El Santuario

El Santuario is a municipality in the mountains of Eastern Antioquia set at about 2,150 meters elevation among farmland and natural vegetation. The settlement spreads across hillside terrain with agricultural fields that shape the local landscape.

Captain Antonio Gómez de Castro founded the settlement in 1765 and established systematic farming in this mountainous region. This founding year marked the beginning of organized settlement in Eastern Antioquia.

The town center revolves around vegetable farming, with farmer markets and local gatherings that bring people together around potatoes, beans, and harvest traditions. This rural connection shapes the pace of daily life and how locals interact with their surroundings.

Regular bus services connect the municipality to Medellín through the mountainous region. Visitors should expect winding roads and changing weather conditions at this elevation.

The town center condenses into a very small area with one of the highest population densities in the region, making the settlement unusually compact. This tightness allows visitors to explore the center on foot quite easily.

Location: Eastern Antioquia

Location: Antioquia

Inception: 1765

Elevation above the sea: 2,150 m

Website: http://elsantuario-antioquia.gov.co/sitio.shtml

GPS coordinates: 6.13750,-75.26389

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:20