MEDELLIN MUSEUM BOTERO

IN 1881 WAS FOUNDED THE MUSEUM OF ZEA IN HONOR OF FRANCISCO ANTONIO ZEA. THE FIRST COLLECTIONS WERE FORMED WITH OBJECTS OF HISTORICAL, ARTISTIC AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL VALUE BELONGING TO ITS FOUNDERS. INAUGURATED ON OCTOBER 12, 1937, THE NEW BUILDING HOSTED THE MAYOR AND THE CITY OF MEDELLIN UNTIL 1988, AND IN 1995 WAS DECLARED NATIONAL MONUMENT.
IN 2000 THE BUILDING WAS CONVERTED INTO THE MUSEUM OF ANTIOQUIA. THE WORKS OF CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND ADAPTATION TO NEW USE CAN RETRIEVE THE ORIGINAL BEAUTY OF THE STRUCTURE, IT MAINTAINS ITS QUALITY AND ARCHITECTURAL STYLE ART DECO. IN 1975 THE MASTER FERNANDO BOTERO MADE HIS FIRST OFFER OF DONATION OF WORKS TO THE MUSEUM.  THE PLAZA BOTERO OPENED IN 2002 AND CONTAINS PERMANENT EXHIBITION OF 23 MONUMENTAL SCULPTURES MADE BY FERNANDO BOTERO. AT LEAST 117 WORKS OF BOTERO HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THE MUSEUM.