Thing to do
Getsemaní
The historic barrio just outside the walls where Cartagena's independence movement began, now known for murals, the Plaza de la Trinidad and lively evenings.
Las Bóvedas
A row of 23 late 18th-century vaults built into Cartagena's walls, once used as storerooms and prison cells and now filled with craft and souvenir shops.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic vaults with craft shops
- Area
- San Diego, Cartagena, Colombia
Good to know
- Craft and souvenir shops
- Free to visit
- Parking nearby
Why we recommend it
Las Bóvedas, "the vaults", is a long arcaded building set against the walls at the northern end of the old town, and it is the most convenient place in the historic centre to browse for crafts and souvenirs. The engineer Antonio de Arévalo designed it, the 23 bombproof vaults were built between 1789 and 1795 and the 47 arches of the portico were completed in 1798. It stands between the old Santa Clara and Santa Catalina forts. The portico was finished two years after 1796, the date Colombia's tourism board gives for the completion of the city walls, so this was one of the very last pieces of the colonial defences.
The vaults were designed for military storage, but during the civil wars of the 19th century they were used as prison cells. Conditions were grim: at high tide the prisoners stood knee-deep in seawater. Today the cells house shops and small businesses, and El País describes them as converted into stores and art galleries with crafts, jewellery and artwork, which suits an evening walk along the walls; the same report mentions night markets selling crafts, jewellery and art.
The appeal is as much the setting as the shopping. Walking under the long colonnade, with the thick masonry of the vaults on one side, gives a good sense of the scale of Cartagena's fortifications, and the walk up onto the walls nearby is part of the free wall circuit described by the official fortifications website. It combines well with the San Diego neighbourhood, home to the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara and the Plaza de San Diego.
Compare a few shops before you buy and ask prices first. The walls above are exposed to the sun, so the late afternoon is the most pleasant time to combine the two. If you are coming by car, authorised parking is available at the Las Bóvedas square, near the Baluarte de La Merced.
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the shops, longer if you continue along the walls. There is no entrance fee. It is an easy stop for families and for anyone looking for gifts at the end of a trip, and it sits on the route between the San Diego neighbourhood and the walls facing the Caribbean.
Las Bóvedas FAQs
What are Las Bóvedas?
A row of 23 bombproof vaults with a 47-arch portico, built into Cartagena's walls in the late 18th century and now used as shops.
When were they built?
The vaults were built between 1789 and 1795 and the portico was completed in 1798, to a design by Antonio de Arévalo.
Were they really a prison?
Yes. During the 19th-century civil wars the cells were used as prison cells, and at high tide prisoners stood knee-deep in seawater.
What can I buy there?
Crafts, jewellery, artwork and souvenirs are sold in the converted vaults.
Is there an entry fee?
No. The arcade is open to walk through freely.
Where is it?
At the northern end of the walled city, between the old Santa Clara and Santa Catalina forts, close to San Diego.
Is there parking nearby?
Yes. Authorised parking is listed at the Las Bóvedas square near the Baluarte de La Merced.
How long should I allow?
About 30 to 45 minutes, more if you combine it with a walk on the walls.