A few years back, Colombia's tourism board came up with an amazing slogan and marketing campaign to generate renewed interest in visiting the country after years of turmoil and violence. In Spanish it was "Colombia - El riesgo es que te quieras quedar." In English, it means "Colombia - the only risk is wanting to stay." And it's so true.
Cartagena de Indias has become one of my favorite cities in Colombia to spend time in (after Medellin). In addition to the unspoiled beaches I wrote about in prior posts, the city also has a very fascinating history and remarkable architecture.
Wikipedia provides the pithiest description that captures the essence of the city in a nutshell:
The city was founded on June 1, 1533, and named after Cartagena, Spain. However, settlement in this region around Cartagena Bay by various indigenous people dates back to 4000 BC. During the colonial period Cartagena served a key role in administration and expansion of the Spanish empire. It was a center of political and economic activity due to the presence of royalty and wealthy viceroys. Cartagena is the city most associated with pirates in the Caribbean, and the world. In 1984 Cartagena's colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cartagena's colonial charm and the old walled city to protect against such pirates, with its tiled roofs, colonial balconies and flower-filled courtyards, makes for an amazing weekend getaway from any city in Colombia - most less than 1.5 hours away by air.
Click here to see more photos my trip to this incredible city.
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