Cartagena de Indias, the colonial Jewel of Colombia

History of Cartagena de Indias, colonial city

The commander Pedro Heredia, of Spanish origin, founded Cartagena on June 1, 1553 and known as a Spanish port on the Caribbean coast and access point to the north of South America.

Heredia settled in an Amerindian village and invited the Spanish to colonize the few buildings that existed in the habitable areas.

In 1552 a fire broke out and the wooden buildings burned. From there, the construction of stone buildings began, which served as resistant structures in the face of war or battles.

On the other hand, due to the strategic location of Cartagena, different representations of European countries tried to invade it in search or expropriation of wealth. Among the invaders are: Jean-Francis Roberval a French Huguenot and Sir John Hawkins along with his crew invaded the city in 1576.

However, the population of Spanish settlers was predominant and they lived in mansions. Their objective and priority was focused on taking over resources and spending time building businesses.

In addition, in 1741 the battle originated in England, led by the British Empire. During that year, Spanish authorities won the war and decided to place walls approximately 11 km long as a defense against possible confrontations.

Finally in 1811, it became the 2nd territory to declare its independence from Spain and became the capital of New Granada or Walled City declared by UNESCO as a historical and cultural heritage of humanity.

What to visit in Cartagena de Indias?

This coastal city is located just an hour and a half from Bogotá and its visitors or tourists enjoy the charming sites such as historic neighborhoods, colonial streets and squares with colorful touches accompanied by floral decorations.

Even seasonal tourists can schedule visits to different areas that stand out and are distinguished by their characteristics:

Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandría

This magnificent church has a Renaissance touch and bright shades of yellow and lime green. It is located in the Plaza Bolívar in Cartagena and has a bell tower, Andalusian and Canarian domes. You will be able to recognize our star hotel Casa de Alba, in front of the cathedral.

Touring Cartagena de Indias without a doubt is to enjoy and connect with impressive and beautiful fortified structures such as: colonial houses, churches and balconies that dazzle for its windows and colors that are enhanced by the presence of flowers.

Recommendations to get to know Cartagena de Indias Colonial jewel

Known as a charming and magical destination for its beautiful colonial landscapes, squares located in the historic center and paradisiacal beaches. Without a doubt, you will have places to visit and charming landscapes to enjoy.

This is why you should know some useful tips to plan and choose which places to visit if you plan to travel to Cartagena:

Time to visit

This colonial city has 2 seasons: summer and winter, therefore it is recommended to visit it in months with average temperatures ranging from 28°C to 31°C, during the month of December to April.

Travel requirements

It is advisableto have a passport, financial solvency and travel insurance for the round trip ticket. In addition, you will have to get vaccinated against yellow fever and do it 10 days in advance. To do this, you must go to the health care center to verify the availability of the vaccine.

Dish checklist

There is no doubt that the most used ingredient is coconut to prepare delicious dishes. This component is added exclusively in sweets or depending on the type of dish from casseroles, rice or desserts.

Also, you can choose between International and National cuisine, between dishes such as:

Places to visit or know

A fun plan can include taking a walk through the beautiful streets, to appreciate the colorful facades, historical or emblematic architecture and ancient walls. Also, you can make a list to see different colonial buildings.

For example: San Felipe Castle, Clock Tower, Squares, Cathedrals.

Check flights

Depending on where you are, you can choose, which flight should you select? From there, select the airline route or direct flights that will take you to Cartagena without a stopover or selecting flights with variable stopovers depending on the starting point.

Where to stay in Cartagena de Indias?

You can choose to book at Alba Group Hotels, a renowned hotel group in the historic center of Cartagena with 4 elegant boutique hotels with colonial essence and high-end service: