Castillo San Felipe de Barajas (Cartagena, Colombia)

I did not give Castillo San Felipe de Barajas a try until my last day before leaving Cartagena, after having done all the touristy things in this very touristy town. The castle, with a history going back over 480 years, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. My experience with other World Heritage sites has taught me that these sites tend to be really crowded with tourists, and I am not a fan of crowds. However, I am glad I made the decision to go. Here’s why!

For any history aficionado, this fort and its strategic location has a lot of stories to tell. The Spanish started construction of the castle in 1536. It was expanded in 1657, seized by a French privateer in 1697, attacked by a British admiral (but was repelled by a Spanish admiral) in 1741, expanded in 1763, and the story goes on.

The war history is not the only interesting aspect of this castle. The well-preserved architecture is something truly special. The castle has a wide base and a smaller top. Beneath the foundation, visitors can walk through a series of tunnels; that was my favorite aspect of the castle. The tunnels in the castle were fascinating, and at times even unsettling. Well, it was only unsettling because I did not think to turn on my phone light while going through an unlit section… oops. I literally felt my way through the section using my hands, hoping to see a light at the end of the tunnel reassuring me that I hadn’t turned into a dead-end!

I spent about an hour in the castle and loved my time there. The 10,000 COP (approximately 3 USD entrance fee) was absolutely worth it.

P.S. If you visit the castle, put on sunscreen, take a hat and lots of water. The castle is exposed to a lot of direct sunlight in the late morning and afternoon.

#Colombia

#Cartagena