Cartagena de Indias is a charming port
with a stormy past – in the 16th and 17th
centuries, the settlement was a magnet
for pillaging pirates! So many plunderers
set their sights on Cartagena and its gold,
a wall had to be built around the city.
Nowadays visitors are free to explore the
old fortifications and ride boats in the bay
where pirate ships once used to roam.
Pirates of the Caribbean
An approaching ship waving the Jolly Roger flag was a sign
to turn round and flee – the black skull and crossbones
meant that pirates were coming your way! Most of the
buccaneers that came into Cartagena threatening lives and
demanding gold were French and English. One French
pirate named Baal invaded the city while the governor
was dining at a banquet. After a dramatic swordfight,
Baal pocketed a handsome ransom in gold then escaped
before the stunned guests could stop him.
All that glitters
The ancient craft of the Zenú tribe
is astonishing to behold. The tribe
created incredibly intricate gilded
objects including jaguar sculptures,
jewel-laden hammocks and trees
decorated with tiny gleaming bells.
The gold that has caused so much
drama in Cartagena’s history is now
on display at the city’s Museo de Oro
(Museum of Gold). The display cases
shine with sacred relics, gravediggers’
spoils and pirates’ booty.
Treasure trove
The city of Cartagena was founded by Spanish explorers in 1533. The Spanish
seized the fabulous riches of the region’s native peoples, including the Inca,
then established the city as an important stop on the European trade route.
Ships carrying gold, silver and silk from Peru and Ecuador used to dock in
Cartagena before sailing back to Spain. All of this newfound wealth soon
caught the attention of pirate crews, however. The city was sieged five times
in the 16th century alone!
LIFE’S A BREEZE
Cartagena’s locals are used to
hustle and bustle – the city is
crowded, hot and sticky. Street
vendors jostle at every turn, and
when they’re not in school their
children often come and help
out. On Sundays however, many
families like to escape the heat
and fly kites together outside
the city walls. A colourful festival
takes place every August, when
the winds are especially strong.
THE IMPENETRABLE FORT
The Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas is the only
stronghold in Cartagena that pirates never managed
to invade and conquer. It’s the largest Spanish
colonial fortress outside of Spain – protected by thick
walls, formidable bunkers and powerful parapets. An
eerie maze of tunnels connects key locations deep
inside the fort. The tunnels were carefully designed
so that even the slightest noise echoes through the
gloomy corridors, making it impossible for an enemy
to approach without being detected.
SELF-DEFENCE
Once the Spanish had a stockpile of treasure, they
needed to find a way to protect it. The government
decided to build a wall around the Colombian city, as
well as several other walled compounds and castles.
The plan wasn’t entirely successful, but by the start of
the 17th century Cartagena was considered the best-
protected city in South America.
ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT
In the 17th century, there was only one way into
Cartagena’s walled city – everybody had to file through
the old Clock Tower Gate. There was only one central
door, making it easy to keep unwanted visitors out!
Although three doors are open now, the gateway is
still the most famous landmark in Cartagena. It used to
have a weapons room and a chapel inside, but today
the tower features a huge Swiss clock instead.
Cartagena’s
treasure came from
deep underground. The
Zenú tribe lived in the region
from 200 BC to around 1600,
and gold was a central part of their
culture. When a great Zenú leader
died, they were buried with all of their
most precious possessions. Spanish
explorers discovered these tombs
full of gleaming gold and started
looting the burial sites,
amassing a great pile
of riches.
