Cartagena (pronounced in Spanish; the usual English pronunciation is or ), also known as Cartagena de Indias (Cartagena of the West Indies), is a large city seaport on the northern coast of Colombia. Capital of the Bolivar Department, it has a population of roughly 895,400 (2005 Census). Founded in 1533 by Don Pedro de Heredia, and named after the port of Cartagena in Spain's Murcia region, it was a major center of early Spanish settlement in the Americas, and continues to be an economic hub as well as a popular tourist destination.

History

Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, in the area where the Caribbean Calamari people lived, their name meaning 'crab'. This native population was part of a native tribe called the Mocanaes; Spanish accounts describe them as fierce and warlike, and point out that even women fought on a par with men.

A few years after it had been founded, the Spaniards designed a defense plan in which the main strategy was the construction of a walled military fortress to protect the city against the plundering of English, Dutch and French pirates.

Despite the precautions, the city was attacked many times. In 1544 the French pirate Roberto Baal (aka Roberval) forced Governor Pedro de Heredia to flee and to give him gold to avoid being at the mercy of the invaders. In 1559, the Frenchman Martin Cote also dominated the city. He took huge plunder in spite of Cacique Maridalo's resistance. Another pirate attack was that of Francis Drake, who disembarked at night and took the city at dawn; he forced the inhabitants to take refuge in the neighboring village of Turbaco, burned the houses and destroyed a nave of the Cathedral. Drake forced the authorities to pay him 107.000 ducats and took some jewelry and 80 artillery pieces. And in 1568, the Englishman John Hawkins besieged the city for seven days because Governor Marin de las Alas did not want to carry out a commercial fair in the city; Hawkins could not subjugate the city. This was the case in the Raid on Cartagena (1697) by a combined fleet of regular French soldiers under Pointis and buccaneers under Jean Du Casse.

In order to resist these attacks, during the 17th century the Spanish Crown hired the services of prominent European military engineers to carry out the construction of fortresses, which are nowadays one of Cartagena's clearest signs of identity.

In March of 1741 the city was attacked by the troops of the English admiral Edward Vernon, who arrived at Cartagena with an enormous fleet of 186 ships and 23,600 men against only 6 ships and 3,600 men. After weeks of intense fighting, the siege was repelled by the Spanish commander, General Blas de Lezo and his forces who inflicted heavy casualties on the English troops. (For more information on the Battle of Cartagena see War of Jenkins' Ear).

Cartagena was a major trading port, specially for precious metals. Gold and silver from the mines in New Granada and Peru were loaded in Cartagena on the galleons bound for Spain via Havana. Cartagena was also a slave port; Cartagena and Veracruz (Mexico) were the only cities authorized to trade with black people. The first slaves arrived with Pedro de Heredia and they worked as cane cutters to open roads, in the desecration of tombs of the aboriginal population of Sinu, and in the construction of buildings and fortresses. The agents of the Portuguese company Cacheu distributed human 'cargos' from Cartagena for mine exploitation in Venezuela, the West Indies, the Nuevo Reino de Granada and the Viceroyalty of Peru.

On 5 February 1610, the Catholic Monarchs established from Spain the Inquisition Holy Office Court in Cartagena de Indias by a Royal Decree issued by King Philip II. The Inquisition Palace, finished in 1770, is still there with its original features of colonial times. When Cartagena declared its complete independence from Spain on November 11, 1811, the inquisitors were urged to leave the city. The Inquisition operated again after the Reconquest in 1815, but it disappeared definitely when Spain surrendered six years later before the patriotic troops led by Simon Bolivar. During its two centuries of existence, the court carried out twelve autos-de-fe, 767 defendants were punished and six of them were burned at the stake.

In colonial times, the Spaniards also built a series of constructions and fortresses to defend the city, such as San Sebastian de Pastelillo Fort, in the neighborhood of Manga, and the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a large fortress named in honor of Spain's King Philip IV. In the 18th century, the Vaults were constructed by the Spanish engineer Antonio de Arevalo. Outside the city, the Forts of San Fernando and of San Jose were located strategically at the entrance of the bay to entrench the pirate vessels that attacked the city.

The city is the main host of the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Metropolitan area

Northern area

In this area you will find the Rafael Nunez International Airport, in the neighborhood of Crespo, only ten minutes away from downtown or the old part of the city and fifteen minutes away from the modern area. It must be said that this large area is that with the greatest long-term urban development. Here you will find the majestic Coralia Americas Hotel, and several educational institutions.

If you decide you'd like to relive the history of Cartagena, go to the Ciudad Amurallada (Walled City), also called "Centro Historico" and "Corralito de Piedra", where you will find four sectors, each one with a peculiar story to tell: San Diego, La Matuna, Getsemani and Santo Domingo.

Downtown

Downtown is undoubtedly the heart of the city and the most evident testimony of its history. It has a varied architecture, mainly of a colonial style, but there are also republican and Italian style buildings, such as the Cathedral's bell tower.

The official entrance to downtown is through Puerta del Reloj (Clock Portal), which comes out onto Plaza de los Coches (Carriages Square). A few steps from there you will find Plaza de la Aduana (Customs Square), next to the mayor's office. Nearby is Plaza San Pedro Claver, and his namesake's church, as well as the Museum of Modern Art.

Further on, you will find Plaza de Bolivar (Bolivar's Square) and the Palace of the Inquisition to one side. If you are interested in knowing more about Cartagena's history, you can do in-depth research in the office of the Historical Archive. Next to the archives you'll find Government Palace, where the Governor of the Department works. Across from the palace you'll see Cartagena's Cathedral, which dates back to the 16th century.

There is another religious temple that you should take time to admire: The newly restored Santo Domingo Church, in front of Plaza Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo Square). The square was recently decorated with the sculpture Mujer Reclinada ("Reclining Woman"), a gift from the renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

You should not forget to visit Teatro Heredia (Heredia Theater), an architectural jewel located in front of Plaza de la Merced. A few meters from here you'll find Calle de la Factoria; on it is the Marquis of Valdehoyos House, where the Historical Photographic Library is housed.

A little bit further on is Augustinian Fathers Convent, where the University of Cartagena operates. This university is a higher education center, opened to the public more than 120 years ago. Don't forget to visit Claustro de Santa Teresa (Saint Theresa Cloister), which has been remodeled into a hotel, operated by Charleston Hotels, an upscale Colombian hotel chain. It has its own square, protected by the San Francisco Bastion.

San Diego

It was named after San Diego Convent, nowadays the Beaux Arts School Building. In front of it you will find Convent of the Nuns of the Order of Saint Claire, now the beautiful Hotel Santa Clara. In the surrounding area you will find Santo Toribio Church, the last church built in the Walled City, and next to it, Fernandez de Madrid Square, in honor of Cartagena's hero Jose Fernandez de Madrid, whose statue can be seen here.

Inside the Old City, you have to go to Las Bovedas (The Vaults), a construction attached to the walls in the Santa Catalina Bastion. From the top of this construction you will be able to view the Caribbean Sea.

The Matuna

The Matuna is the commercial and financial area par excellence in the city. Here you can also find affordable hotels, like Saint Philip Hotel, and affordable restaurants with good service.

Getsemani neighborhood

This is one of the most representative neighborhoods in Cartagena. African people who were brought as slaves used to live here. Parque Centenario (Centennary Park) is the most prominent place in this area; built in 1911, it commemorates a century of independence. In this very same area you will find Cartagena's Convention Center, Third Order Church and San Francisco Cloister. You will also see San Roque and of the Trinity churches, in the square with the same name. Note that the entirety of the Old City has the same architectural styles as the area surrounded by The Walls.

Bocagrande

Bocagrande (Big Mouth) is the most modern area of the city, with many hotels and restaurants. It forms part of a land extension delimited by Cartagena Bay to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west, where you will find El Laguito (The Little Lake) and Castillogrande (Big Castle), two renowned neighborhoods. Its particular appeal are the beaches and nightlife. All over Avenida San Martin (Saint Martin Avenue), which is the backbone of the area, you will find several business premises, restaurants and hotels.

Urban Development

Cartagena has experienced heavy urban development in recent years, particularly with the construction of new skyscrapers. As of May 2007, there were 41 high-rises under construction, including an effort to create Colombia's tallest, the Torre de la Escollera. The new high-rise, extraordinarily narrow, was expected to be completed in early 2007, and was planned to stand at 676 ft and have 58 floors. However, a construction defect has sadly led to its dismantling.

Geography

Location

Cartagena faces the Caribbean Sea to the west. To the south is the Cartagena Bay, which has two entrances: Bocachica (Small Mouth) in the south, and Bocagrande (Big Mouth) in the north. Cartagena is located at 10°25' Norths, 75°32' West (10.41667, -75.5333).1

Climate

Due to Cartagena's tropical location, the climate changes little, with an average high of 32°C (88.6°F) and an average low of 25°C (77 °F) throughout the year. Cartagena also averages around 90% humidity, with a rainy season typically in October. Cartagena receives about 1000 mm (40 inches) of rain per year.

Transportation

Rafael Nunez International Airport

Sister cities

Seville, Spain
Coral Gables, Florida, United States
Miami, Florida, United States
Saint Augustine, Florida, United States
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Cancun, Mexico
Manila, Philippines

Cartagena in Popular Culture

Cartagena gained modern notoriety in the 1984 hit movie, Romancing the Stone when romance novelist Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) travels to Cartagena to deliver a treasure map in an effort to ransom her kidnapped sister. The Cartagena scenes were actually filmed in Mexico for safety reasons, however the notoriety stuck.