Comuna 13 and the Medellin Metrocable

Neighbourhood Of Medellin Once Among The Most Violent In The World, Now Known For Its Outdoor Escalators (Opened 2011), Graffiti Murals And Hip Hop. The City'S Metrocable, A Cable Car Line Built Into The Metro Network, Is A Landmark Of Urban Design. · Medellin, Antioquia

Comuna 13 is a steep hillside neighbourhood on the western edge of Medellin that was, in the 1990s and early 2000s, one of the most violent places in the country, caught between guerrilla, paramilitary and gang control. In 2002 the army launched large operations here, Operation Orion among them, and many families still carry that history. Today it is known for the outdoor escalators opened in 2011, which carry residents up the slope, and for the murals, hip-hop, breakdance and street food that fill the lanes above them. It is also a real home to thousands of people, so the best visit is a walk with a local guide from the neighbourhood, who explains the murals and the past with care. It is popular and touristy, with crowded lanes, vendors and performers asking for tips. The Metrocable cable cars that link hillside districts to the Metro are part of the story, and ride well. Plan for heat in the morning, rain in the afternoon, and a calm, respectful pace: this is a living neighbourhood first and an attraction second.

Hillside neighbourhood on the western edge of Medellin, reached by Metro line B to San Javier, with the outdoor escalators and murals above the station, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia

The streets and escalators are open to the public through the day and cost nothing, and community tours usually run from morning into the afternoon. Go in DAYLIGHT only. Performers and vendors are busiest in the late morning and on weekends. Metro and Metrocable lines run daily from early morning to late evening, with shorter hours on Sundays and holidays; confirm locally. Some murals and shops open only when owners are present, and rain can empty the lanes quickly.

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