Cartagena is the Colombian city founded in 1533 and celebrated for its colonial architecture and UNESCO-listed historic centre.
Officially known as Cartagena de Indias, the city was founded on 1 June 1533 by the Spanish commander Pedro de Heredia. It was established near the Indigenous settlement of Calamarí on Colombia’s Caribbean coast and became a major port in Spain’s American empire. Its strategic harbour connected South American trade routes with the wider Caribbean.
Cartagena’s historic centre is enclosed by substantial defensive walls, while landmarks such as the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas reflect the city’s military importance. The old city contains churches, plazas, balconies, and brightly painted colonial buildings. In 1984, the colonial walled city, fortifications, and associated monuments were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A common mix-up is treating the entire modern city as the UNESCO property. The designation focuses on the historic area and its fortifications, not every neighbourhood of present-day Cartagena. The city is also associated with the 1741 Battle of Cartagena de Indias, a major clash between Spain and Britain.