Insight: Colonial Architecture in Cartagena

Cartagena is a popular tourist attraction today precisely because of its well-preserved colonial architecture, which transports the visitor back in time.

Cartagena de Indias was one of the first municipalities founded by the Spanish in Colombia, back in year 1533. Originally conceived as a humble port town, it grew quickly to become a seat of power in the New World and a key player in the expansion of the Spanish Empire. Nearly all the gold that was shipped back to Spain from Colombia passed through Cartagena, so designing it as a fortress city secure from invasions and attacks was a necessity.

It is for this reason that the architecture here stands out from other well-preserved colonial areas in the country. Military structures exist here alongside homes and religious institutions of the colonial era. In the walled city alone there are some 12 different religious buildings dating back to the 16th century.

To stroll the streets of Cartagena is to walk through history. Spend even a couple of hours here and it’s not difficult to see why, in 1984, Unesco named Cartagena de Indias a World Heritage Site. It’s possible to walk along the wall and visit the forts. From the various ramparts on the west you have a good vantage point to look into the walled city on one side, and see the Caribbean Sea on the other.

Colorful houses in the old city.

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The walled city

A 4km (2-mile) wall, la muralla, surrounds Cartagena and took over 100 years to build. The Spanish Crown ordered it to be built to protect against incoming attacks and enemies of Spain. However, the wall also existed to maintain the social status quo. The aristocracy lived within the walls in the old city, while the artisans and workers lived just outside in Getsemaní. The walls acted as a barrier to keep the poor and working classes from offending the upper classes with their presence.

However, the wall wasn’t Cartagena’s only defense. It was supplemented by fortresses such as the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas and the Fort San Fernando, which were built around the late 16th century. In the early 17th century the walls were reinforced and a damn was built between Tierrabomba and Cartagena, effectively cutting off one of the two principal waterways leading into the city.

Within the walls of the old city you can still see these old great houses and places of worship once used by the aristocracy. The houses line the cobblestone streets and are notable for their wooden balconies and white-washed exteriors. These homes typically consisted of multiple stories and were located around a central courtyard.