Cartagena, Colombia - Overview and Essential Travel Information
by cctraveler2 at TravelPost
Cartagena (pop. 888 000) the most popular tourist resort town in Colombia is divided into two main parts: the Ciudad Antigua (Old City) and the Ciudad Nueva (New City). Cartagena used to be a popular place for the privateers of the Caribbean (the most famous being Sir Francis Drake). Accordingly, the Spanish invested heavily in thick walls to protect this important harbour from attacks. Within these walls you will find the pleasant Ciudad Antigua, built in 1533 along a beautiful Caribbean harbor. The walls are about 10 kilometres long. It’s very pleasant to stroll down the narrow streets and take in the stylish colonial architecture. The cathedrals and palaces face cool shady plazas, where you can buy little cups of coffee (tinto) and watch the world go by. Around Cartagena some very fine beaches are to be found, where you can get a tan under the tropical sun. Nightlife in Cartagena is quite lively, many bars with good (Salsa) music and cheap beer. It is never hard to find a decent place to eat either. Downtown there are many restaurants with Caribbean and creole specialities. See the separate section on eating out. From Cartagena you can travel on to Cali, Medellín, Santa marta, a great old city on the coast, from where you can visit the Ciudad Perdida of the Tayrona Indians or Bogotá the capital city of Colombia. SIGHTS The old town of Cartagena is filled with mansions that are absolutely worth a visit. There are also a number of important museums. Convento de la Popa The Convento de la Popa is a 400-year-old monastery built on the foundations of a razed Indian temple. The monastery which sits on a 500-ft/150-m hill contains a statue of the Virgin of Candelaria who is credited with delivering the city from the ravages of disease and pirates. On 2 February candle-bearing processions wind their way to the monastery to honor the Virgin’s feast day. A more musical festival takes place in early March when Caribbean musicians gather in the city for the Caribbean Music Festival. San Felipe de Barajas Outside the walls is the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas a fortress that survived attacks by pirates and other adventurers following in Drake’s footsteps. Note the statue of Blas de Lezo the one-armed one-legged one-eyed hero of Cartagena’s successful defense against the British Admiral Vernon in 1741. Palace of the Inquisition Tour the eerie 18th-century Inquisition Palace which displays tools of torture and a receipt for ransom paid to Sir Francis Drake in exchange for leniency (he agreed not to burn the city). GETTING THERE Bus Terminal The new bus terminal is 30 min from town on the road to Baranquila. Take the city bus 'Terminal de Transportes' to get there. Medellin 30 dollars for a Pullman bus trip to Medellin. Several buses a day, but you might need to book early. To Bogota A trip to Bogota by bus can take up to 20 hours. It should cost you around 40 dollar. Try the Expreso Brasilia or Copetran services. SHOPPING Las Bovedas Be sure not to miss Las Bovedas: They’re vaults built into the city walls that now house little tourist shops. Worth a visit for the shops but more so for the setting. Compendium On Plaza Bolivar, Compendium offers a good selection of artesanias. Libreria Bitacura Av. San Martin 7-187 has English and Spanish books.
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