Street Art Guide to Cartagena

Cartagena is a very Instagrammable city and if you’ve started researching your trip, you’ll already know there are some amazing places for photos. It seems that every street corner was made for a selfie, not least the oh-so-hip neighbourhood of Getsemaní, which is where you’ll find the best street art in the city. It’s a wonderful area for a wander on foot, with tiny streets buzzing with local life, eateries, interesting stores and some of the best street art found in Colombia. The neighbourhood has the feeling of a fiesta no matter what time you walk it – we recommend going early if you’re looking for quiet streets and late afternoon and evening if you’re looking for shots of local life.
Start at the Clock Tower. Walk through Parque Centenario and you’ll soon find streets decorated with bunting and street art.  If you’re lucky you may even find someone painting a new piece. The mix of sculptures and street art have one thing in common – they tell you the story of the city, from a dizzying array of perspectives.

Check out Plaza de la Trinidad where you’ll find gorgeous pieces including Maria Mulata – a Colombian blackbird found in the region.  After a lemonade (or a beer) in the square, walk to the left of the church and you’ll find tiny traditional streets with decorations and art that change every few months. Beyond plaza Trinidad is plazuela de Pozo, which features a well and some entertaining sculptures. Whichever street you walk, you’ll see pieces giving you a flavour of Afro Caribbean culture, as well as art relating to the local flaura, fauna, people, history, struggles and celebrations that make this city so special.

You’ll also find some lovely little shops and galleries in Getsemaní that sell art, prints and local crafts. We especially recommend the gallery on Calle San Juan, who work with local artists, some of whom you can commission to paint you something unique if you’re staying a few days. To see the biggest piece of graffiti in Colombia, head to the statue of India Catalina and turn to look at a multi-storey painting of a woman called Goya, who worked in Bazurto and Getsemaní. Cartagena is an incredibly walkable city, but if you want to learn more about the city’s stories, book on to our Art and Architecture tour or take a half day Photography tour with us. You’re sure to walk away with some great photos and insights!