Castles, Convents, Churches

Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

A fortress designed by the Dutch engineer Richard Carr and built in 1657 by the Spanish for protection against pirates while shipping gold out to Europe. More at Wikipedia or Lonely Planet

Convento de la Popa

Located on a 150m-high hill, the highest point in the city, this convents name literally means the Convent of the Stern, after the hill’s apparent similarity to a ship’s back end. More at Lonely Planet

Catedral de San Pedro Claver

Dating from 1575 and named after San Pedro, a Spanish Jesuit who baptised hundreds of thousands of African slaves. Where the wedding is being held, but worth a trip during regular visiting hours too. More at TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet

Palacio de la Inquisición

A museum displaying Inquisitors' instruments of torture. One of our favorite museums. More at Lonely Planet

Iglesia de Santo Domingo

Built towards the end of the 16th century, is reputedly the oldest church in the city. More at Lonely Planet

Museo de Oro

Do not miss. Right in the heart of the city, in a colonial-era building facing Plaza Bolivar. The incredible contents of the museum include valuable pre-Columbian gold artifacts, some of the oldest ceramics in the Americas, an explanation of the Zenú Nation's amazing hydraulic engineering achievements and a mountain of information about the way the native people lived. More at Cartagena Info and Google Images