CASTILLO DE SAN FELIPE
El Castillo de San Felipe is the largest and strongest fortress built by the Spaniards. It is located on a hill called San Lázaro and was built in 1657 during the Spanish colonial era. In 1984, UNESCO included the historic center of the city of Cartagena de Indias, its fortifications, and el Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas within the list of World Heritage Sites.
CERRO DE LA POPA
You can see the most spectacular views of Cartagena in the Cerro de La Popa. Due to its strategic location, the 17th-century monastery served as a fortress during colonial times. On the top there is a beautiful church and colonial convent built between 1609 and 1611. The cloister of the Popa convent is one of the most beautiful in the colonial city of Cartagena and in all of Colombia.
PALACIO DE LA INQUISICIÓN
El Palacio de la Inquisición is a typical mansion from the colonial period. It was the seat of the Court of Penalties of the Holy Office of the Inquisition, where crimes against the Christian faith were judged. The Palace included jails and torture chambers. Today you can visit its interior and tour the museum, where you can see torture objects from this time, and tour the rooms where you can see how the indigenous people of the area lived before the arrival of the Spaniards and understand the Spanish occupation, the years of the Inquisition and Independence.
LAS BOVEDAS (THE VAULTS)
Las Bovedas are part of the walls of the old city of Cartagena. It is considered the last project of the Colony carried out within the walled city. It has 47 arches and 23 vaults. It had military use during the Colonial period and served as a prison during Independence. After its restoration, it houses craft and antique shops.
TEATRO HEREDIA MEJIA
El Teatro Heredia is one of the most beautiful buildings in Cartagena. It was built in 1911 in commemoration of the Independence of Cartagena de Indias. It is built in the shape of a horseshoe with boxes and balconies divided by lattices, which look like lace, originally used for ventilation. It has Italian marble stairs and sculptures with a backdrop of Boca and a ceiling beautifully created by the Cartagena artist Enrique Grau.
