Murallas de Cartagena (Cartagena City Walls), Cartagena (must see)

The Cartagena City Walls are among the city’s most impressive landmarks, forming an extensive defensive system of stone ramparts and bastions around the historic Old Town. Their origins lie in the late 16th century, when Cartagena’s growing importance as a Spanish colonial port made it a frequent target for pirates and rival European powers.

Following the devastating 1586 attack by English privateer Francis Drake, the Spanish Crown began developing a much stronger system of fortifications. Italian military engineer Battista Antonelli produced some of the earliest plans, while generations of engineers subsequently expanded and strengthened the defences. Construction continued for nearly two centuries and was finally completed in 1796.

Stretching for around 11 kilometres (or 7 miles), the thick stone walls incorporated massive bastions, parapets, gateways and positions for artillery. Their design took advantage of Cartagena’s coastal geography, protecting both the city and its strategically important harbour. Together with the surrounding forts, they created one of the most formidable defensive systems in the Spanish Americas.

Parts of the walls were demolished in the early 20th century as Cartagena expanded and modernised, but much of the historic fortification survived. Today, they form part of Cartagena’s UNESCO World Heritage Site and rank among the best-preserved historic fortifications in South America.

Walking along the broad ramparts is one of the best ways to explore the Old Town from a different perspective. As you make your way from the Bastion of Santo Domingo, keep an eye out for the stone steps leading up to the elevated walkway. Along the route, look for old iron cannons, stone sentry boxes and lookout points while enjoying elevated views over Cartagena’s colourful rooftops and the glistening Caribbean Sea. Look down from the ramparts to appreciate the walls’ immense thickness and the angled bastions designed to provide overlapping fields of fire.

The walls are particularly atmospheric in the late afternoon and around sunset. Beyond the well-known Bastion of Santo Domingo, the Cartagena City Walls lead past the bastions of Santa Cruz, Merced, San Diego, Santa Clara and Santa Catalina. Whichever spot you choose, find a comfortable place along the stone parapet and enjoy the sunset over the Caribbean Sea.