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.
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