An Ancient District of Cartagena Filled with Magic and History
If you want to travel to the past with a lot of cultural flair, the option is the ancient district of Cartagena, Colombia.
In this place, you can spend the most enjoyable days on a weekend vacation and take advantage of a variety of options beyond the walls.
The ancient district of Cartagena is surrounded by walls that date back to colonial history, and inside, there are streets and buildings with a lot of history.
In fact, its fortresses and walled enclosure were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
The ancient district of Cartagena is the area of the old city, founded by the Spaniard Pedro de Heredia in 1533, on the shores of a wide bay.
At the time, it was the main port from which most of South America’s gold was shipped to the metropolis, making it highly coveted by European powers and pirates.
This circumstance shaped Cartagena, with its streets and squares that, along with forts that served to defend it, give the city an appearance of power.
To contemplate the entire bay of Cartagena de Indias and its surrounding islands, there is no better place than the Cerro de la Popa, where a monastery and a stone cross overlooking the city still endure.
From there, you can appreciate the grandeur of the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, which is, according to historical data, the largest Spanish colonial fortress in America.
And indeed, the Castillo de San Felipe is vast; its corridors at times feel stifling, and observing its old cells speaks to the history of this place. In addition to seeing the bay from this location is a marvel.
Ancient district of Cartagena
The walls of the fortress in the witnessed pirate sieges and an imminent invasion by the English in 1741 when the Spanish admiral Blas de Lezo, known for being one-eyed, lame, and one-armed, managed, with a reduced number of soldiers, to prevent the assault of 186 ships and 27,000 men who besieged the Cartagena port for two months.
Entering through the Puerta del Reloj, guarded by walls and dominated by street vendors seeking their livelihood day by day, the Plaza de los Coches, an old slave market, welcomes you.
Another place is the Plaza de la Aduana, where colonial houses persist alongside the sober baroque facade of the Church of San Pedro Claver, whose altar holds the remains of this defender of slaves.
The ancient district of Cartagena has, street by street, colorful houses with balconies.
Unlike the colonial area of Havana, Cuba, where palaces stand out, and railings were mostly made of wrought iron, in old Cartagena, the large houses of yesteryear made use of turned wood.
There is Plaza Bolívar, next to the Major Cathedral and the striking Palace of the Inquisition with its imposing stone facade.
A narrow spit of land, which 80 years ago only had the splendid Caribe hotel, is now a swarm of tall buildings, hotels, and commercial establishments that overlook the beaches of this small peninsula.
Cartagena de Indias has a wide range of accommodation for all budgets. There are five-star hotels and apartments, as well as studios and hostels.
And also, from the pier, boats depart to beautiful beaches that will undoubtedly stay in your memory for a lifetime.
