Calle de la Sierpe (Serpent Street), Cartagena

The first thing you notice on Serpent Street is the explosion of bright colours covering the walls and the colourful flags hanging overhead as you walk.

Indeed, the ubiquitous street art is the main attraction here, appearing practically everywhere-on walls, doors and windows, and sometimes even across crumbling buildings.

Standing out among the many works are two particularly memorable murals: the Grinning Afro-Colombian Woman and The Serpent. The former, a large and striking mural by Dexs, is one of the most photographed pieces of street art in Cartagena. The latter, depicting a mysterious half-woman, half-snake figure, refers to a local legend said to have given the street its name.

According to the story, back in 1608, local residents were repeatedly disturbed at night by mysterious hissing and rattling sounds. Gripped by fear, they complained to the city mayor, Don Antonio de Viloria, who ventured out on several nights to investigate. Eventually, he discovered the source of the strange noises-a giant rattlesnake!

Armed with courage and a magical technique he had supposedly learned on the island of Santo Domingo, the mayor drew mysterious figures in the air. The snake immediately began to writhe before transforming into a woman, who turned out to be a witch. The sorceress begged for forgiveness and pleaded for mercy. According to the legend, she was imprisoned until 1614, when the Tribunal of the Inquisition sentenced her to 200 lashes and permanent banishment for heresy.

As you venture farther down the street, keep your eyes peeled for depictions of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian people, alongside numerous other colourful images reflecting the cultural and ethnic diversity of Cartagena and its Caribbean heritage.