But even in modern times, every year, thousands of visitors still storm the walls of old Cartegena in search of treasure. In this case, its treasure lied in its many cobbled streets, charming cafes, plazas of cascading bouganvilla, and its historical sites. This treasure offers the visitor an experience unparalleled along the Caribbean coastline.
The old city is in two parts the inner walled town featuring most of the colonial buildings and plazas and the outer walled town of Getsemani. Getsemani, originally, was the area where African slaves were housed. Now it features Cartagena's Convention Center, several historical churches, and the Parque Centenario.
Some of the old city's most notable offerings to visitors include the following:
Plazas: Some of the more colorful include Plaza de los Coches, Plaza de la Aduana, Plaza Santa Teresa, Plaza de Bolivar, and Plaza de San Pedro Claver.
Palacio de la Inquisicion: Not only a grand example of colonial architecture, it was here that the heretics were accused and punished by the Punishment Tribunal of the Holy Office.
Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas: Just outside the old city, this was reputed to be the largest and strongest fortress ever built by the Spanish. It is a remarkable structure and well worth the visit.
Las Bovedas: This is a complex of 23 dungeons built first to story military munitions but later used as a jail. It was featured in the movie Romancing the Stone (Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner).
No matter if you go to Cartagena just to see the old city or to search for one of the Galeones near the mediterrean cost you can be sure that there is a lot of nice things to see and do.
Dont forget that many decades ago Spain was one of the most rich and powerful countries in the mediterrenian therefore the architecture and the culture are very spectacular.
