​Located on the Caribbean coast, Cartagena de Indias has the most extensive fortifications in South America. Declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO in 1984, Cartagena is an eminent example of the military architecture of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Its famous historical center is divided into three neighborhoods: San Pedro, with the cathedral and many Andalusian-style palaces; San Diego, where merchants and the middle class lived; and Getsemaní, the 'popular quarter'. Its port, landmarks and monuments are some of the most impressive examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the New World and one of the most complete assemblages of historical landmarks in the western hemisphere. Chosen by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the “50 Most Beautiful Cities of the World,” Cartagena de Indias served as the inspiration for the work of Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Marquez.
 

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