Lapped by the nice and cozy waters of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena de Indias is likely one of the most enchanting locations in Latin America—and a spotlight on many Panama Canal cruises. This coastal metropolis is usually described as a dwelling treasure chest, overflowing with vibrant tradition, colonial structure, and centuries of dramatic historical past.
Based within the sixteenth century by Spanish conquistadors, Cartagena rapidly turned an important stronghold within the huge Spanish Empire. Right here, immense wealth—gold, silver, emeralds, tobacco, and sugar—was gathered earlier than making the journey again to Europe. Tragically, the town additionally turned the biggest slave port within the Americas, receiving captive Africans who had been compelled into the colonial commerce system.
These riches inevitably attracted pirates and raiders, and Cartagena’s previous is crammed with tales of sieges, ransom calls for, and heroic defenses. To guard its wealth, the Spanish constructed imposing fortifications, together with metropolis partitions and the long-lasting Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, perched on a hill to observe over the bay.
In the present day, guests can discover this remarkably preserved UNESCO World Heritage Website, the place cobblestone streets, colourful mansions, and gorgeous plazas supply a vivid glimpse into centuries previous. Flower-draped balconies, ornate gateways, and weathered cannons overlooking the ocean make Cartagena probably the most photogenic cities within the Caribbean. Past its historic significance, Cartagena captivates with its tropical magnificence, vibrant power, and timeless appeal.
Among the many many different treasures you may discover throughout your go to to Cartagena are a 400 yr previous cathedral, a palace which was as soon as dwelling to the Spanish Inquisition and a wealth of museums displaying indigenous gold artifacts and emeralds introduced forth from Colombian mines. Browse the handicrafts displayed forsale in former dungeon cells, take a pause within the final calm of a convent cloister or drink in unimaginable views from atop the town partitions.
If time is proscribed, we advocate you begin with Cartagena’s previous city, inside partitions, which dates again to the sixteenth century.
Cartagena’s Previous Walled City
Start your journey in Cartagena’s Previous City, the town’s most enchanting and historic district. This fantastically preserved space is so wealthy in colonial structure and cultural heritage {that a} easy stroll typically appears like stepping onto the set of a interval movie. Almost each nook reveals centuries-old wonders—from the large fortified partitions lined with cannons as soon as used to defend the town from pirate assaults to full of life plazas framed by grand colonial buildings.
The Previous City is a visible feast, bursting with vibrant colours. Sunshine-yellow facades, vibrant pink houses, and comfortable lilac partitions create a hanging backdrop for ornate wood balconies overflowing with lush, multicolored flowers. As you discover, look past the sweeping magnificence to find the smaller, fascinating particulars that outline Cartagena’s character.
Some highlights are unattainable to miss, such because the palenqueras, the brightly dressed girls who’re descendants of the Americas’ first free slave group and an everlasting image of Cartagena’s cultural identification. Different particulars are extra refined however equally intriguing—like the town’s well-known ornamental door tits. These distinctive designs as soon as signified the occupation or standing of the households who lived inside. Sea creatures represented retailers; lions signaled navy ties; and hand-shaped tits marked spiritual households. In the present day, the custom continues, with tits chosen as a lot for creative aptitude as for which means—so preserve your eyes open; you by no means know what story a door might inform.
There are statues and artwork in all places and frequent dance performances within the squares. Often you’ll come throughout the surprisingly completely different reminiscent of the outside wall of the Marzola Parilla Argentina restaurant on Calle 39 lined with mirrors, clocks and cabinets of previous wine bottles.
The streets resound to the clop of horses hooves (which lately are used to convey guests on sightseeing excursions) and so they add significantly to the bygone ambiance.
The realm throughout the walled metropolis is comparatively small and simply explored on foot however so plentiful are the highlights it’s unattainable to see all the pieces in a brief house of time. Nothing in need of a implausible open-air museum, Cartagena’s ambiance and sights are finest soaked up by merely wandering and but there are a number of not-to-be-missed stops.
Torre del Reloj –The Clock Tower
Ornately tiered and vibrant yellow, the seventeenth century clock tower is the previous metropolis’s most immediately recognizable characteristic. It sits above the doorway which takes you below and thru the imposing partitions and was as soon as the location of a drawbridge and moat.
Plaza de Los Coches:
That is the primary of the various squares which you arrive at and moving into this massive plaza immediately surrounds you on all sides by Cartagena’s lovely colonial buildings. In case you have a candy tooth be sureto have a wander beneath the arches right here. The stalls you’ll discover are filled with glass jars all crammed with a mouthwatering vary of conventional candies and treats. The apply of promoting such issues on this very spot is an previous one therefore the title –the Portal de los Dulces or Sweet Corridor.
Plaza de San Pedro:
One of many walled metropolis’s loveliest squares, San Pedro is dwelling to a contemporary artwork museum housed inside a 1600s customized home and the beautiful San Pedro Claver Church. The sq. is at all times stuffed with locals, sitting chatting on benches, and likewise has an exquisite assortment of metallic sculptures depicting unusual scenes of life and work such because the seamstress at her stitching machine or two males taking part in chess.
The sixteenth century church, constructed between 1580 to 1654, is devoted to St. Pedro Claver, the patron saint of slaves. It’s additionally the location of his tomb. Whilst you’re there, pay a go to to Santuario Museo San Pedro Claver, housed within the adjoining cloisers. The museum options reveals on Afro-Caribbean tradition, colonial spiritual artwork, and a few pre-Colombian archeological items, together with the cell the place St. Pedro, devoted to therapeutic the slaves who handed via the port, lived in.
Plaza de Bolivar, Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and the Inquisition Palace:
One other candidate for Cartagena’s loveliest sq., this leafy, gated house with its fountains sits on the heart of the walled city. Usually alive with the colourful colours and sounds of Afro-Colombian dancers staging impromptu performances within the shade of the overhanging timber, the sq. is dominated by the statue of Simon Bolivar. Often called the Liberator, this Venezuelan navy chief is hailed as a hero everywhere in the continent for his position in serving to a number of nations throw off the yoke of Spanish management.
Bordering the sq. are two of the town’s most traditionally important buildings, such because the cathedral and the Inquisition Palace. The cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, additionally referred to as the Minor Basilica, dates from the late 1500s and is extensively accepted to be probably the most lovely buildings within the Previous City. Topped by a particular terracotta and ocher coloured tower which options closely on postcards and vacationer literature and was a later addition, the cathedral was the city’s authentic church and has a wonderful gilded altar inside.
The western facet of the sq. is dwelling to the 18th century Palace of the Inquisition which has a gory and horror-filled previous as a spot of imprisonment and torture. It’s now a museum The palace is now a museum, displaying the inquisitors’ devices of torture, a few of that are fairly horrific. The museum additionally homes pre-Columbian pottery.
Santo Domingo Sq. and Santo Domingo Convent:
This bar-and restaurant-filled sq. represents the Previous City at its most bustling and after darkish is the beating coronary heart of its nightlife. Distributors are eternally current right here whereas on the heart reclines the well-known nude statue referred to as Fats Gertrude (or La Gorda Gertrudis). This woman’s bodily traits are certainly ample; she’s the work of Fernando Botero she is rarely in need of firm as vacationers pose for pictures and rub her left breast for luck which has obtained a lot consideration it’s now exhibiting particular indicators of wear and tear.
Dominating all the scene is the sunshine-yellow sixteenth century Santo Domingo Convent with its grand portico and sq. bell-tower which rises from its right-hand edge.
Plaza de las Bovedas:
Forming the north-west extremity of the previous walled city, the elegant arches of Las Bovedas are at the moment dwelling to artisans and distributors promoting their wares and handicrafts.
This 18th century constructing, which was to be the final erected by the Spaniards of their grand colonial type, was initially used to accommodate navy provides however was changed into a sequence of dungeons within the early 1800s because the populace began to combat again in opposition to Spanish rule. With the waters of the Caribbean Sea simply meters away, the story is usually advised that those that had been unlucky sufficient to search out themselves imprisoned right here must endure frequent flooding of their cells at every excessive tide.
In the present day, these exact same cells sitting beneath nearly 50 arches are every dwelling to a small store. Right here you will discover things like hammocks, handmade baggage, jewellery, work and strange home-wares making Las Bolvedas –which suggests the vaults or the caverns in Spanish –the best place to come back for all these looking down presents and souvenirs.
The partitions:
There are a number of sections of the Previous City partitions the place you may climb atop and wander amid the traditional constructions and previous rusting cannons. Most of those come full with implausible views of the Caribbean and with generally sweeping elevated look-outs over the majestic previous church buildings, convents, palaces and parks. One among these is the Bulwark of Saint Dominic which is situated on the excessive western fringe of the city.
Past the Previous Metropolis
When you’re eager to develop your environment, head exterior the previous city partitions. Listed below are a few of our favourite websites past the previous metropolis:
The Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa:
The gorgeous Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa is situated 5km from the Previous City’s iconic clock tower and perched atop the town’s highest level on a hill lined in tropical greenery. Such a separation, albeit small, mixed with the just about overwhelming amount of riches contained throughout the Previous City which take up all the consideration of nearly all of guests imply the convent is usually ignored and much much less visited.
It shouldn’t be.
This former spiritual advanced of the Augustinian friars, which dates from the 1600s, doesn’t take lengthy to discover though chances are you’ll discover it tough to tear your self away from the exquisitely attractive enclosed cloister. Crammed with crops and timber and spilling tropical blooms from all sides, the cobblestones are surrounded by two ranges of arches and exquisite structure which weave a dappled tapestry of cool shade and vibrant daylight.
Unprotected by the imposing partitions which encompass the Previous City, the convent has suffered numerous assaults over the centuries and has been topic to a number of restorations giving it a barely patchwork facet. Satirically, this solely provides to its appeal. A lot of the convent’s historical past is unknown as what historic information there have been perished throughout numerous raids and onslaughts.
The small chapel with its ornate gold altar is gorgeous to see and the small museum attention-grabbing however maybe the scene-stealer of any journey right here is the million-dollar view. From atop this hill you may soak up all of Cartagena –each historical and trendy –with the glowing Caribbean and islands forming the backdrop.
An alternative choice to the Santa Cruz Convent –the San Felipe Fortress:
One other must-see Cartagena sight can be, just like the convent, discovered exterior the town partitions, this time simply 1km away from the clock tower and simply reached on foot.
Extensively thought-about to be the most effective instance of Spanish colonial navy structure discovered anyplace within the Americas, the 16thcentury San Felipe citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage Website. Strategically sited atop San Lazaro hill to command views over potential assaults approaching by each land and sea, this imposing construction is a labyrinth of tunnels and passageways, all of which might be explored. Head as much as the parapets for some implausible views of the bay and metropolis.
Cartagena’s ardour for fowl life:
Do you know that this a part of Colombia is legendary for attracting an enormous range of fowl species? Think about a visit to the Nationwide Aviary, the place numerous statement stations are organized by habitat and species. Set in a wonderful panorama with waterfalls and palm timber, you may go to the Tropical Forest, with its Harpy Eagles, macaws and Macaque Monkeys. In Coastlines and Mangroves you’ll see geese, cormorants and pelicans, and on the Shoreline, you’ll observe herons, doves and storks. The Nationwide Aviary is a couple of 40-minute drive from Cartagena, on the Isla du Baru, and Windstar provides it as a shore tour.
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