Cartagena, Colombia

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Cartagena
Image:Bocagrande Cartagena.JPG Partial view of Bocagrande
Image:Flag of Cartagena.svg Flag Image:Escudocartagena1.JPG Seal
Nickname: The Heroic City The Walled City The Diplomatic City The Key of the West Indies The Walled Kingdom Best Fortified City of the Americas Historical Heritage of Mankind The Stone Coral
Image:Bolivarmunmapcartagena.png
Department	Bolívar Department
Region	Caribbean Region
Foundation	1533
Government
- Mayor	Nicolás Francisco Curi Vergara
Area
- Total	572 km² (220.9 sq mi)
Elevation	1 m (3 ft)
Population (2006)
- Total	895,400
Website: (Spanish) Government of Cartagena official website Tourism Office Official Site

Cartagena (pronounced /kartaˈçena/ in Spanish; the usual English pronunciation is /ˌkaːtəˈheɪnə/ or /ˌkaɹɾəˈheɪnə/), also known as Cartagena de Indias (Cartagena of the West Indies), is a large city seaport on the northern coast of Colombia. Capital of the Bolívar Department, it has a population of roughly 895,400 (2005 Census). Founded in 1533 by Don Pedro de Heredia, and named after the port of Cartagena in Spain's Murcia region, it was a major center of early Spanish settlement in the Americas, and continues to be an economic hub as well as a popular tourist destination.

Cartagena´s colonial area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Location 2.2 Climate 3 Government 3.1 Administrative divisions 3.2 Northern area 3.3 Downtown 3.4 San Diego 3.5 The Matuna 3.6 Getsemaní neighborhood 3.7 Bocagrande 3.8 Touristic Sites and Attractions 4 Architecture 5 Transportation 6 Sister cities 7 World Heritage site 8 In Popular Culture 9 External links

[edit] History

Cartagena de Indias was founded the 1st of June, 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, it was the seat of the indigenous Caribbean Calamarí village. See Juan de la Cosa)

The fame of this prosperous city turned it into the plunder site for pirates and thieves; the legions for the country’s defence soon became insufficient, which is why the kings of Spain decided to approve the construction of castles, forts, and walls that surrounded the city.

Despite the precautions, the city was attacked many times. In 1544 the French pirate Roberto Baal (aka Roberval) forced Governor Pedro de Heredia to flee and to give him gold to avoid being at the mercy of the invaders. In 1559, the Frenchman Martín Cote also dominated the city. He took huge plunder in spite of Cacique Maridalo's resistance.
Another pirate attack was that of Francis Drake, who disembarked at night and took the city at dawn; he forced the inhabitants to take refuge in the neighboring village of Turbaco, burned the houses and destroyed a nave of the Cathedral. Drake forced the authorities to pay him 107.000 ducats and took some jewelry and 80 artillery pieces.
And in 1568, the Englishman John Hawkins besieged the city for seven days because Governor Marín de las Alas did not want to carry out a commercial fair in the city; Hawkins could not subjugate the city. This was the case in the Raid on Cartagena (1697) by a combined fleet of regular French soldiers under Pointis and buccaneers under Jean Du Casse.

In order to resist these attacks, during the 17th century the Spanish Crown hired the services of prominent European military engineers to carry out the construction of fortresses, which are nowadays one of Cartagena's clearest signs of identity. This construction took 208 years, and ended with some eleven kilometres of walls surrounding the city, the San Felipe de Barajas Castle, named in honor of Spain's King Philip IV, constructed to repel land attacks, equipped with sentry boxes, buildings for food and weapons storage, underground tunnels; the San Sebastián de Pastelillo Fort, in the neighborhood of Manga; the San Angel battery in Tierra Bomba; the San Fernando fort and the San Jose battery in Bocachica, located strategically at the entrance of the bay to entrench the pirate vessels that attacked the city. In the 18th century, the Vaults were constructed by the Spanish engineer Antonio de Arévalo.

In March of 1741 the city was attacked by the troops of the English admiral Edward Vernon, who arrived at Cartagena with an enormous fleet of 186 ships and 23,600 men^{[dubious – discuss]} against only 6 ships and 3,600 men. After weeks of intense fighting, the siege was repelled by the Spanish commander, General Blas de Lezo and his forces who inflicted heavy casualties on the English troops. (For more information on the Battle of Cartagena see War of Jenkins' Ear).^{[citation needed]}

Cartagena was a major trading port, specially for precious metals. Gold and silver from the mines in New Granada and Peru were loaded in Cartagena on the galleons bound for Spain via Havana. Cartagena was also a slave port; Cartagena and Veracruz (México) were the only cities authorized to trade with black people. The first slaves arrived with Pedro de Heredia and they worked as cane cutters to open roads, in the desecration of tombs of the aboriginal population of Sinu, and in the construction of buildings and fortresses. The agents of the Portuguese company Cacheu distributed human 'cargos' from Cartagena for mine exploitation in Venezuela, the West Indies, the Nuevo Reino de Granada and the Viceroyalty of Perú.

On 5 February 1610, the Catholic Monarchs established from Spain the Inquisition Holy Office Court in Cartagena de Indias by a Royal Decree issued by King Philip II. The Inquisition Palace, finished in 1770, is still there with its original features of colonial times. When Cartagena declared its complete independence from Spain on November 11, 1811, the inquisitors were urged to leave the city. The Inquisition operated again after the Reconquest in 1815, but it disappeared definitely when Spain surrendered six years later before the patriotic troops led by Simón Bolívar. During its two centuries of existence, the court carried out twelve autos-de-fé, 767 defendants were punished and six of them were burned at the stake.

For more than 250 years, Cartagena was part of the Spanish Crown. On November 11th, 1811, Cartagena declared its independence, and began another chapter in its history that has been anything but easy, its title ‘The Heroic City’ is well earned and reflects the life of the city.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Location

Cartagena faces the Caribbean Sea to the west. To the south is the Cartagena Bay, which has two entrances: Bocachica (Small Mouth) in the south, and Bocagrande (Big Mouth) in the north. Cartagena is located at 10°25' Norths, 75°32' West (10.41667, -75.5333).1

[edit] Climate

Due to Cartagena's tropical location, the climate changes little, with an average high of 32°C (88.6°F) and an average low of 25°C (77 °F) throughout the year. Cartagena also averages around 90% humidity, with a rainy season typically in October. Cartagena receives about 1000 mm (40 inches) of rain per year.

[edit] Government

[edit] Administrative divisions

The Metropolitan area of Cartagena is formed by:

[edit] Northern area

In this area find the Rafael Núñez International Airport, in the neighborhood of Crespo, only ten minutes away from downtown or the old part of the city and fifteen minutes away from the modern area. It must be said that this large area is that with the greatest long-term urban development. Here you will find the majestic Coralia Américas Hotel, and several educational institutions.

If you decide you'd like to relive the history of Cartagena, go to the Ciudad Amurallada (Walled City), also called "Centro Histórico" and "Corralito de Piedra", where you will find four sectors, each one with a peculiar story to tell: San Diego, La Matuna, Getsemaní and Santo Domingo.

[edit] Downtown

Downtown is undoubtedly the heart of the city and the most evident testimony of its history. It has a varied architecture, mainly of a colonial style, but there are also republican and Italian style buildings, such as the Cathedral's bell tower.

The official entrance to downtown is through Puerta del Reloj (Clock Gate), which comes out onto Plaza de los Coches (Square of the Carriages). A few steps from there there is the Plaza de la Aduana (Customs Square), next to the mayor's office. Nearby is San Pedro Claver Square, and his namesake's church, as well as the Museum of Modern Art.

Nearby is the Plaza de Bolívar (Bolívar's Square) and the Palace of the Inquisition to one side. Not to far is the the office of Historical Archives which holds Cartagena's history. Next to the archives is the Government Palace, the office building of the Governor of the Department of Bolivar. Across from the palace is the Cathedral of Cartagena which dates back to the 16th century.

There is another religious temple that you should take time to admire: The restored Santo Domingo Church, in front of Plaza Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo Square). The square was decorated with the sculpture Mujer Reclinada ("Reclining Woman"), a gift from the renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

Another notable building is the Teatro Heredia (Heredia Theater), an architectural jewel located in front of the Plaza de la Merced. A few meters away is the Calle de la Factoría (Factory Street); on it is the Marquis of Valdehoyos House which now functions as the Historical Photographic Library.

A little bit further on is Augustinian Fathers Convent is the University of Cartagena. This university is a higher education center, opened to the public in the late 19th Century. The Claustro de Santa Teresa (Saint Theresa Cloister), which has been remodeled into a hotel, operated by Charleston Hotels became an upscale Colombian hotel chain. It has its own square, protected by the San Francisco Bastion.

[edit] San Diego

It was named after San Diego Convent, nowadays the Beaux Arts School Building. In front of it you will find Convent of the Nuns of the Order of Saint Claire, now the beautiful Hotel Santa Clara. In the surrounding area you will find Santo Toribio Church, the last church built in the Walled City, and next to it, Fernández de Madrid Square, in honor of Cartagena's hero José Fernández de Madrid, whose statue can be seen here.

Inside the Old City, you have to go to Las Bóvedas (The Vaults), a construction attached to the walls in the Santa Catalina Bastion. From the top of this construction you will be able to view the Caribbean Sea.

[edit] The Matuna

The Matuna is the commercial and financial area par excellence in the city. Here you can also find affordable hotels, like Saint Philip Hotel, and affordable restaurants with good service.

[edit] Getsemaní neighborhood

This is one of the most representative neighborhoods in Cartagena. African people who were brought as slaves used to live here. Parque Centenario (Centennary Park) is the most prominent place in this area; built in 1911, it commemorates a century of independence. In this very same area you will find Cartagena's Convention Center, Third Order Church and San Francisco Cloister. You will also see San Roque and of the Trinity churches, in the square with the same name. Note that the entirety of the Old City has the same architectural styles as the area surrounded by The Walls.

[edit] Bocagrande

Bocagrande (Big Mouth) is the most modern area of the city, with many hotels, shops, restaurants, nightclubs and art galeries. It forms part of a land extension delimited by Cartagena Bay to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west, where you will find El Laguito (The Little Lake) and Castillogrande (Big Castle), two renowned neighborhoods. Its particular appeal are the beaches and nightlife. All over Avenida San Martín (Saint Martin Avenue), which is the backbone of the area, you will find several business premises, restaurants and hotels.

[edit] Touristic Sites and Attractions

• Islas del Rosario
• India Catalina
• Steps of La Popa mount
• El Castillo de San Felipe (Particularly the tunnels.)
• The Walled city of Cartagena
• El Cartagena Gold Museum
• The Palace of the Inquisition (or the Torture Chambers)
• The Underground Tomb

[edit] Architecture

Cartagena has experienced heavy urban development in recent years, particularly with the construction of new skyscrapers. As of October 2007, there were 42 high-rises under construction, including an effort to create Colombia's tallest, the Torre de la Escollera. The new high-rise, extraordinarily narrow, was expected to be completed in early 2007, and was planned to stand at 676 ft and have 58 floors. However, a construction defect has led to its dismantling.

[edit] Transportation

• Rafael Núñez International Airport

[edit] Sister cities

• Image:Flag of Spain.svg Seville, Spain
• Image:Flag of Cuba.svg Havana, Cuba
• Image:Flag of the United States.svg Coral Gables, Florida, United States
• Image:Flag of the United States.svg Miami, Florida, United States
• Image:Flag of the United States.svg Saint Augustine, Florida, United States
• Image:Flag of Puerto Rico.svg San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Cancun, Mexico
• Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg Manila, Philippines

[edit] World Heritage site

Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Image:Cartagena - Fortaleza San Felipe de Barajas - 20050430bis.jpg
State Party	Image:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iv, vi
Reference	285
Region†	Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription	1980  (8th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

The Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments of Cartagena were selected in 1984 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for being located in a bay by the Caribbean Sea, having the most extensive fortifications in South America. A system of zones that divides the city into three neighborhoods: San Pedro, with the cathedral and many Andalusian-style palaces; San Diego, where merchants and the middle class lived; and Getsemani, the 'popular quarters'.^[1]

[edit] In Popular Culture

• Cartagena gained modern notoriety in the 1984 hit movie, Romancing the Stone when romance novelist Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) travels to Cartagena to deliver a treasure map in an effort to ransom her kidnapped sister. The Cartagena scenes were actually filmed in Mexico for safety reasons, and it doesnt reflect the real Cartagena.
• The first chapter of Brian Jacques' novel The Angel's Command takes place in 1628 Cartagena.
• The movie "Love in the Time of Cholera (film)" released on November 16, 2007 in the USA, is filmed in Cartagena.
• The movie "The Mission (film)" released in 1986 with Robert De Niro was filmed in Cartagena and Brazil.

[edit] External links

Cartagena travel guide from Wikitravel

• (Spanish) Cartagena official website
• Library of Congres - United States: Cartagena, Colombia
• Information and videos of Cartagena and accomodations (english)

v • d • e Municipalities in the Bolivar Department

Achí • Altos del Rosario • Arenal del Sur • Arjona • Arroyo Hondo • Barranco de Loba • Calamar • Cantagallo, Bolívar • Carmen de Bolívar • Cartagena • Cicuco • Clemencia • Córdoba • El Guamo • Hatillo de Loba • Magangué • Mahates • Margarita • Maria La Baja • Santa Cruz de Mompox • Montecristo • Morales • El Peñón • Pinillos • Regidor • Rio Viejo • San Cristobal • San Estanislao • San Fernando • San Jacinto • San Jacinto del Cauca • San Juan Nepomuceno • San Martin de Loba • San Pablo • Santa Catalina • Santa Rosa • Simiti • Soplaviento • Talaiga Nuevo • Tiquisio • Turbaco • Turbana • Villanueva • Zambrano • Santa Rosa del Sur

Image:Flag of Bolívar.svg

v • d • e World Heritage Sites in Colombia
Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox · Los Katíos National Park · Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary · National Archeological Park of Tierradentro · Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena · San Agustín Archeological Park	Image:Flag of Colombia.svg

Coordinates: 10°24′N, 75°30′Wbg:Картахена (Колумбия) cs:Cartagena (Kolumbie) de:Cartagena (Kolumbien) es:Cartagena de Indias eo:Kartageno (Kolombio) fr:Carthagène (Colombie) gl:Cartaxena de Indias - Cartagena de Indias it:Cartagena (Colombia) lt:Kartachena (Kolumbija) nl:Cartagena (Colombia) ja:カルタヘナ (コロンビア) no:Cartagena, Colombia oc:Cartagena (Colómbia) pl:Cartagena (Kolumbia) pt:Cartagena das Índias qu:Cartagena ru:Картахена (де Индиас) simple:Cartagena de Indias fi:Cartagena (Kolumbia) sv:Cartagena, Colombia zh:卡塔赫纳 (哥伦比亚)