Alejandría facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alejandría
Municipality
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality of Alejandría in the Antioquia Department
Alejandría Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Region	Andean Region
Department	Antioquia Department
Subregion	Eastern

Alejandría is a town and municipality in the Antioquia Department, Colombia. It is located in the eastern part of Antioquia. The town is surrounded by other municipalities like Concepción, Santo Domingo, San Roque, San Rafael, Guatapé, and El Peñol. Alejandría's main town is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Medellín, which is the capital city of the Antioquia department. The municipality covers an area of 149 square kilometers (57.5 square miles).

A Look Back: History of Alejandría

Just like many other places in eastern Antioquia, the area where Alejandría now stands was first home to the Tahamí people.

The town of Alejandría was started in 1886 by four people: Don Alejandro Osorio, Mrs. Procesa Delgado, Don Salvador Cordoba, and Mr. Climaco Jaramillo. By 1889, it became a small village within the municipality of Guatapé.

What makes Alejandría special is how it became a municipality. Most towns in Antioquia were made municipalities by orders from the local department. But Alejandría became a municipality because of a direct order from the President of Colombia in Bogotá. President Reyes agreed to the requests, and in March 1907, he officially created the town of Alejandría as its own municipality.

Quick Facts About Alejandría

• Founded: 1886
• Became a Municipality: 1907 (by Decree 304)
• Founders: Alejandro Osorio, Procesa Delgado, Salvador Cordova, and Climaco Jaramillo
• Nicknames: The Pearl of Nare
• Height Above Sea Level: 1,650 meters (5,413 feet)
• Average Temperature: 20 °C (68 °F)
• People from Alejandría are called: Alejandrinos (or Alexandrine)

How Alejandría is Organized

Alejandría is divided into different areas. It has a main urban zone (the town itself) and several rural zones called Veredas.

Rural Zones (Veredas)

There are 15 Veredas in Alejandría:

• Cruces
• El Carbón
• El Cerro
• El Popo
• El Respaldo
• La Inmaculada
• La Pava
• Piedras
• Remolino
• San José
• San Lorenzo
• San Miguel
• San Pedro
• Tocaima
• San Antonio

Town Neighborhoods (Urban Zone)

The main town of Alejandría has several neighborhoods:

• Centenario
• Mirador del Nare
• Nudillales
• Quintas
• La Bomba
• Concepcion
• Cordoba
• San Pedro
• Bolivar
• Santader
• La cruz
• Villanueva
• Miraflores

Climate in Alejandría

Alejandría has a cool tropical rainforest climate. This means it gets a lot of rain all year round. The temperature stays pretty steady because of its height above sea level.

People of Alejandría

In 2018, Alejandría had a total population of 4,657 people.

• About 2,561 people live in the main town (urban area).
• About 2,096 people live in the rural areas.

Most people in Alejandría can read and write. In 2005, about 99.4% of the population was literate. This means almost everyone can read and write!

Getting to Alejandría

There are several ways to reach Alejandría from Medellin:

• Route 1: Medellin - Guarne - San Vicente - Concepcion - Alejandria. This road is completely paved.
• Route 2: Medellin - Barbosa - Concepcion - Alejandria. This route has about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of unpaved road from Barbosa.
• Route 3: Medellin - Barbosa - Molino Viejo - Santo Domingo - Alejandria. This route has about 16 kilometers (10 miles) of unpaved road from Santo Domingo.
• Route 4: Medellin - Guarne - Marinilla - Penol - Guatape - Alejandria. This route has about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of unpaved road from Guatape.
• Route 5: Medellin - Guarne - Marinilla - Penol - Guatape - San Rafael - Alejandria. This route has about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of unpaved road from San Rafael.

What Alejandría Produces: Economy

The economy of Alejandría is based on several activities:

• Tourism: Visitors enjoy activities like fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and boat rides on the rivers.
• Agriculture: Farmers grow crops such as coffee, sugarcane, fique (a plant used for fibers), and beans.
• Livestock: People raise animals for meat and Milk.
• Mining: There is some mining for gold and silver.
• Hydroelectricity: The area also produces electricity using water power.

Fun Times: Events and Festivals

Alejandría hosts many exciting events throughout the year:

• Celebrations of Sympathy: Held in the first week of January, these are the town's main traditional celebrations, full of joy and community spirit.
• Easter: This religious festival includes plays and processions.
• Departmental Band Meeting: Every March, different bands from the department gather for a musical event.
• May 1st: Sports activities are held on this day.
• Corpus Christi: A religious festival celebrated with special shrines and processions through the town's streets.
• Virgen del Carmen Celebrations: On July 16, this religious festival features parades and pageants.
• Feast of the Antioquenidad: On August 11, artistic performances showcase the local paisa culture.
• Theatre Festival: Held in August, this festival celebrates the performing arts.
• Patron Saint Peter of Alejandría: On November 22, there are parades and other religious activities to honor the town's patron saint.
• Holidays: During the Christmas season, there are novenas (nine-day prayers), musical concerts, and other festive activities.

Places to Visit in Alejandría

Alejandría has many beautiful natural spots and historical sites to explore.

Nature's Beauty

• Reservoirs: The San Lorenzo and El Penol-Guatape reservoirs are great places to see.
• Nare River: This river offers natural pools, green meadows, and good spots for fishing. You might even catch a sabaleta!
• "Bridal Veil" Waterfall: Located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the town center, this waterfall is a beautiful sight.
• "Sabina" Waterfall: Just 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the town, this is an impressive waterfall that drops 60 meters (197 feet)!
• Nudillales River: A lovely spot for fishing and swimming.
• Nudillales Spa: Found in the Centenario neighborhood, this spa has natural pools and areas perfect for camping and picnics.
• Height Combo: A natural high point offering great views.
• San Lorenzo Nature Reserve: A protected area where you can enjoy nature.
• Piedras River: Another scenic river in the area.
• Perucho Lake: A peaceful lake to visit.

Historical and Artistic Sites

• Nudillales Bridge: Located very close to the town center (0.5 km or 0.3 miles), this bridge is near popular swimming pools.
• Purgatory Bridge: About 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from town, this old bridge was once a very important path for connecting with the northeast region and transporting gold.
• Church of St. Peter of Alejandría: The first chapel here was built in 1884.
• Former Home of Alejandro Osorio: You can see the house of one of the town's founders.
• Cirpes Bridge: Another interesting bridge.
• Alejandro Osorio Municipal Library: This library has a collection of photographs that show the history of the town.
• School of Music Museum: A place to learn about the town's musical heritage.
• Principal Park of Alejandría: The main park in the town center, a great place to relax.

See also

In Spanish: Alejandría (Antioquia) para niños