Cartagena is the capital of the department of Bolivar on Colombia's Carribean Coast. Founded in 1533 by the Spanish Pedro de Heredia, in what was then home to the Kalamarí people, quickly became one of the most important settlements of the spanish empire in America. It was the entry way for all kinds of goods for the New King of Granada and the Viceroy of Peru. The extensive economic and commerical activity taking place here attracted pirates which infested the Carribean waters during those times.
Using the manual labor of African Slaves, Felipe II ordered the construction of an walled system of forts and castles (the first military architectural project of the colonial era in the new world), that helped fend off some of the assaults and robberies that troubled the city for more than 200 years. The most notable defeat of the English happened in 1741, when 2400 men with 186 ships attacked the city under the command of Admiral Vernon. They tried to overpower the fortress of Cartagena, but failed after more than 6 months of battle. In honor of the successful resistance, the city is know as "CUIDAD HEROICA" (Heroic City). Ironically, the same walls, with tunnels up to 90 ft deep, served the creoles in their defense against the attempted reconquest by Fernando VII of Spain in 1533. In 1833, Cartagena was the first Colombian city to announce its independence from Spain.
The city has two centers, which are very well defined by their unique arquitecture. The old city, in the interior of the original walled city, declared a national cultural historic site. Their you will find the clock tower, the cathedral, the Home of the Marqués de Valdehoyos, the church of San Pedro Claver, the Palace of the Inquisition, the Gold Museum, the Heredia Theatre, the Naval Museum, the old colnoal homes which now serve as the best restaurants and recreational sites of the city. The modern city, with the neighborhoods of Bocagrande, El Laguito and Castillo Grande, is home to the majority of the offering of 3, 4 and 5 star hotels. In the outer parts of the old city, you can find the Convent of La Popa, where the convent of the Agustinos Descalzos Recoletos was founded in 1607. Walking through the old city or through Bocagrande and El Laguito gives one a perfect opporunity to shop for antiques, clothing, art, and jewelry of the finest quality, especially emeralds, known here to be the purest in the world.
Recommended Restaurants: Club de Pesca, La Olla Cartagenera, El Baluarte, Café San Pedro, La Vitrola, El Mar de Juan, La Enoteca, Bruschetta.
Night Life: La Plaza de Santo Domingo, Mister Babilla, La Carbonera, La Tarzana, Plaza de San Diego, Babar. |
