The city was named after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius, who founded it as a military base for his operations in western Iberia, during the Sertorian War. In Latin, it was called Metellinum. Medellín is well-known because of its cultural heritage, with places like the Roman theatre, the old castle and other archeological sites.
It has a population of 2,337 (2009) and an area of 65 km2.