Cartagena, Columbia, South America

Cartagena is a most interesting and beautiful city. It is a big metropolitan area with over a million population.

But within its walls is an old colonial city which is an architectural treasure. Everywhere you look, 300-year colonial balconies and mansions speak of a homesick people longing for their homeland (Cartagena, Spain).

The Old City was laid out in the traditional grid scheme with the Plaza Bolivar in the center, named after Simon Bolivar founder of Columbia and three other countries.

Here you will find the Palace of the Inquisition which is one of Cartagena’s most magnificent structures with its Baroque gateway. Today it is a museum.

Opposite the palace is the Cathedral built in 1575. 

It features an enormous hand-carved wooden altar which is gold plated and high arches along the aisles with sky lights above.

On the streets around the Plaza of Bolivar are vendors, of course, selling tee-shirts, table clothes, hats, and other souvenirs.

 

But the most colorful were these women selling fruit.

Nearby is the Convent and Church of San Pedro Claver. He died here in 1654. A Spanish Jesuit monk, Claver was beloved for his work with helping the slaves. The cloister is very interesting because it is filled with trees and plants that he used for medications for the slaves. He helped to end the slave trade and was canonized in the 1800’s for his ministry.

A museum of religious art can be found in the rooms that face the cloister.

This church opens onto an interesting plaza.

It has several life-sized metal sculptures..

A series of forts and massive stone walls, which now divide the Old City from the newer part, were built over time to protect the city from marauding pirates and enemy fleets. The largest fort is San Filipe de Barajas.

It’s much bigger and higher than the fort in St. Augustine.

Cartagena’s beach and hotel strip, the Boca Grande, runs for miles along the Caribbean. Since we were there on a holiday, the beach was filled the entire way with cabanas of not only tourists but local people.

Many families were gathered under the trees that line the edge of the beach to have their picnics.

One sandcastle builder marked the beginning of this new year with a wonderful tribute.