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These lands were in the possession of the tribe of anaconas, belonging to the great Nutabe family. Its radius of action was Envigado, including Sabaneta, Itagüí and La Estrella. In the Palenque area there was the largest settlement of this tribe. Then in 1541, they were gradually colonized by the Spanish, after the arrival of Jerónimo Luis Tejelo to the Aburrá Valley on the orders of Jorge Robledo. This according to Juan Sardella, chronicler of the exploits of the Spanish Jorge Robledo.

Subsequently, Captain Álvaro de Mendoza enters from the south, also sent by Jorge Robledo in search of the Arví Valley, who saw the valley as a splendid almost virgin scenery, with its imposing frame of mountains and furrowed by the river, its ravines and torrents, which ran through a varied forest from which columns of smoke emerged in a small indigenous town located to the south, which today is Sabaneta and Caldas, specifically Pueblo Viejo, place of the original town of the Bores.

From that first incursion, nothing was left different from the version of the Spanish chroniclers, since it would have to continue towards the other eastern valley, always in search of the mythical Dorado that now had the name of Arví. However, the testimony remains that the first blow that the Spaniards struck in the Aburrá Valley was to the territory of Envigado. Because, since then, this privileged site has been offered as the most peaceful, but also desirable corner of the entire valley.

In 1547, Gaspar de Rodas, the last governor of the Province, asked the Council of the Villa de Santa Fe for a concession of three square tongues of land in the valley, north of the old town of the Bores, near modern Envigado. Four years later, when the Pedroso faction visited the valley, it was still occupied only by Indians. Even this place did not have the name Envigado, which was to receive it some time later, nominated by the first settlers of the Villa de La Candelaria de Medellín who were the next to set their eyes on it.

Around 1630, in addition to Aburrá, other towns were included in the valley, such as Aná, La Tasajera (Copacabana), La Culata (San Cristóbal), Itagüí, Santa Gertrudis (Envigado), Hatoviejo (Bello) and Guayabal. The first chapel that existed in Envigado, built in the first half of the 18th century, specifically in 1750, on the grounds of the estate of Don Francisco de la Calle, father of Doctors Jerónimo and Alberto María, was dedicated to the Virgen de los Dolores and, only in 1775, when the Bishop of Popayán Antonio de Obregón approved the erection of the Parish, the temple that was built was dedicated to Santa Gertrudis and she was chosen as the Patron Saint of Envigado.

The origin of Envigado is closely linked to the existence of Medellín since the founding of the Villa de La Candelaria, although always preserving its own identity. First appears a rural Envigado spread over an immense territory that comprised what today are Envigado, Sabaneta, Itagüí and Caldas. In that territory, haciendas inhabited by their owners, people of economic means, were appearing, who were marrying their descendants with poor Spaniards of prominent origin who came to America in search of fortune.

These estates multiplied and prospered, subdividing the land more and more, which increased the population of this territory. At the beginning of the last quarter of the 18th century is the moment when Envigado appeared in urban life in the year 1775, when the Parish of Santa Gertrudis was created, the site for the temple was chosen, the square and the first streets were laid out. .





Envigado is a municipality of Colombia, located in the Aburrá Valley of the department of Antioquia. It limits to the north with the municipality of Medellín, to the east with the municipality of El Retiro, to the south with the municipalities of El Retiro and Caldas, and to the west with the municipalities of Sabaneta and Itagüí.

It owes its name to the fact that in that place there were large trees whose wood was used in the beams of the houses. Other theories say that it is due to an old bridge of beams or ´´envigados´´ (beam trusses), which should have been used to enter the town.

The municipality has a large and modern industry. Among the most prominent companies based there is the Renault-Toyota assembly plant. (Sofasa).

In addition, Envigado has the headquarters of the important Almacenes Éxito, the largest hypermarket chain in Colombia.

The municipality also has in its territory the first headquarters of the multinational retail company Carrefour in the metropolitan area where it is based, and is today the headquarters of the newspaper El Colombiano, a newspaper of great importance in the country, among some other economic contributions .

The municipality of Envigado is one of the few Colombian municipalities that allocates more than 80% of its income for social investment, and only needs 20% for operating expenses. Envigado has one of the highest HDI (Human Development Index) in Colombia.

Media

In the Municipality of Envigado, practically all possible telecommunications services are available, from public telephones, through mobile telephone networks, wireless broadband networks, navigation centers or Internet cafes, IP communication, etc.



Public transport

Medellin Metro. It is a mass transportation system that crosses the metropolitan area from south to north. The Metro has several types of levels (ground level, elevated viaducts and overhead cables), and it does not have underground sections. In Envigado's area of ​​influence, the Metro runs parallel to the Medellín River, leaving three stations along its route (“Ayura”, “Envigado” and “Itagüí”) which provide services to the southern municipalities of the Metropolitan Area.

Buses. There is a private urban bus system in the town that serves all sectors of the municipality and there are also routes that connect Envigado and Medellín. Additionally, there is the "integrated transportation system" which consists of buses that connect the Metro stations with the different areas of the municipality.

Taxis. There are numerous taxi companies that cover the entire metropolitan area, and among them there are some with bilingual services (in English). The taxi ordering service by phone is the most common and safe. Some companies provide intercity services. The collective taxi service is also usual; some of these groups can be comfortable and fast, although they are usually subject to full capacity.





Places of interest

Church of Santa Gertrudis in the main park. Construction began on November 21, 1859, and in 1897 the works were completed after 38 years of effort.

Church of San José. Construction began in 1947. Gothic in inspiration.

Church of Santa Barbara. Replica of the charm of the colonial buildings

Fernando González School.

House of Culture ´´Miguel Uribe Restrepo´´.

Old Municipal Palace.

´´Otraparte´´ House Museum.

Casablanca - Residence of the Envigado painter Débora Arango.

El Salado Park

La Morena Park

Parties

Culture week party, in July

National Meeting of the Tiple

Easter, no fixed date in March or April.

Youth Festival (concerts, academic training, artistic-cultural programming and ecological walks ´´ Aventura Sur´´) developed and protected by the public youth policy. It takes place in two weeks within the framework of the international youth day on July 4.

Envigado Festival Towards The Theater

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