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Cartagena World Heritage Site, Colombia

Cartagena, ColombiaCartagena, Colombia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cartagena_de_Indias_desde_el_cerro_La_Popa.jpg
Author: Norma Gòmez
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Cartagena is a medieval city in Colombia. It is located in a bay facing the Caribbean Sea, in the Bolívar Department. The city has a population of over one million people.

What makes Cartagena a major tourist destination in Colombia is its old city walls and fortifications, which are the most extensive in South America. The old city is divided into three zones. San Pedro has the cathedral and many Andalusian-style palaces. San Diego is the old commercial precinct, where merchants, traders and the middle-class lived. Gethsemani is the living quarters of the working class.

Cartagena was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 8th session of the World Heritage Committee in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 29 October to 2 November, 1984.

Old town of CartagenaOld town of Cartagena
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:74_-_Carthag%C3%A8ne_-_D%C3%A9cembre_2008.jpg
Author: Martin St-Amant
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World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 10 25 W 75 32
Inscription Year: 1984
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: IV, VI

Tourist Sights and Attractions in Cartagena

  1. Walled City of Cartagena Explore the Old City and admire the beautiful old houses, with balconies, verandahs and potted plants. 500-year-old fortifications that have been remarkably preserved.

  2. Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas Old fort designed by Dutch engineer Richard Carr and built by the Spanish in 1657 to protect against pirates.

  3. Palace of the Inquisition Visit the building where the Spanish tortured men whom they accuse of crimes against their religion.

  4. Steps of La Popa Mount 150-meter high hill with splendid views of Cartagena and the harbor area. Visit the Santa Cruz monastery, with its charming courtyard.

  5. Las Boóvedas

  6. Playa Blanca, Bar&uacture; Beautiful beach on the island of Baru. Can be reached by ferry or by car across the bridge.

  7. Islas del Rosario You can visit these islands through an excursion, available with many local travel agencies.


Heritage quarters of CartagenaHeritage quarters of Cartagena
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cartagena,_Colombia_(5003058315).jpg
Author: Pedro Szekely
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Visiting Cartagena

Arriving in Cartagena

Cartagena's Rafael Nuñez International Airport (CTG) receives flights from Caracas, Bogotá, Miami (2.5 hours) and New York City (5.5 hours), among others.

Exploring the Old City of Cartagena

You can go there by bus. The bus terminal is just 6 km to the east of the Old City. The ticket price is COP$1700. The Old City can be easily explored on foot. To go to destinations farther away, such as the Castillo de San Felipe, take the bus.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
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