Page 71 - LIN.NOVEMBER17WEB

by Ron McGinty
S imply magical, to walk through the curv-

ing streets of the walled city, experiencing
the five hundred year-old charm of Carta-
gena. Imagine beautiful courtyard homes
with hand-carved balconies that peer over
cobblestone streets, or the lush bougainvillea that drape as
a cascading quilt of nature. If these antique homes could
talk, they would tell of wealth, wars and religion. More
importantly though, telling the story of the very beautiful,
brave and proud people of Cartagena.
It all started with the Spanish conquistador Pedro de
Heredia, who founded Cartagena in 1556. The city rapidly
became the primary shipping port of gold, silver, and
emeralds back to the Old World. The Colombian mines
produced some of the most valuable emeralds in existence.
The sea port of Cartagena was one of only two in the
New World allowed to trade slaves, processing well over
one million. Their endeavors brought vast wealth to the
city, but along with it, pirates. To defend against attacks, a
walled fortress was built around Cartagena. The wall is 15
feet thick and almost seven miles in length. Walking along
the wall in the early morning, one can feel the supremacy
of the wall's colossal strength.

Life in Naples | November 2017 71