Cartagena is the capital of the department of Bolivar on Colombia's Caribbean 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 commercial activity taking place here attracted pirates which infested the Caribbean 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).