The conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas arrived at the bay of Cartagena in 1502. At that time, the region was inhabited by different indigenous populations and its name was Kalamar, which means "crab" in the native language. The Spaniards called it Cartagena perhaps because of its great resemblance to the Spanish city that bears the same name. The first stone was laid by Pedro de Heredia on June 1, 1533.

From its founding in the XNUMXth century, and throughout the Spanish colonial era, Cartagena de Indias it was one of the most important ports in America. This is where most of its artistic and cultural heritage comes from. From all over the country they came to the port of Cartagena to give rise to trade fairs with merchants from Santafé, Antioquia, Popayán and Quito. Early on it became the privileged place of trade between the New World and Europe, an obligatory passageway for the wealth destined for the Spanish Crown, resulting in great attacks and looting. It was for this reason that Felipe II ordered the construction of a walled system, of forts and castles, which were erected as the main work of military architecture in America in the colony and which still surrounds the old city today.

On November 11, 1811, after many battles, Cartagena declared itself independent from Spain and was the first Colombian city to proudly win its independence. This day is a national holiday in Colombia and this event is celebrated and remembered in the city for four days known as the "Fiestas de Independencia".

This article was originally written in English