Introduction: When the neighborhood speaks with paint
In Medellín, a neighborhood's story is sometimes written with bricks, sometimes with cement, and other times —like in Conquistadores— with spray paint. But not just any spray paint. Here, on the slopes of Comuna 12, the graffiti isn't just decoration. They are scars that became art, screams that found color, and for many, a way to heal what words cannot say.
If you walk along 44A Street between Carrera 76 and 78, you'll come across walls that seem to breathe. A huge face of a woman with colorful tears, a child flying kites against a background of gray clouds, phrases like "Memory is not painted, it is screamed." This is not just any open-air museum. It is the result of years of work by the Pinta Conquista collective, a group of neighbors, urban artists, and community psychologists who decided in 2019 that the neighborhood would not stay silent.
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In May 2026, Conquistadores remains a place where art is not a luxury, but a necessity. And this guide is for you —artist, student, curious traveler, or neighbor— to understand how this phenomenon works, what you can see, how to participate, and why these murals are more than just pretty paint.
What to do in Conquistadores: a tour of 7 points of visual healing
Forget about galleries with air conditioning. Here, art is on the street, in the sun, in the rain, and each wall tells a story that someone needed to tell. We've put together a map of seven key points you can't miss if you want to understand what this neighborhood art therapy is all about.
1. Mural of 'La Dolorosa' on 44A Street
On the facade of an old house, almost at the court, is the mural the neighbors call La Dolorosa. It is the face of a young woman, with her eyes closed and a tear falling in electric blue. She is not a virgin or a saint. She is Juliana, a girl from the neighborhood who died in a motorcycle accident in 2020. Her mother, Doña Marta, asked for her to be painted so she wouldn't be forgotten.
The mural was made by Dex, the local graffiti artist we'll tell you about later. It took him three weeks, working at night because it was hot during the day. The technique is mixed: spray paint, acrylic, and even a bit of nail polish that Doña Marta lent him for the shine of the tear. Today, the corner where the mural is has become a meeting point. Neighbors place candles on weekends, and sometimes there is music. It is a living altar.
Location: Calle 44A # 77-15 (approximate). It is recommended to check hours before visiting.
2. Graffiti workshop for young people on Saturdays at the court
The court on 44A Street, between Carrera 77 and 78, is the heart of the neighborhood. But not just for soccer. Every Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., a free graffiti workshop for young people aged 12 to 25 takes place. It is organized by Pinta Conquista in alliance with the Community Action Board and the Ministry of Culture of Medellín.
Here, they don't just teach you how to paint. They teach you how to prepare the surface, mix colors, respect public space, and, above all, put a name to what hurts. Each session starts with a half-hour talk where the kids talk about what's going on with them: fights at home, problems at school, wanting to leave the neighborhood. Then, they grab the spray cans and put it on an assigned wall. The murals you see today are the result of months of these workshops.
Requirement: Bring your own spray cans if you have them. If not, the collective lends some, but they are limited. Arrive early.
3. The wall of lost trades
Half a block from the court, on Carrera 77 with Calle 44B, there is a long wall that looks like an open book. It is called The wall of lost trades. It was painted between 2021 and 2022 by a group of elderly women from the neighborhood, led by Dex. Each panel represents a trade that is disappearing in Conquistadores: the lady who sold empanadas on the corner, the knife sharpener who passed by with his cart, the cobbler who worked in a shop that is now a clothing store.
The interesting thing is that the women didn't know how to paint. Dex taught them basic techniques with rollers and stencils. The result is rough, imperfect, but that's precisely what makes it real. There is a lady, Doña Rosalba, who appears in the mural selling chontaduro. She herself posed for the photo they used as a reference. "I never thought I would end up painted on a wall," she says every time she passes by.
4. The alley of hugs
Between Carrera 78 and 79, on Calle 44, there is a narrow alley that used to be a clandestine dump. Today it is called The alley of hugs. The walls are covered with painted hugs: intertwined hands, entwined bodies, phrases like "A hug is never refused" and "There's room for everyone here."
It was a 2023 project with psychology students from the University of Antioquia, who worked with children from the neighborhood to talk about grief and loss. Each child painted the hug they needed most at that moment. There are hugs from mom, dad, a friend who left, a pet that died. It is a place that invites you to sit down and look slowly. Many people go there to cry, and no one bothers them.
5. The mural of the disappeared
On the facade of the community hall, on Carrera 76, there is a mural that has no bright colors. It is black and white, with portraits of serious faces. They are people from the neighborhood who disappeared between 2010 and 2020, victims of the urban armed conflict that hit Conquistadores hard. The mural was made by family members, with help from Dex and other artists from the collective.
Under each face there is a date and a short phrase. "We wait for you," "Come back," "Your home is here." It is not a mural for tourists. It is a memorial. The neighbors take care of it, sweep the sidewalk, change the flowers that are sometimes placed at its base. If you go, go with respect. It is not a spot for selfies. It is a place to remember that art also hurts.
6. The pedestrian crossing of dreams
On the corner of Carrera 77 and Calle 44A, there is a pedestrian crossing that is not gray. It is painted with fluorescent colors: a rainbow crossing the street, with stars and clouds. It was made by the children from the graffiti workshop in 2024. The idea was that every time someone crossed, they would step on a dream. The children wrote their dreams on the tiles: "To be a doctor," "To have a house," "For my dad to come back."
The pedestrian crossing has faded a bit with traffic and rain, but the collective retouches it every six months. It is a reminder that the neighborhood is not just violence and bad news. It is also a place where children dream.
7. The facade of the Pinta Conquista collective
At Carrera 78 # 44-30 (approximate) is the collective's headquarters. It is a small, two-story house with a completely painted facade. The workshop, the spray paint storage, and the meeting point are there. The facade changes every year: in 2025 they painted a tribute to the grandmothers of the neighborhood, with figures of women knitting. In 2026, they are working on a collaborative mural about mental health, with phrases like "Asking for help is not weakness."
If you want to join the collective, you can stop by on Saturday mornings. Ask for Dex or Mónica, the community psychologist who coordinates the workshops. You don't need experience. Just the desire to paint and to listen.
Where to eat or drink near the murals
After walking and seeing so much art, the body asks for something. Conquistadores is not a gastronomic area like El Poblado, but it has its gems. Here are options to eat well without spending much, and in the process support local businesses.
Doña Nelly's arepa corner
On Calle 44A with Carrera 77, right next to the court, is Doña Nelly. From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., she sells corn arepas with cheese, egg arepas, and coffee. Everything between $3,000 and $6,000 COP. It's the graffiti artists' breakfast. Doña Nelly knows all the artists in the neighborhood and can tell you stories about each mural while she serves you. There are no tables, everything is on the go, but it's worth it.
Don Omar's store
Half a block from the alley of hugs, at Carrera 78 # 44-12, is Don Omar's store. He sells sodas, cold beers, bags of chips, and on weekends, his wife's empanadas. The empanadas are beef, chicken, or mixed, at $2,000 COP each. Don Omar is the one who lends the outlet for the collective to charge the music equipment during the workshops. If you see a blue cooler outside, that's the place.
Restaurante La Familia
At Carrera 76 # 44-50 is La Familia, a daily menu restaurant. For $12,000 COP you get soup, a main course (rice, protein, salad), and juice. It's simple, home-style, and filling. They are open Monday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The owners, the Giraldo family, have supported several collective projects, donating paint when they can.
How to get to and around Conquistadores
Conquistadores is in Comuna 12, northwest of Medellín. Getting there is easy, but you need to know how to get around. Here are the most practical routes.
By metro and bus
- Metro: Take Line A to the San Javier station. From there, exit towards Carrera 95 and look for buses that say "Conquistadores" or "Barrio Conquistadores." The metro fare is $3,180 COP (2026).
- Bus: From San Javier, the buses are white with a green stripe, and cost $2,900 COP. Ask the driver to let you know at the stop by the 44A court. The trip is about 15 minutes by bus.
By taxi or ride-hailing app
From downtown Medellín, a taxi to Conquistadores costs between $15,000 and $20,000 COP. On apps like Didi or Uber, the price varies by time of day, but it's around $12,000 to $18,000 COP. Ask to be dropped off at the 44A court, which is the main reference point.
Walking from San Javier
If you feel like walking, from San Javier station to the 44A court is about 25 minutes uphill. It's a challenging climb, but you'll see the landscape change from new buildings to exposed brick houses. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
Interview with Dex: the graffiti artist who turned his addiction into murals
Dex is not his real name. His name is Andrés, but everyone in the neighborhood calls him Dex. He is 34 years old, has an 8-year-old daughter, and a past he prefers to tell with paint. We interviewed him one afternoon in May 2026, sitting on the edge of the court, while some kids from the workshop painted a blue background.
—I started at 15, tagging walls with markers. It was a way to say "I'm here." But then I got into drugs, I was lost for about five years. I ended up stealing to buy base paste. One day, in 2019, a friend from the neighborhood said to me: "Come on, paint something on the wall of my house." I painted a face. When I finished, I felt something I hadn't felt since I was a child: peace. I quit drugs a month later.
—Because when you paint, you're not thinking about the anguish. You're thinking about the color, the line, the mix. It's like meditation, but with dirty hands. Also, when people see your mural and tell you "I like it," that gives you back your dignity. It makes you feel like you're worth something.
—It's my family. Here, we don't judge anyone for their past. Kids who have been in gangs come, women who have lost children, students who want to learn. Everyone has something to paint. And while they paint, they heal. That's the idea.
Local tips for enjoying the art in Conquistadores
- Go with time: The murals are not all together. They are scattered points in an area of about 10 blocks. Allow at least two hours to see them all calmly.
- Talk to the neighbors: Don't be afraid to ask. The people in the neighborhood are open and will tell you stories that aren't in any guide. Doña Nelly, the arepa lady, knows more than any documentary.
- Respect the memorials: The mural of the disappeared and La Dolorosa are places of mourning. Don't make jokes, don't play loud music, don't climb on the walls for photos.
- Bring your own cans: If you want to participate in the Saturday workshop, bring your own spray cans. The collective lends some, but they are few and run out quickly. Brands like Montana Colors or Spray Planet work well.
- Don't leave trash: The neighborhood has worked hard to clean the streets. Bring a bag for your waste and use the trash cans.
- Visit during daylight hours: The murals look best in natural light, and it's also safer. The workshops are in the afternoon, but the neighborhood is quiet if you are careful.
How to join the Pinta Conquista collective
If after reading this you feel like grabbing a spray can, you're in the right place. Joining Pinta Conquista is simple. There are no filters, no interviews. Just the desire to participate.
Steps to join
- Attend the Saturday workshop: Every Saturday at 2 p.m. at the 44A court. It doesn't matter if you've never painted. The first workshops are introductory: how to clean a wall, how to use a nozzle, how to mix colors.
- Fill out the registration form: The collective has a physical notebook where they write down your name, phone number, and availability. There is no cost. It is signed by Dex or Mónica.
- Participate in a painting session: After two workshops, you are invited to a community painting session. There you paint on a real wall, with supervision. It doesn't matter if you make mistakes. The idea is to learn.
- Join the monthly meetings: On the first Tuesday of each month, at 6 p.m., they meet at the collective's headquarters to plan new murals. There, the themes, colors, and dates are decided.
Call to Action
Attend the free workshop this Saturday at 2 p.m. at the 44A court with your own spray cans. It doesn't matter if you are a foreigner, if you speak Spanish with an accent, or if you've never held a spray can. Here, everyone has something to paint. And if you don't have cans, come anyway. The collective will lend you one to try. The important thing is to be there.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to walk through Conquistadores as a tourist?
Yes, it is generally safe during the day, especially in the areas where the murals are (Calle 44A, Carrera 77 and 78). As in any neighborhood in Medellín, avoid walking alone at night, don't flaunt valuables excessively, and ask locals if you have doubts. The neighbors are used to seeing visitors and are friendly.
Can I paint my own mural if I go to the workshop?
Not immediately. The collective has rules: new murals are decided at the monthly meetings and must go through an approval process where the theme, impact on the community, and technical quality are evaluated. But if you attend the workshops, you can eventually propose a design and, if approved, you will be assigned a wall.
Is there a cost to join the workshop or the collective?
# The Saturday workshop is completely free. The collective does not charge membership or fees. Everything is funded by paint donations, support from the Ministry of Culture, and t-shirt sales at events. If you want to support, you can donate new or used spray cans in good condition.