During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cartagena, Colombia was one of the most important ports in the Spanish Empire, funneling slave labor into the new world and riches (gold and emeralds, tobacco, sugar cane, and coffee beans) out.
Sir Francis Drake’s Legacy in Cartagena de Indias The fifteen hundreds were a contentious time in The New World with Spain and England butting heads in battles by proxy in places like Cartagena de Indias prior to declaring all-out war…
Pedro de Heredia Founder of Cartagena Pedro de Heredia, the founding father of Cartagena, Colombia, was a controversial historical character with a colorful background and a tendency to rub his contemporaries the wrong way and was not one for etiquette…
Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Cartagena de Indias (la Catedral de Cartagena) Officially designated as Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria, this outstanding 16th century cathedral is more commonly referred to as the Cathedral of Cartagena…
Iglesia de San Pedro Claver The Iglesia de San Pedro Claver (or the Cathedral of Saint Peter Claver) is an ornate Catholic church in the heart of Cartagena’s historic old Walled City. The building is dedicated to a 17th century…
Spanish Colonialism's Indelible Mark on Central and Southern America During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cartagena, Colombia was one of the most important ports in the Spanish Empire, funneling slave labor into the new world and riches (gold and emeralds,…
Simón Bolívar: The Great Liberator of Latin America Simón Bolívar born Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios on 24 July, 1783, is a national hero to millions of Central and South American people who, quite literally,…
The Plaza de Bolivar in Cartagena Colombia This cozy, shaded square sits in the heart of Cartagena’s historic Walled City and is a haven for travelers and locals alike. There are plenty of benches and places to sit under the…
Colonial Architecture of Cartagena Cartagena’s rich history and heritage shines through in its beautiful architecture, which has become one of the main attributes of this charming Colombian town. Located on the southern coast of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena’s history dates…
