Moravia – The unexpected Garden of Medellin

Medellin was recognized as the “Global Capital of Innovation” by the Wall Street Journal and Urban Life Institute in 2013. The city of Medellin has become a symbol of transformation. The prizes salute its dynamism and social, urban and entrepreneurial projects.

From 1977 to 1984, the district of Moravia, located in Comuna 4 of Medellin, was recognized as a municipal dump for the residents of the city. At the same time 15,000 inhabitants were still living in this area. During all this time, the “Moravitas” (as we call the inhabitants of Moravia) were used to take profit from the dump to survive. They collected clothes, obsolete objects or leftover materials to build their houses or sell them. The inhabitants of Moravia speak of the time when they used to collect the trash as a kind of treasure hunt. However, for the rest of the residents of Medellin, the Moravitas were severely stigmatized and named as “garbage collectors”. This did not prevent this neighborhood from becoming overcrowded. Thus, the houses of Moravia were built on an unstable and dangerous floor, completely covered with waste.

Over the years, the neighborhood has been transformed by the initiative of the inhabitants. Then, from 2000, the town hall of Medellin supports the community with a project called “Moravia Florece para la Vida” (Moravia Flower for Life). The heart of this project is to plant a garden on this old mountain of trash that reached 40 meters high.

In 2017, the district of Moravia received the International Environmental Award (ORBE InnoVerde) as it has become a model in organic waste treatment and soil remediation.

With this tour you will discover the neighborhood of Moravia. First, you will walk through the beautifully landscaped garden located on the hill. While wandering on the garden, you will come across with the impressive history of Moravia thanks to illustrated photos and Art. Then, you will visit the various nurseries held by gardening cooperatives. Finally, once on the top of the hill, you will have a 360-degree view of Medellin.

With this tour, you contribute to the transformation of the neighborhood of Moravia. Thereby, travelers are invited to plant a tree on a side of the mountain to continue to give life to this unexpected garden.

Medellin Moravia Tour Details

Morning (AM) | Afternoon (PM)

• AM 09:00 | PM 14:00
  • Meeting at Universidad Metro Station.
  • Meeting with our local guide, a social leader of the district.
  • Visit of Moravia’s Cultural Center.

• AM 10:00 | PM 15:00
  • Walkthrough the neighborhood of Moravia.
  • Visit of the former mountain of trash.
  • Tree planting workshop.

• PM 11:30 | PM 16:30
  • Back to Universidad Metro Station.

What to take for the tour of Moravia

• Sunscreen protection
• Comfortable shoes
• Umbrella or raincoat (might not be needed at all but better be safe than sorry)