Cartagena de Indias, officially the Tourist and Cultural District of Cartagena de Indias abbreviated Cartagena de Indias, DT and C., is the capital of the department of Bolivar, Colombia.6 It was founded on June 1, 1533 by Pedro de Heredia. 7 Since 1991 Cartagena is a Tourist and Cultural District.8 The city is located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

Cartagena de Indias was one of the most important ports in the Americas since its founding in the 16th century and throughout the Spanish colonial period.9 From this time comes most of its artistic and cultural heritage. On November 11, 1811, Cartagena declared itself independent of Spain. This day is a national holiday in Colombia and in the city is celebrated for four days known as the "Independence Festivities." 10

Cartagena has been a city mainly associated with the pirate history, because it was there where numerous attacks were presented by the pirates coming from Europe, who found in the city a suitable place to loot in the colonial era, what it did in its to become the most strengthened city in South America and the Caribbean, becoming almost as strong as the Gulf of Mexico itself at the time. Its colonial architecture is now maintained.11

With the great passage of time, Cartagena has developed its urban area, preserving the historic center and becoming one of the most important ports in Colombia, the Caribbean and the world as well as famous tourist destination. Currently the total population of its head is 971 700 inhabitants, 2 being the fifth (5) most populous municipality of the country. Its historic center, the "Walled City", was declared National Heritage of Colombia in 1959 and by Unesco World Heritage in 1984.12 In 2007 its military architecture was awarded the fourth wonder of Colombia.13