What to see in Cartagena Colombia - 15 sites not to miss

 

What are the sites to visit in Cartagena de Indias that are worth it?

Do you want to know the history, the culture and the traditions or to know the tourist traps which only want your money?

I lived more than 5 years in Cartagena and I always had the point of view of the tourists, because being a foreigner, I became aware that the visitors wanted to know the best sites to visit, not being trapped by tours that have nothing valuable offers to the visitors.

Here is my list of the 15 best sites you should see in Cartagena.

 

 

 

What to see in Cartagena, Colombia ?

 

 

1. LA POPA

From a height of 145 meters, the Monastery of La Popa remains the most important tourist spot when arriving in Cartagena. The mountain was named as is by the sailors because it looks like a boat and offers a spectacular view of Cartagena de Indias.

 

 

2. SAN FELIPE DE BARAJAS CASTLE

Located on the top of San Lázaro Hill, this former military complex is the largest built in America. The San Felipe Castle was erected at this strategic location in order to observe the invasions of the pirates in the city by land or by the Bay of Cartagena de Indias.

 

 

3. THE WALL AROUND DE OLD CITY

The old town of Cartagena, its historic center, is surrounded by 11 km of wall (8 km remaining) to protect the city from sustained attacks by aggressive pirates and crown enemies. The enclosures of the wall were also to separate rich people and poor people.

 

 

4. SANS SEBASTIAN DE PASTELILLO FORTRESS

On the island of Manga lies the San Sebastian del Pastelillo fort, which is in fact the location of the famous Club de Pesca restaurant. It possesses 31 cannons and is like camouflaged in the ground hence its name of Pastelillo which in military term means pastel, that adapts to the landscape.

 

 

5. SAN FERNANDO AND SAN JOSE FORTRESSES

The San Fernando Fortress is located on the island of Tierrabomba in Bocachica. It forms with the San Jose Fortress, the necessary protection to controll the access of the bay of Cartagena. Built during the XVII century, they also served as a prison because of their access and security offered.

 

 

6. CLOCK TOWER

The main entrance into the old town of Cartagena de Indias is by the clock tower. At first, it had only one arch to enter, the middle one, and originally the door had an armament room and a chapel inside, and then they were replaced by the other two arches.

 

 

7. SAN PEDRO CLAVER CHURCH

The construction of the San Pedro Claver Church was erected in the XVII century by the Jesuits and originally named San Ignacio de Loyola. The facade of the church is made, as is most of the buildings of the old city, of coral stones that are famous in the region.

 

 

8. CARTAGENA CATHEDRAL

The Cathedral of Cartagena is majestic and strikingly beautiful. Its construction began in 1575, but in 1586, when only the tower to be erected remained, the pirate Francis Drake partially destroyed it. From the inside we can admire the marble architecture and wooden walls.

 

 

9. SANTO DOMINGO CHURCH

The oldest preserved building of Cartagena is Santo Domingo Church, because its construction was undertaken in the years 1550-1560. During the construction, they noticed that the cement was not solid to support the walls and to remedy this, they built counter-walls on the adjacent stress.

 

 

10. INQUISITION PALACE

The Inquisition Palace is magnificent with its baroque style and its wooden balconies of great splendor. This important construction was completed in 1776 and it is the main witness of the cruel acts of the Catholic power. You find there tools that the church used to convert non-believers.

 

 

11. LAS BODEVAS

Located between the ramparts Santa Clara and Santa Catalina, Las Bovedas have 47 arches and 23 vaults. It was erected between 1792 and 1798 in the last colonial period. During this time and the first years of independence, Las Bovedas were used as a prison.

 

 

12. CARRIAGES PLACE

On entering in the walled city by the clock tower, you will see the Carriages Place, where in the past they are bargaining black slaves from Africa. In the center of the square stands the statue of Pedro de Heredia who is the founder of the city of Cartagena de Indias.

 

 

13. CUSTOM PLACE

The Custom Place or Plaza de la Aduana is the largest square and also the most beautiful in architecture, color and places to see. In the center, the statue of Christopher Columbus enjoys a privileged place. The name of this square comes from the former customs house during the colonial era.

 

 

14. BOLIVAR PARK

Located in the heart of the historic center of Cartagena, the Bolivar Park is filled with majestic trees and surprisingly high. In the middle of this vegetation stands the statue of the liberator Simon Bolivar sitting on his horse which was inaugurated on November 11, 1896.

 

 

15 MARTYRES PATH

The Martyres Path is located next to the Convention Center, the Centennial Park and the Clock Tower. Dozens of facial statues of the martyrs are displayed in order to remember the insurrection for freedom. During the Christmas holidays, this place becomes spectacular.

 

 


Claude Lasanté

 

 

 City Tour from your Hotel

 

  Interests : History - Culture - Colonial architecture - Fortresses

  Departure/return : Hotel / Cruise Ship

  Type of transport : Vehicle and walking

 

 

 


 

 City Tour - Horse carriage and vehicle

 

  Interests : History - Culture - Colonial architecture - Fortresses

  Departure/return : Hotel / Cruise ship

  Type of transport : Vehicle and horse carriage