Yesterday on our Colombia Travel Blog, Ryan looked at the hip-swinging capital of salsa, Cali. Today I’ll be looking at Manizales, also known as ‘The City of Open Doors’.
Manizales is the capital of the Caldas department and, along with Armenia and Pereira, forms what is known as Colombia’s Coffee Triangle. It’s a region of fascinating biological diversity, stunning views and, of course, incredible coffee.
Manizales itself is one of the most spectacularly located cities in Colombia. Owing to its location in the Andes, the city is dwarfed by the snow-capped mountains that loom spectacularly over the horizon. This location also affords Manizales a variable climate and great biodiversity.
Manizales is a university city and, thanks to this, its cultural scene is thriving. Theatre, ballet, and music concerts are all commonplace events throughout the year (although none take place during the time of the Colombia World Cup). The strong student population also means the city boasts a great, relaxed nightlife. The main cluster of bars are found in El Cable, near Cable Plaza shopping centre. For sightseeing, a must-see is the Gothic Cathedral of Manizales, rare in Colombia for its Italian architectural design.
Ecotourists can also delight in ecological reserves such as Ecoparque los Yarumos and the Rio Blanco Reserve.
As for football (I know that’s what you’re really here for…), Manizales shot to fame in 2004 when local side Once Caldas gained a surprise victory in the Copa Libertadores (the South American equivalent to the Champions League), beating Argentinian giants Boca Juniors on penalties in the final.
Manizales will host Australia, Costa Rica, Spain and Ecuador in the group stages as well as a quarter final tie.
Paul
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