Plaza de Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo Square), Cartagena (must see)
Plaza de Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo Square) is a vibrant square in the Old City of Cartagena. It was named after the beautiful church and convent Santo Domingo Church (also known as Santo Domingo Convent), which stands on one of its corners. The orange-yellow facade of the church and its massive arched entryway is striking. Check out the twisted bell tower on top.
With a gruesome past, this square was used during the Spanish Inquisition as a place for executions. The buildings surrounding Santo Domino Square boast Spanish Colonial architecture featuring balconies and red tile roofs. Around the square are shops, street vendors, lively restaurants, and plenty of outdoor tables for dining and relaxing.
Don't miss the famous "La Gorda Gertrudis" (Fat Gertrudis), a statue of a naked Rubenesque woman done in bronze. The sculpture was created by renowned artist Fernando Botero and stands in front of the church. It is a popular spot for taking photographs. The narrow nearby alleyways that branch off Santo Domingo Square are just ripe for exploration!
With a gruesome past, this square was used during the Spanish Inquisition as a place for executions. The buildings surrounding Santo Domino Square boast Spanish Colonial architecture featuring balconies and red tile roofs. Around the square are shops, street vendors, lively restaurants, and plenty of outdoor tables for dining and relaxing.
Don't miss the famous "La Gorda Gertrudis" (Fat Gertrudis), a statue of a naked Rubenesque woman done in bronze. The sculpture was created by renowned artist Fernando Botero and stands in front of the church. It is a popular spot for taking photographs. The narrow nearby alleyways that branch off Santo Domingo Square are just ripe for exploration!
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cartagena. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Plaza de Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo Square) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza de Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo Square)
Sight Location: Cartagena, Colombia (See walking tours in Cartagena)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Cartagena, Colombia (See walking tours in Cartagena)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Cartagena, Colombia
Create Your Own Walk in Cartagena
Creating your own self-guided walk in Cartagena is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Colonial Architecture Walk
Visiting Cartagena can be a remarkable experience, especially for those keen on architecture. The beautifully-preserved, mostly colonial-style, buildings in the historic center have long been one of the main attributes of this once burgeoning Colombian town.
Recognizing colonial Cartagena is easy, as it is surrounded by colossal stone walls tracing the outline of the old city. The downtown... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Recognizing colonial Cartagena is easy, as it is surrounded by colossal stone walls tracing the outline of the old city. The downtown... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Cartagena Introduction Walking Tour
Cartagena is a charming port city situated on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, South America. It was founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia, a Spanish conquistador. The city is known in Spanish as "Cartagena of Indies" and is named after the city of Cartagena in Spain.
In the pre-Columbian era, indigenous people became settled in the region. The Puerto Hormiga culture dates back as early... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
In the pre-Columbian era, indigenous people became settled in the region. The Puerto Hormiga culture dates back as early... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Getsemani Public Arts Walking Tour
Long known as the "neighborhood of the poor" ill-reputed for criminal activity, the district of Getsemani has recently undergone massive gentrification to become Cartagena's hippest area and one of Latin America's newest hotspots. The local plazas, once occupied by drug dealers, have been reclaimed, and the derelict buildings turned into boutique hotels.
But most... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
But most... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
15 Tips to Have Fun in Cartagena De Indias, Colombia
Because of its troubled past, you will hear many nicknames to describe Cartagena de Indias. The magic city, The Heroic, The Rock Corral, The jewel of the Caribbean Coast. The mere mention of them allows you to travel through the history, from pirates and slavery to the revolutions for their...