What to do in Cartagena?

There are many sites worth visiting in Cartagena de Indias, places where you can find history, recreation, relaxation, culture, leisure and more. A wide variety of sites await visitors eager to spend a pleasant and memorable moment.

HISTORICAL SITES

Cartagena de Indias has many interesting places visited by local, national and international tourists throughout the year, because of its historical significance.

Some of the most visited and recommended places are:

CASTILLO DE SAN FELIPE BARAJAS

It is the largest Spanish military building in the New World. It was originally built in 1536, and was extended in 1657.

You can visit it every day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

MUSEO DEL ORO

In 1982 this museum opened its doors to Cartagena de Indias with a collection of gold and ceramics from the major pre-Columbian cultures once inaugurated by the Bank of the Republic.

You can visit the museum from Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 M and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

RAFAEL NUNEZ’S HOUSE

A typical Caribbean style house of its time built in the late nineteenth century. It’s a wooden house with two floors where white and green dominates its appearance.

It can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

THE PALACE OF THE INQUISITION

Is one of the most important examples of what was once the colonial era architecturally speaking. It is recognized because of the beautiful set of Baroque style composed by its main door, corridor and balconies. This building is also an important example of civil architecture from the eighteenth century in Cartagena.

You can visit from Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

CASTILLO DE SAN FERNANDO IN BOCACHICA

The fortifications of Bocachica are subsequent to the time of sinking of ships in Boca Grande, which led to the closure of the entry to the city and the opening of the channel Bocachica. The assembly of walls formed by the forts of San Fernando and San Jose, which protect this channel, are one of the most impressive works of military engineering and is one of the most welcoming impressions for those who come to visit Cartagena by sea.

RELIGIOUS SITES

CHURCH AND CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO

The construction of the two religious centers started in 1579 and lasted until 1698 when work was completely finished.

LA POPA CONVENT

The hill was given its name because sailors compared it to the stern of a ship. The hill was a forest that served as a refuge for mixed raced people. From the top of the historic hill you can overlook the whole the city.

It can be visited from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

CONVENT OF SAN DIEGO

Its founder, Fray Sebastian de Humilias, acquired a house with alms he got from his neighbours and turned it into a convent, the prestigious people in the area helped by providing their slaves and donating materials. Then, Fray Sebastian began the final construction built on top of the Jaqueyes where poor people lived aided by the religious.

CONVENT OF SANTA CLARA

This building was founded in 1617, during the colonial era, and has been a Convent, Charity Hospital, Orphan House, Instructors School and University Hospital.

THE HERMITAGE OF EL CABRERO

In this Chapel the remains of the distinguished poet and President Don Rafael Nunez are still conserved. He is the author of the Colombian National Anthem and under his government the National Constitution of 1886 was created and continued to be used until 1994, where new changes were made to it by the National Constituent Assembly.

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH

Cartagena de Indias built its first Cathedral in 1537, in the current Coliseum Street, first a modest building made of palm and cane destroyed by a terrible fire in 1552.

CHURCH AND CONVENT OF SAN PEDRO CLAVER

The original church was constructed in 1580 and rebuilt in the seventeenth century. The efforts of the Jesuits community maintained the site with its original structures. However, there have been a few structural changes: Monsignor Eugenio Biffi, after saving the church from the neglect and ruin, built the altar from marble imported from Italy.

In the back part of convent is located the Museum Naval Convent of the Caribbean, the museum in charge of the restoration of the historic site.

You can visit it every day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.