In the 1970s, El Poblado became the new place to live for wealthy residents in Medellín, who relocated from Prado in El Centro because of overcrowding.
El Poblado is now
crammed with the best hotels, hostels and luxury apartments. The best shopping malls, namely, Oviedo and El Tesoro are also located in El Poblado, as are many of the most expensive restaurants and cafes and bars and clubs.
Much of El Poblado is set on the edge of a steep valley which means the temperature is less humid than other parts of Medellín and less appealing to mosquitoes. The hillside setting allows for many incredible views of the city, while views of El Poblado from one of Medellin's other neighbourhoods are quite spectacular because of the sheer number of high rise buildings jam-packed together.
El Poblado has an abundance of trees, plants and flowers making it feel less like part of a big sprawling city. Iguanas can be seen climbing one of numerous types of trees and multi-coloured parrots heard squawking their way between apartment blocks. El Poblado also has several streams or creeks that descend from the mountains towards Medellin's river and although large open green spaces are not common, Parque Lineal de La Presidenta is a welcome exception.
It's no wonder that El Poblado has become a magnet for foreign tourists. That said, at times, El Poblado can feel a bit like parts of the USA, where there is little focus given to pedestrian walkways and too many SUVs with darkened windows. Nevertheless, people in Poblado are predominantly free of the snobbery often found in wealthy city districts. |
