Cartagena was first settled by the Spanish conquistadores in the early 1500s, and the combination of its large and deep natural harbor and strategic location between two large rivers made it a near-perfect port for the extraction of silver, gold, and other treasures from the interior of South America.
The rapidly increasing wealth associated with the town didn’t go unnoticed, however, and in the mid-1500s Cartagena was attacked and pillaged by French pirates. In response, the fortification of the city and the surrounding area began. Starting with a defensive tower, construction continued over the next several centuries to include a strong defensive wall around the entire central portion of town, multiple forts protecting the entrance to Cartagena’s bay, and even a submerged breakwater across one of the harbor entrances to prevent foreign ships from entering.
Despite all of these protections, the wealth flowing through town made it an irresistible target – over the years Cartagena was attacked by the French, the Portuguese, and the British.
Today, the central part of town still features its protective wall sheltering colonial-era buildings, churches, and leafy squares. Brimming with restaurants, bars, and small hotels, Old Town is charming in the morning, becomes very busy and hectic with tourists from cruise ships in the afternoons, and thumping with music from the multiple clubs in the evenings.
