Junín Promenade

In front of you is downtown's most famous street. For much of the 20th century, going to Junín was the afternoon plan: window-shopping, meeting friends and being seen.

1A battle's name

The Villanueva district grew up in the 19th century on land belonging to the English engineer Tyrrell Moore, who wanted the square dedicated to Simón Bolívar and the nearby streets named after his campaigns. Junín recalls the 1824 battle in Peru. That is why you will also find Ecuador, Venezuela, Caracas, Perú and Bolivia around here.

2Juniniar

In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, «juniniar» meant heading downtown to stroll along this street. There were cinemas, department stores and cafés where students, journalists and artists gathered. Two of those places are still open: the Astor pastry shop, opened in 1930 by the Swiss Enrique Baer and Anny Gippert, and Versalles, opened in 1961 by the Argentine Leonardo Nieto, which brought Argentine empanadas and the feel of Buenos Aires cafés to Medellín.

Juniniar was, above all, about looking and being looked at.

Today the street is a very busy shopping promenade. It gets crowded: wear your backpack in front and stop for a tinto.

3What to look for

• The Astor and Versalles signs, two survivors of classic Junín.
• The street signs, named after Bolívar's campaign.
• The view north, ending at Bolívar Park.