The Cathedral of San Pedro Claver was first built in 1575, destroyed by Sir Francis Drake in 1586, and rebuilt in 1602. It was eventually named for a Spanish-born Jesuit priest, Pedro Claver, who arrived in Cartagena in 1610. Cartagena was a hub of the slave trade, with over 10,000 slaves arriving in the city …
In 1601, possibly the most famous landmark in Colombia, “La Torre de Reloj” was built to connect, via drawbridge, Getsemani with old Cartagena. Originally referred to as “La Boca del Puente” (The Mouth of the Bridge), it is the principal entrance to the old city. Where it once contained a chapel and a weapons room, …
Located in the walled city on Plaza de San Pedro Claver, next to a church of the same name, the Museum of Modern Art is small but hugely significant to local culture. With a focus on broadening regional art appreciation and conservation, the museum has a wide and unique variety of modern paintings and sculptures …
With forty-seven arches and twenty-three domes, Las Bóvedas (The Vaults) is easily one of the most architecturally interesting structures within the old city walls and was in fact, the final structure built. Contstructed at the turn of the 18th century by the Spanish engineer Antonio de Arevalo, Las Bóvedas was originally intended as a munitions …
For one of the best vantage points in the old city, head to Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. This massive and impressive fortification is not for the light of heart – the fort itself is huge with enormous, steeply inclined walls, many meters thick. The climb to the top can be quite strenuous. That aside, …
The Palace of the Inquisition is certainly one of the most imposing buildings in the area. With a regal, baroque entrance, one of the largest interior courtyards and several artfully maintained gardens, this site offers an excellent example of period opulence. In contrast to its spectacular beauty, its history is anything but. Originally established in …
Around the time of its founding in 1533, Cartagena was the principal port from which the Spanish Crown transported its greatest riches and so, it was necessary to construct extremely strong fortifications to repel attacks by pirates and would-be thieves. Constructed by the in stages, beginning in 1586, Las Murallas (the walls of the old …
An oasis during the day, Plaza Bolivar is one of the few plazas that is quiet and yet always full of locals. With plenty of trees offering shade from the hot sun, four fountains offering peaceful background noise and lots of benches on which to relax, Plaza Bolivar is a welcome treat after a day …
Worth visiting for the elegant, colorful architecture, Plaza de la Aduana is one of the most extensive areas in the walled city, with many restaurants, banks and exchange shops – beware, it is always a good idea to shop around for the best exchange rate before deciding on any specific vendor. The square itself is …
Frequented by locals, travelers, hippies, families and everyone in between, Plaza de la Trinidad is a lovely place to hang out at night. There are plenty of restaurants and bars, people from all walks of life, and you can almost always find some kind of entertainment including musicians, dancers, acrobats or jugglers performing for spare change. The …
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