If you find yourself in Medellín and wish to explore its architectural and religious heritage, here are the most beautiful churches in the city and some interesting facts about the history of each one.
Holy Week is the ideal time of year to tour and visit several churches. Additionally, in our article about Holy Week, you can discover more religious and cultural tourism activities that Medellín offers.
Before we begin, it’s important to mention that all the churches on our list are Catholic temples. However, there are also diverse religions in Medellín such as Protestantism, Christianity, Judaism, among others, with their respective temples.
What will you find in this post?
- How many churches are there in Medellín?
- Main cathedrals and churches in Medellín
- Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellín
- La Veracruz Church
- Church of the Lord of Mercies
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
- Church of San José
- Church of El Poblado
- Church of St. Anthony of Padua
- Parish of Jesus of Nazareth
- Churches in Downtown Medellín
- Churches in El Poblado
How many churches are there in Medellín?
According to an article published by the Mayor’s Office in 2022, Medellín has 232 religious buildings. Of these, 20 have been declared Cultural Heritage Sites. Seven of them have national recognition, and the rest are recognized at the municipal level.
Main cathedrals and churches in Medellín
Although Medellín has a large number of religious buildings, we will only mention those that stand out as tourist attractions due to their history and architectural richness.
During Holy Week, all these churches will have a special event schedule that you can check here.
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellín

The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellín is the main temple of the Archdiocese and the seat of the archbishop. Designed by the architect Charles Émile Carré in Neo-Romanesque style, its construction spanned from 1890 to 1931. It is the largest church in the world built in baked clay, and due to its architectural significance, it was declared a National Monument of Colombia in 1982.
Located on the north side of Bolívar Park, a lively place on weekends, this cathedral is close to the charming commercial passage Bulevar Junín, where you can enjoy cafés, restaurants, and shops.
Address: Cra. 48 # 56-64 (City Center).
La Veracruz Church

This church is one of the oldest in Medellín. Its history is divided into two periods: it was first inaugurated in 1713, but due to deterioration, it had to be rebuilt between 1791 and 1803.
Traditionally known as the Church of the Strangers, it used to serve as a cemetery for those arriving from outside. An interesting curiosity is that one of its bells was used by the Sage Francisco José de Caldas to make a cannon for Independence.
I recommend visiting it with tourist guides, as the tour generally includes Plaza Botero, the Museum of Antioquia, and part of Carabobo Passage.
Address: Cl. 51 # 52-58 (City Center, near Parque Berrío).

Also known as the Church of Manrique, this is the most representative temple of Comuna 3. Its architecture stands out in the city due to its flamboyant neo-Gothic style, designed by the Carmelite architect Andrés Lorenzo Duarte, who also designed the Church of Frontino. This building was declared a cultural, artistic, and religious heritage of Medellín in 1999.
Address: Cl. 67 # 47-6. The easiest way to get there is to take Metroplús line 1 to Palos Verdes station.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help

EThis church, built in 1952, stands out for its French Gothic style. It was designed to improve the automotive sector of Perpetuo Socorro, which today is a creative district with cafés, restaurants, and artistic and cultural enterprises.
It’s important to know that the church is not open to the public, so besides admiring its impressive façade, you can visit other nearby attractions like the All Day Café restaurant, La Bodega de Comfama, the Mattelsa building, and La Fábrica coffee roastery.
Address: Cl. 35 # 48-8 (the nearest Metro station is Exposiciones, two blocks away).
Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Originally known as the Church of San Francisco, it was built between 1803 and 1809. In the 20th century, with the urban renewal of Medellín, it was remodeled by architects Félix Mejía and Agustín Goovaerts, who also designed the Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe.
Finally, in 1929, it became the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the city, highlighted by its two towers and dome. This temple is surrounded by other heritage works, such as the Paraninfo, San Ignacio Square, and the Comfama Cloister, where, in addition to the Café Bohemio de Clausura, you can enjoy a varied cultural and entertainment program.
Address: Cra. 44 #48-28. To get there, you can take the metro to San Antonio station, transfer to the Ayacucho tram, and get off at San José station, which is one block from the church.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

This church, also known as the Church of Buenos Aires for being the most emblematic in this sector of Medellín, is another building that stands out in the urban landscape with its neo-Gothic style. Designed by the architect Francisco Nevechi, its construction took place between 1902 and 1931.
It is located in a vibrant area of the city, close to other attractions like the Memory House Museum and the gastronomic passage of the Tramway Boulevard.
Address: Cl. 49 #35-39. To get there, you can take the metro to San Antonio station, transfer to the Ayacucho tram, and get off at Bicentenario station, two blocks from the church.
Church of San José

This church has a rich history, as its construction took more than half a century and was completed in 1902 with the renovation of its new façade. Inside, there are valuable treasures such as the atrium basin and the painting “The Baptism of Jesus,” both created by the artist Francisco Antonio Cano. It also houses the largest organ in Medellín, built by the Spanish Pablo Xucla.
Address: Cra. 46 #49-90. To get there, you can take the metro to San Antonio station, transfer to the Ayacucho tram, and get off at San José station, which is right next to the church.
Church of El Poblado

Dedicated to St. Joseph, although popularly known as the Church of El Poblado, this is one of the religious buildings with the most history in Medellín. It was built on the same site where the Poblado de Indios de San Lorenzo de Aburrá was founded in 1616, a milestone prior to the foundation of the Villa de La Candelaria, which later became Medellín.
Located in one of the most touristic and active areas of the city, this church allows you to easily access a wide range of gastronomic and entertainment options in its surroundings. Additionally, not far from there, I recommend visiting the Museo El Castillo.
Church of St. Anthony of Padua

This church is located next to San Antonio Park, where two of Fernando Botero’s most famous sculptures, “The Wounded Bird” and “The Bird of Peace,” are found. It is known for having the largest dome in Medellín and one of the largest in Latin America. Curiously, it is not very frequented, despite Saint Anthony of Padua being the patron saint of lost items.
To visit it, I recommend doing so with a tourist agency or a guide who offers a complete tour of the downtown area. Near the church, there are many other places of interest like La Alpujarra, the old Antioquia Railway Station, the Lights Park, and the Carabobo commercial passage that leads to Botero Plaza.
Address: Cra. 48 # 44-55 (the nearest Metro station is San Antonio).
Parish of Jesus of Nazareth

Although its history dates back to earlier times, the current temple began construction in 1941 and was completed in 1953 by the Claretian Missionaries. Its architectural style is Gothic with a French touch, adapted to the conditions of the time. Due to its magnificence, art, and grandeur, it is considered one of the most beautiful temples in Medellín.
It is located in the Prado neighborhood, the only heritage neighborhood in the city, known for its numerous mansions with eclectic architecture. Besides visiting the parish, you can explore other interesting places such as the Egyptian Palace, as well as theaters and cozy cultural cafés.
Address: Cra. 51D # 62-29. The nearest Metro station is Hospital.

As you may have noticed, many of the temples on our list are located in the La Candelaria sector. This is because the downtown area holds a significant part of Medellín’s architectural and cultural heritage.
In this area, there are even more buildings that, although not necessarily tourist attractions, might interest you if you wish to visit the temples for other reasons. Here is a more complete list of the 15 churches in the sector:
- El Espíritu Santo: Calle 63 No. 49-32 (Prado Centro)
- El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús: Carrera 57 A No. 44A-15
- Jesús Nazareno: Carrera 52 No. 61-30
- Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica: Carrera 48 No. 56-81
- La Veracruz: Calle 52 No. 52-18
- Los 12 Apóstoles: Carrera 50 A No. 58-27 (Prado Centro)
- María Reina de los Ángeles: Calle 60 No. 41-63 (Los Ángeles)
- Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria: Calle 49 A No. 50-85
- Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro: Calle 35 No. 48-8
- Nuestra Señora del Sufragio: Calle 55 No. 39-61 (Boston Sucre)
- San Antonio: Carrera 48 No. 44-55 A
- San Benito: Calle 51 No.56 A 76
- San Ignacio de Loyola: Carrera 44 No. 48-28
- San José: Carrera 46 No. 49-90
- San Juan Bosco: Calle 49 No. 55-25
Churches in El Poblado

When people search for churches in Medellín, they also show a lot of interest in the El Poblado sector. So, to conclude, here is another complete list of temples in this area of the city:
- Parish of San Lucas: Address: Cra. 25 B # 20 sur – 35.
- Parish of Santa María de los Ángeles: Address: Cra. 46 # 15 sur -93.
- Parish of Padre Marianito: Address: Cl. 24B # 17 – 110.
- Parish of San José de El Poblado: Address: Cra. 43A # 9-30.
- Parish of Santa María de Los Dolores: Address: Cra. 45 # 6-94.
- Parish of the Divine Eucharist: Address: Cra. 36 # 7-33.
- Parish of San Juan Apóstol: Address: Cra. 25 # 1A Sur 155.
- Parish of the Visitation: Address: Cl. 5 Sur #30-72 (Loma de Los González).