Old Town

The historic centre of Cartagena

The historic centre of Cartagena de Indias is a colonial jewel listed on the world heritage, girded with walls. The Cartagena audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this maze of colourful lanes, flowered balconies and lively squares.

The colonial jewel of the Caribbean

The historic centre of Cartagena de Indias, girded with its walls, is one of the finest colonial ensembles of Latin America, listed on the world heritage. There you wander in a maze of cobbled lanes lined with houses with bright façades, adorned with wooden balconies flowered with bougainvilleas. Churches, convents, palaces and shaded squares follow one another, witnesses of the richness of the city in the colonial era. Vibrant with colours, music and life, the historic centre blends heritage, Caribbean art of living and romantic atmosphere. It is the magical heart of Cartagena.

What to see

Here you wander in the maze of cobbled lanes lined with colourful houses with flowered balconies, among the churches, palaces and shaded squares, girded with walls. The historic centre of Cartagena is a colonial jewel listed by UNESCO. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The historic centre is explored on foot, in the fortified old town of Cartagena de Indias. It is a freely accessible public district; the monuments, shops and restaurants have their own hours. It is particularly pleasant at the end of the day and in the evening, when the heat falls.

Why is the historic centre of Cartagena listed?

Because it is one of the finest colonial ensembles of Latin America, girded with walls, with its colourful lanes, its flowered balconies, its churches and its squares; it is listed on the world heritage of UNESCO.

Where is the historic centre of Cartagena?

In the fortified old town of Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia.