Founded in 1533 by Madrilenian Don Pedro de Heredia, the city was fortified during centuries XVII and XVIII with solid walls and castles to defend it of pirates, privateers and of armies, that looked for the sacking of accumulated wealth by the commerce of valuable merchandise and slaves. Its bay lodged the "Mainland Galleons" ready to start off for Spain with the silver coming from the Virreinato of Peru. The defending empire of the Catholic Faith established in Cartagena de Indias the seat of the Court of Santo Oficio of the Inquisition (1610). Bloody battles occurred by their conquest. In some the victory accompanied the visitors and in others they were repelled, as it happened in the defense that directed with gallardía the Virrey Don Sebastián de Eslava in front of the imposing English Navy of Admiral Vernón (1741).

Ten years the process of its independence of absolute lasted of the Spanish crown from its proclamation, the 11 of November of 1811. Its firm resistance to the prolonged site, that suffered in 1815 to defend independence, made creditor of the title "Cartagena de Indias, Heroic City".

In the republican period the city lost his power and derived towards one long crisis that lasts until principles of century XX. At the present time it is a recovered city that receives to thousands of tourists, eager to know the scenes where they carried out outstanding pages of his history, personalities like India Catherine, Francis Drake, San Pedro Claver, Baron de Pointis, Blas de Lezo, Antonio de Arevalo, Pedro Romero, Simón Bolivar and Rafael Nuñez.

In 1984, the Committee of the World-wide Patrimony of UNESCO included in the list of the world-wide patrimony the "Port, Strength and Monumental Set of Cartagena de Indias".

The visit to the city becomes magician, when besides to know monuments, one is mixed between its people. It is then difficult not to be pledged with Cartagena from yesterday, today and always. City with spell, is glad, festive and Friendly.

City Map