Manizales General Sights

General Sights

There are many things to see. This is a beautiful university city, famous thru-out Colombia for the numerous private and public universities here. It's reported that 1/4 of city (pop. 400,000) residents here are students, females seem to outnumber males by margin of 3 to 1. So students can be seem everywhere, either walking to classes along Avenidas Santander or Parallela, or sitting in the myraid cafes along Avenida Santander after class while chatting with freinds and watching others strollling along the avenue. The city has a real European, small city feel to it, like being in Switzerland or the Alps. It rains alot (almost every day, but not for too long) and intensity depends on which of two seasons they are in. The air is always fresh, temperature alittle cool, and can be balmy depending on which part of city you're visiting--the city is also famous for being one of only on planet with 8 seperate micro-climates in world, depending on which elevation and barrio you're in. For example, it's possible in just 10 minutes to go from a spot that's cool and foggy (for ex. the Chipre barrio that is higher up and overlooking the valley floor below) to one that is warm and balmy (like La Linda barrio). In this city it's easy to see why the Spanish would choose locations high up for planting cities, and the later Colonialists from Medellin and State of Antiochia who founded this city, choose this relatively high location to mount a new city 150 years ago, the climate is moderate and very healthy, and nothing like the humidity and heat you'll find in valleys down below! The city has a beautiful park called 'Los Colonializadores' on a mount overlooking the city and beautiful coffee rich valleys down below. The view is 360 degrees, and to east, north and south are views of city that's nestled up against the western side of central Cordillaria (Colombia, in the western part of country, is basically divided into sections by three large, wide mountian ranges) and to west are views of the valleys and coffee plantations down below which contain the famous coffee cities of Chinchina and Palastina (where a new, modern international airport is now under construction). The city has a large eco-park called Los Yarumos, named after a large tree specie, Yarumos. It contains beautiful views overlooking the city and afords views of mountains and volcanos encircling the city above. There are many hiking trails and nature walks, and city just completed a new indoor ice skating rink, which has a great music system! Also, there is also a large conference center and resturant. The city has two main plazas, Plaza Bolivar and Parque Caldas, where people can go to sit and to chat with friends, or to shop and to watch others in afternoon and everning. Plaza Bolivar contains the State Government of Caldas admininstration buildings, as Manizales city is also the seat of Caldas state. On the other side of the plaza stands the impressive, beautiful Cathedral of Manizales, built by rich coffee barons, the city and Catholic church. It's massive size is impressive and famous for it's elaborate gold canopy and beautiful, large stained-glass windows. Many people visit this plaza during trips to city center to conduct personal or municipal business, as this area contains most of important government buildings, and is oldest part of city.