The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recognized Medellín as Latin America’s innovation capital, praising the city’s “extraordinary transformation, in two decades, from one of the most violent cities in the world to a global reference of good urban planning.”

Antioquia’s capital is one of the finalists for World Innovation Capital, along with New York and Tel Aviv, a contest sponsored by the Urban Land Institute, the Wall Street Journal and Citi financial group.

The BBC highlighted aspects like the escalators in Comuna 13, which reduced people’s travel time from 35 to six minutes, as well as the city’s massive transport system, public libraries, cultural centers and public spaces which have been key in the efforts to reduce violence.

The publication also acknowledged the importance of a reduction in homicides, which went from 444 per 100,000 residents in the early 90’s to 51,4 per 100,000 residents last year. Vote for Medellín at: http://online.wsj.com/ad/cityoftheyear