation, culture, and community-driven initiatives. The Medellín Cultural Renaissance has seen the rise of world-class museums, vibrant street art, and a thriving music and film scene. Public spaces like the Comuna 13 escalators, which were once sites of conflict, now showcase murals that tell stories of resilience and hope. The city’s focus on education and public art has not only improved safety but has also fostered a sense of identity and pride among its residents.

 A key factor in Medellín’s transformation was the construction of the Medellín Metro, which opened in 1995. As Colombia’s only metro system, it revolutionized public transportation, connecting the city’s most isolated neighborhoods to its economic and cultural centers. More than just a transit system, the Metro became a symbol of progress, inspiring civic pride and unity. The expansion of cable cars into hillside communities further reduced social barriers, allowing residents better access to jobs, education, and healthcare. This investment in infrastructure laid the foundation for Medellín’s ongoing evolution into a global model for urban innovation.

 Today, Medellín is recognized as a “Smart City,” leveraging technology to improve urban life. Digital transformation initiatives have enhanced public services, increased internet access, and fostered entrepreneurship. Programs like the Ruta N innovation center support startups and technological advancements, positioning Medellín as a leader in Latin America’s digital economy. People now flock from all over the world to live and work in Medellin as digital nomads. By embracing sustainability, social inclusion, and cutting-edge technology, Medellín has redefined itself—not as a city overshadowed by its past, but instead as a beacon of progress and ingenuity. Its story is a powerful reminder that with vision and commitment, even the most challenging histories can be rewritten. Thank you for joining us for tonight's episode of the Restful Record. Rest well.