Cartagena de Indias has history of over five hundred years, and was one of the first destinations of the Spanish colonists. At that time it was one of the largest ports in America and gained prosperity due to being a trade point. This, in turn, contributed to the rapid growth of the Columbian district of Bolivar. Cartagena gained its independence from Spain in 1811. The weather is warm but pleasant due to the Caribbean breezes that pass through there.
In 1984 Cartagena de Indias was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. It has many interesting places to visit throughout the year which tourists find in the historic center of the city, along with a great cultural tradition. For example:
The Gold Museum, located within the walled city and open to the public since 1982. This museum holds a huge collection of gold and ceramic pieces made by pre-Columbian cultures of this area, especially the Zenú culture. The Gold Museum was sponsored by the Banco de la Republica in an effort to preserve the national culture and anthropological relicts of Andean roots.
The House of Rafael Nunez, a poet, with its architecture and classic ambiance of the late nineteenth century, and precious objects belonging to its former owner.
The Castle of San Felipe de Barajas, a building outside the walls formerly used for colonists’ military purposes when Cartagena was the largest garrison in colonial America. It was built in 1536 and modified in the year 1657 at which time it was called Castillo de San Lazaro before it had been renamed after a martyr defender of Cartagena.
The Castle of San Fernando de Bocachica, where, according to history, wrecked ships caused the closure of the Bocagrande channel. The castle with its majestic architecture was built as a fortress to protect Cartagena.
The Inquisition Palace, built in 1610, was the seat of the religious justice having power over all the Kingdom of New Granada during the colonial period. The palace is a wonderful example of XVIII century architecture; where is a museum these days there used to be a prison were infidels were tortured.
The Convent of Santo Domingo, founded in 1551, is one of the oldest convents in Cartagena de Indias. It took various decades to build it because the construction was, among other reasons, set back by a fire in the town.
The Convent of Santa Clara, built in 1617, had first been used as convent before the purpose of the building was changed to a hospital, an orphanage, and later to a school.
The Convent of San Diego was established with the help of parishioner donations which permitted Fray Sebastian de Humilias to purchase the premises and to build a mo monastery with an associated poor house.
The Convent of la Candelaria or Convent de la Popa, so named for being located in the Mount de La Popa, is a church that had been used as barracks during the battle for independence and during the civil war in 1800. After its restoration in 1964 it became one of the most visited places in the area thanks to its privileged position which permits a panorama view over the entire city of Cartagena.
The Chapel of Ermita del Cabrero, located on the outside of the walled city, is the burial place of Rafael Núñez, a distinguished poet and former president of Colombia, who also wrote the National Anthem.
The Cathedral was completed in 1575 as one of the first cathedrals throughout America, but like many other buildings, was destroyed by a fire blast. The reconstructed Cathedral of Cartagena was finished in 1612.
There are numerous other churches and ecclesiastical buildings you can visit in or around the town because Cartagena was a very important place in colonial times, at which time society was very religious.
But these are just a few places of interest that can be visited, a really small sample of what can be found in the beautiful Cartagena de Indias.
