The Walled city of Cartagena, Colombia

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The Walled City is one of the places which is considered a 'must see' in Colombia. This city is one of the main reasons that tourists visit the famous 'Cartagena de Indias'. It hasn't been named 'a world heritage site' for nothing. It has been named this due to its important history and culture for the Colombian nation.

History

Cartagena is known by many as a city that was the target of pirates, and most importantly the English and the French, who intended to plunder the city. In fact, this is one of the main reasons that they built the 'Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas' (castle) and the 'Muralla' (city wall), and they implemented very cruel strategies to protect the city. In a tour of the port, they told us that the lepers were chucked into the sea next to the port, as by doing this they would catch the attention of the sharks who would eat the sick. This ensured death for the crew of the pirate ships if their boats were to sink, even if they were a little further out. Many of them could not land at the coast because the water was very shallow. You could say that Cartagena is a city that could defend itself, although you cannot forget the strong Spanish presence that equipped the inhabitants with lots of knowledge and weapons for it, since they were the ones who built the castle.

Things to see inside the walled city

As you enter the city, you will be surprised by all of the things that there are to see and to do. You can go to the 'Palacio de la Inquisición' (The Inquisition Palace) - it is not for everyone. Here they exhibit torture instruments that were common in that era. Nearby to the Palace, I found myself at a type of window that I found next to a church; the guide told us that week that they used to touch the priest in turn in whichever way in order to accuse people who were acting suspiciously and it was there when the inquisition took command.

Another place that I recommend is the Museo del Oro Zenú (Zenú gold museum), which exhibits gold objects that were fabricated by the Zenú culture before the Spanish conquest. Also, you can visit the 'Museo de Arte Moderno' (museum of modern art), although I don't consider it a 'must'. The many, diverse churches like the San Pedro de Claver and you can admire the many large Colonial houses whose appearances have been maintained.

You will also find the town hall inside the city and a university. It was discussed that Gabriel García Márquez lived in Cartagena for a long time and one of his houses that is here is truly captivating and a place of magic.

Entering the walled city of Cartagena is like entering a time machine and living the past. When you enter you can find old carriages pulled by horses, facades that have remained in tact, as well as the names and decoration of the streets. It is very common to find people who are still travelling in carriages, as if it were a type of taxi.

The old Colonial houses, the walled city is very clean.

Some old sellers maintain the Colombian culture with their colourful outfits.

Everyone is very friendly with the tourists. You can find typical shops and artisan sellers in the street to shops whose facade is colonial but on entering them you can see that they preserve very expensive articles of very prestigious brands and of high quality. The friendly street sellers have souvenirs of Cartagena which are a lot cheaper than in the shops. I have always thought that buying them from the street sellers will help the country more.

Where to eat?

Eating is not going to be a problem, since you are going to find restaurants that suit every budget and appetite, if you want to eat something typical of Colombia or if you want to go for something safer like the well known Crepes & Waffles, whose decor is impressive. One of the best things about Cartagena is that by being the Patrimony of humanity, they are not permitted to change the appearance of the city, therefore, although a restaurant might seem old from the outside, maintaining the style of the city, on the inside its decor can be so modern, you would not believe it.

How to get there?

It is very easy to move about within Cartagena since everything is nearby. The taxis are safe and do not charge much. The Walled city is one of the main touristic attractions of Cartagena, so it is known by all of the taxi drivers, pedestrians and there is no way you can get lost.

How much does it cost?

The walled city is found within the centre of Cartagena so entry is free, since it is used like a throughway to the rest of the city.

Recommendations

I really recommend a bicycle ride, the ones that you can rent or even hire a guide. This is just as good during the day as in the night, since the beauty changes with the presence of the moon. In general, a very recommendable place.

Would I return?

A thousand times! I am going to share a phrase about Cartagena with you, by the best known Colombian writer:

"It was enough for me to take a step inside the wall to see it in all its grandeur in the mauve light of six in the afternoon, and I could not suppress the feeling of having been reborn" - Gabriel García Márquez.