Puerta del Reloj

Cartagena


Originally called the Boca del Puente, this was the main gateway to the inner walled town and was linked to Getsemaní by a drawbridge over the moat. The side arches of the gate, which are now open as walkways, were previously used as a chapel and armory. The republican-style tower, complete with a four-sided clock, was added in 1888.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cartagena attractions

1. Plaza de los Coches

0.01 MILES

Previously known as Plaza de la Yerba, the triangular plaza just behind Puerta del Reloj was once used as a market for enslaved people. It is lined with…

2. Muelle Turístico de los Pegasos

0.06 MILES

Muelle de los Pegasos is Cartagena's lovely old port on the Bahía de las Ánimas. It's invariably full of fishing, cargo and tourist boats.

3. Old Town

0.09 MILES

Cartagena's old city is its principal attraction, particularly the inner walled town, consisting of the historical districts of El Centro and San Diego…

4. Plaza de la Aduana

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This is the largest and oldest square in the Old Town and was used as a parade ground. In colonial times all the important governmental and administrative…

5. Catedral

0.11 MILES

Work on Cartagena’s cathedral began in 1575, but in 1586, while still under construction, it was partly destroyed by the cannons of Francis Drake. The…

6. Museo del Oro Zenú

0.11 MILES

This museum is like a miniature version of Bogotá's world-class gold museum, the Museo del Oro. Though small, it offers a fascinating collection of the…

7. Plaza de Bolívar

0.14 MILES

Formerly the Plaza de Inquisición, this leafy and shaded plaza is surrounded by some of the city's most elegant balconied colonial buildings. It's one of…

8. Museo de Arte Moderno

0.15 MILES

The Museum of Modern Art is a perfectly sized museum, housed in a beautifully converted part of the 17th-century former Royal Customs House. It presents…