We visited some of the more famous houses in the neighborhood, like Casa Prado and the Palacio Egipcio (Egyptian Palace), but we also gazed at some amazing architectural feats off the tourist map. In fact, many of the old houses in El Prado have been converted into either elder care facilities or rehabilitation centers. While it is wonderful that the old Prado houses are being put to good use, it is sad that most visitors to Medellín are not aware of the neighborhood's historical charm. With some historic renovation efforts, the El Prado neighborhood could become a popular area for learning more about Medellín's history and viewing architectural wonders.
Unfortunately, the El Prado neighborhood often becomes a relatively dangerous neighborhood after dark, which detracts from its potential to serve as a historic district of Medellín. Locals have told me that El Prado has become a dangerous area because almost no one lives in the neighborhood anymore, apart from senior citizens in elder homes and rehabilitation patients. The historical houses, while beautiful, are too big for the needs of most modern Medellín families, and are costly when it comes to cleaning and utilities. Therefore, few people roam the streets of El Prado at any time of day, but especially at night. This conundrum makes it difficult to promote and preserve the historic El Prado neighborhood. Even though the neighborhood has a lot of charm in its quaint old houses, it lacks the tourism infrastructure of restaurants and shops that would attract a larger crowd to the area.
