Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower), Cartagena (must see)
The main entrance to the historic walled city of Cartagena is famously known as the Clock Tower (Torre del Reloj). This significant landmark, built into the city wall, features a trio of open archways that offer a gateway into the Old City. A stunning clock tower crowns the central arch. With Baroque architecture, this beautiful eight-sided tower is painted golden-yellow with white trim.
Construction of this gateway took place between 1601 and 1631. Initially, only the central archway existed as a portal to the city. It was known as the Mouth of the Bridge (Boca del Puente). The other two housed an armory and a chapel. The clock tower was added later, during the early 18th century.
The Clock Tower is located next to Cars Square (Plaza de Los Coches) just inside the city walls. This triangular-shaped city square has a dark past as the place that once held Cartagena's slave market. This past also included public gallows in the center of the town square. On the plaza, directly across from the clock tower, you'll find the well-liked Cartagena sweets market known as Sweets Portal (Portal de Los Dulces).
The clock tower gate also serves as a connection from the city to the nearby Getsemani neighborhood just outside the walls. Getsemani is now a hip neighborhood filled with graffiti art and brightly painted buildings. Don't miss the two statues of Pegasus located on a nearby road that leads to the outside of the clock tower.
Construction of this gateway took place between 1601 and 1631. Initially, only the central archway existed as a portal to the city. It was known as the Mouth of the Bridge (Boca del Puente). The other two housed an armory and a chapel. The clock tower was added later, during the early 18th century.
The Clock Tower is located next to Cars Square (Plaza de Los Coches) just inside the city walls. This triangular-shaped city square has a dark past as the place that once held Cartagena's slave market. This past also included public gallows in the center of the town square. On the plaza, directly across from the clock tower, you'll find the well-liked Cartagena sweets market known as Sweets Portal (Portal de Los Dulces).
The clock tower gate also serves as a connection from the city to the nearby Getsemani neighborhood just outside the walls. Getsemani is now a hip neighborhood filled with graffiti art and brightly painted buildings. Don't miss the two statues of Pegasus located on a nearby road that leads to the outside of the clock tower.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cartagena. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: 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 51爆料网 App
Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) on Map
Sight Name: Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower)
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...