Cartagena: The Beautiful Walled City

Welcome back, everyone. We are still exploring the beautiful country of Colombia. We are in the town of Cartagena, which is a super neat place. Cartagena is a port city on the Caribbean coast. This city is also referred to as the Walled City because of the giant wall constructed to protect the people from foreign invasions. Cartagena’s beaches are popular tourist spots because of the tropical climate. The soft, white sands and large, green palm trees make for the perfect tropical paradise.

This city is not only full of scenic views, but it’s also rich in history. There is a vast amount of beautiful architectural and cultural heritage to learn about. We have enjoyed our time wandering the city visiting all the local shops and restaurants. I would highly recommend checking out this incredible town if you are planning a trip to the beautiful country of Colombia. 

The Walled City 

The city of Cartagena is surrounded by eleven kilometers of fortress walls, which were built in 1586 to protect against foreign invasions and pirate attacks. This walled city and fortress are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city of Cartagena is mainly known for Old Town, which was founded in the 16th century. The town is filled with incredible cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings.

Not only are there a ton of local shops and restaurants to stop into, but there are also a lot of other things to see and do while strolling the cobblestone streets of Cartagena. The only thing I would warn you of is that there were a lot of street vendors, which can quickly become obnoxious. It’s hard to enjoy the city when you are constantly being bombarded with vendors trying to sell something. However, the city was breathtaking and the bright colors, artistic masterpieces, and fun music make for an unforgettable experience. There’s also a lot of horses and carriages on the streets offering to take you for a ride through the streets of the city.

Best View of the City

There are a lot of beautiful religious buildings in this city. Not only are they exquisite architecturally, but they are filled with a rich history. A must-see was the Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa, which is a religious place that dates back to 1607. It’s also known to have the best views of the town because it sits at the highest point above the city. This convent was built initially being named Santa Cruz but later was given the name la Popa. We were able to capture a ton of incredible pictures of this city from this location. 

Getsemani 

Barrio Getsemani is an artsy neighborhood that is about a twenty-minute drive from the heart of Cartagena. This colorful, fun location is an urban place that is filled with fun things to do. It is centered on Holy Trinity Square, where locals get together to hang out and relax. They mostly enjoy time together while drinking beer from the local pubs and listening to talented street musicians. The streets are known for their artistic murals, delicious pubs and cocktail bars, and the famous club Cafe Havana. 

For all my photographers that follow along, Getsemani is filled with must-see spots that will make for the perfect photo collection. The first spot is the Callejón Angosto, which translates to “narrow alley.” As you walk down this alleyway, which is lined with colorful, colonial buildings, you will notice tons of hanging umbrellas above you. It almost appears as if they are floating in the sky. This was a cool place, and we got a few amazing pictures as you can see below. Next up is Flag Street. This location is lined with a rainbow of flags from all over the world. There is also a lot of amazing artistic street graffiti to see. The murals are cool to look at, and it’s inspiring how much this culture appreciates art and self-expression.

The Experience

We had to get Covid tested in Colombia, which is never comfortable. We had negative test results, which we were very grateful for. I am so glad that we have been able to travel to so many places and avoid getting sick. We have been super careful and are continuing to practice proper sanitization and safety to remain healthy. This global pandemic has thrown us a few curveballs for sure, but I am convinced that life is way too short not to see the world. 

The city of Cartagena was amazing, and I would highly recommend this town to anyone of any age, shape, or size. The views are amazing and one-of-a-kind. Thanks for joining me on this wild journey in exploring the world. If you would like to discover more about me and my passion for traveling, you can read more here. Thanks, until next time.