The Plaza de la Aduana is unmatched in terms of size and history. Once Cartagena's central square, it was surrounded by administrative and government buildings. Among them was Pedro de Heredia’s mansion, the founder of the city, without whom Cartagena might never have come to life. You can still see his house today, just look for its three large wooden balconies and thirteen arches. In 1790, the building was repurposed by the customs administration, the aduana in Spanish, giving the square its current name. Today, the square proudly flies two Colombian flags and houses the city hall. The stone figure standing at the entrance is none other than Christopher Columbus. This statue was unveiled in 1894 to commemorate the anniversary of the discovery of America.