During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cartagena, Colombia was one of the most important ports in the Spanish Empire, funneling slave labor into the new world and riches (gold and emeralds, tobacco, sugar cane, and coffee beans) out.
Catalina de Indias - The Symbol of Spanish Colonial Cartagena She's become something of a tragic heroine in the history of Colombia but few outside Cartagena know the story behind this iconic woman. Her real name is lost to history…
Cartagena's Fortified Old City Cartagena's Fortified Old City is the best-preserved colonial city in Latin America. The walled city was constructed in the sixteenth century by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia, named Cartagena de Indias, after his birthplace in…
Cartagena History: A City with a Story to Tell Discover the rich and bloody history of the ‘Pearl of the Caribbean’ Spanish conquistadors, pirates, battles and siege – the City of Cartagena de Indias (Cartagena) has a dark and tumultuous…
Trip to Palenque to Experience Authentic Colombian Culture If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion during your vacation in Cartagena, consider taking a day trip to visit Palenque. This historic village holds on to its roots and here you can…
The Palenquera Fruit Sellers When you vacation in Cartagena, Colombia, one of the things you'll no doubt see on pretty much any street corner is a brightly dressed woman selling fruit. These Palanquera fruit sellers have become iconic in the…
First Time a Sitting Pope has Visited Cartagena since 1985 Pope Francis recently completed his historic visit to Cartagena and his message of peace and tolerance was well-received by the faithful who flocked to this Caribbean hotspot and center for…
Cartagena’s Sister Cities and Twin Towns Around the World Modern Cartagena has done much to improve its economy and international image over the past few decades. It has become a top tourist destination in Colombia and has risen to prominence…
The Palenqueras of Cartagena Cartagena, Colombia is full of eye-popping images that can steal the breath straight from any visitor’s mouth. Ornate Spanish colonial architecture dripping with tropical flowers, the majestic fortified wall around the Old City presiding over the…
“The Greatest Colombian Who Ever Lived” One of the most influential writers of our time was born in Colombia at the turn of the century and—if not for his opinionated and eccentric grandparents—may have wound up a lawyer. Commonly referred…
The Fanciful Door Knockers of Cartagena Colombia Do you know the story behind the beautiful door knockers of Cartagena, Colombia? These unique icons (known in Spanish as aldabas) are more than just quirks of the Spanish Colonial Architecture you’ll find…
Cartagena’s Historic Performing Arts Venue Teatro Heredia (Heredia Theater) is the premiere center for the performing arts in Cartagena. Architects infused Caribbean flair into Classic Italian style to create a venue that represents both the elegance of the Old World…
Sir Francis Drake’s Legacy in Cartagena de Indias The fifteen hundreds were a contentious time in The New World with Spain and England butting heads in battles by proxy in places like Cartagena de Indias prior to declaring all-out war…
Pedro de Heredia Founder of Cartagena Pedro de Heredia, the founding father of Cartagena, Colombia, was a controversial historical character with a colorful background and a tendency to rub his contemporaries the wrong way and was not one for etiquette…