My previous article gave a general overview of Cartagena, Colombia, concentrating on the newer parts outside the walls. Let's look now at the original "old city" that lies within.

It is both a living chronicle of colonial history and a masterpiece of Spanish administrative and ecclesiastical architecture. It's fairly compact, so you can do a general orientation tour on foot in one day. It is often called "the city of balconies", for a balcony of unique design graces the second and higher floors of almost ... (more)