BEST MUSEUMS IN CARTAGENA
ZENÚ GOLD MUSEUM
This museum is a miniature version of Bogotá’s world-class gold museum, the Museo del Oro. Though compact, it offers a fascinating collection of the gold and pottery of the Zenú people, who inhabited the region before the Spanish Conquest.
Located in the old city of Cartagena, the Museo del Oro Zenú showcases an intriguing collection of gold, silver and ceramic relics. The museum is relatively small, focusing on Colombian culture before Spanish colonialism.
Visitors praise the museum, especially for its focus on indigenous people. The museum is air-conditioned and has free entry, making it exceptionally inviting on a hot and humid Colombian afternoon. In addition, it does not take long to go through all of the exhibits, so you will not need to set aside a lot of time to see them.
Museo del Oro Zenú showcases an extensive collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, focusing on the Zenú culture. The museum houses over 600 gold, silver and ceramic pieces that reflect the rich history and traditions of the indigenous people in the region.
Among the notable items on display are intricately designed gold jewellery and traditional musical instruments. The exhibits also include short films that provide insight into the Zenú culture and its significance before European colonization. Visitors appreciate the well-organized layout and the educational value of the displays, which engage guests with the rich history of Cartagena and its indigenous inhabitants.
An economy based on agriculture, natural resources and trade was the foundation of the Zenú, part of whose legacy can be seen in the Zenú Gold Museum. The museum is in a prominent location inside a colonial mansion on Bolívar Plaza, the main square of the walled city of Cartagena.
The Zenú was an ancient indigenous culture that once thrived in the region. The elaborate gold ornaments they created attracted Spanish conquistadors who looted the gold, even partaking in grave robbing. This fascination with all things gold eventually led to the downfall of the Zenú.
The museum showcases the goldsmithing expertise of the Zenú. On exhibit are hundreds of archaeological objects, jewellery and relics highlighted by many exquisitely crafted pieces in gold. There are also ceramic art objects, pottery and other Colombian artifacts on display. Some very ornate gold figurines of animals, birds and other creatures are intriguing.
Do visit this charming two-story museum and enjoy the marvellous displays!
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 9AM – 5PM
Sunday 9AM – 2PM
Closed Monday
Admission free
Address: Carrera 4, Parque de Bolívar #33-26, Cartagena
Tel. (605) 660 0808
Email: museodelorozenu@banrep.gov.co
Website https://www.banrepcultural.org/cartagena/museo-del-oro-zenu
NAVAL MUSEUM OF CARTAGENA
The Naval Museum of Cartagena is a fascinating institution within the old walled city. This museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the naval history of Colombia and the Caribbean, following the region’s rich maritime heritage and the role of naval forces in shaping its past.
Established in 1942, the Naval Museum of Cartagena is housed in a beautifully restored colonial-era building that was once the headquarters of the Spanish Navy. The architecture reflects the Spanish colonial style that is prevalent throughout Cartagena’s historic district. It features a two-story facade with arched windows and doorways and a central courtyard that provides natural light and ventilation to the interior spaces. The courtyard is adorned with a beautiful fountain and lush tropical plants that create a soothing atmosphere.
Assault of Cartagena by Sir Francis Drake
The interior of the building is equally impressive, featuring high ceilings, intricate woodwork and beautiful tile floors. Great care has been taken to preserve the building’s historical features while incorporating modern amenities and technology to enhance the visitor experience.
Inside the building, visitors can explore a vast collection of naval artifacts, models and memorabilia that span centuries of maritime history. Exhibitions cover topics such as naval battles, shipbuilding techniques, navigation tools and the lives of sailors and officers.
Model of a Naval battle
The museum also features an impressive collection of historical cannons, including several salvaged from the sea off the coast of Cartagena. These cannons bear witness to the strategic importance of the city’s harbour, which was a key hub for trade and naval activity throughout the colonial period and beyond.
The last section of the museum contains interactive exhibits. One can enter a submarine simulator and press all kinds of mysterious buttons.
Each button triggers a different noise similar to that one would hear and experience on a real submarine.
Submarine simulator
The engaging exhibits and unique collections offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s naval history and its location in the heart of the historic walled city makes it a convenient and unforgettable stop on any trip to Cartagena.
Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday 9AM – 5PM
Sunday 10AM – 6PM
Entry fee: Adults 23,000 pesos (US$5.50) Seniors and Students 10,000 pesos (US$2.40)
Tel. (+57) 605 664 2440
Address: Calle San Juan de Díos, No. 3 – 62, Cartagena
email: use form on website
https://museonavaldelcaribe.org/en/home-english/
Museum Location
PALACE OF INQUISITION
The Historical Museum of Cartagena de Indias (Museo Historico de Cartagena de Indias) is a cultural institution located in the heart of Cartagena. The museum is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the rich history of Cartagena and the Caribbean region, showcasing its unique cultural heritage and important contributions to Colombian history.
The Historical Museum of Cartagena de Indias, established in 1984, is housed in a beautifully restored 18th-century colonial mansion known as the Palace of the Inquisition (Palacio de la Inquisición). This stunning building served as the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition in Cartagena during the colonial period and is now an iconic landmark of the city. The building is a remarkable example of colonial-era architecture, with a striking façade that features ornate balconies, arches, and intricate carvings.
The place was where the Tribunal of the Holy Office functioned, which dictated autos-da-fe against the presumed heretics in the 1600s during Spanish rule.
Considered the best example of civil architecture in Cartagena in the 18th century, the Palace of the Inquisition is the combination of sites occupied by two houses that the Tribunal of the Holy Office leased in 1610, when it began its activities in the city. The court remained in session until 1821.
The palace is now a museum, displaying the instruments of torture, some of which are truly horrific. This museum is considered one of the most important landmarks in Cartagena. The facade of the Palace of the Inquisition has railings on the first floor, balconies on the upper floor and a formidable baroque façade carved in coral stone.
Among the highlights of the collection are an array of torture devices and instruments that were used to extract confessions from suspected heretics, as well as a collection of documents, manuscripts and other materials that offer insights into the workings of the Inquisition and its role in shaping the social and cultural landscape of colonial Latin America.
Despite its gruesome history, the Palace of the Inquisition is today a popular tourist destination and a powerful reminder of the complex and often troubling legacies of colonialism and religious persecution in the region. Visitors to the museum can gain a deeper understanding of the historical forces that shaped the development of Cartagena and the wider Caribbean, as well as the enduring impact of these forces on contemporary society and culture.
In its cells, the instruments of torture of the Holy Office can still be found and among them the stocks and the scales. The accused were weighed, as the faithful had to weigh one kilogram for every centimetre their height exceeded one meter. Then, any weight above or below this measure was considered evidence of witchcraft.
Through its different spaces, the museum offers the possibility to learn about the rich colonial architecture, the history and presence of the Inquisition Tribunal.
Opening hours:
Daily 9AM – 6PM
Sunday 10AM – 4PM
Tip: Request an audio guide that clearly explains everything that is in the museum.
Entrance fee 24,000 pesos (US$5.80)
Seniors & children 20,000 pesos (US$2.40)
Address: 46, Plaza de Bolivar, Cartagena.
Tel. (+57 6) 664 4570
Email: formaciondepublicos@mucha.gov.co
Website
Museum Location
SAN PEDRO CLAVER SANCTUARY MUSEUM
The San Pedro Claver Sanctuary Museum has been open since 1950 in an old cloister belonging to the order of the Jesuits of Cartagena de Indias. It is a place dedicated to honouring the memory of San Pedro Claver, who in colonial times dedicated himself to protecting the rights of the slaves brought to Cartagena. He was the first person to be canonized in the New World, dedicating his life to tending to the enslaved from literally the first instant they arrived in the Americas.
Statue of San Pedro Claver with a young slave
Born to a prosperous Catholic family in 1581, the bright and pious Claver became a Jesuit at age 20 and promptly left his birthplace in Verdú, Spain, never to return to his homeland.
Upon arrival in Cartagena, Claver found it essential to his ministry to meet the slave ships as they arrived. For forty years, he boarded the ships before they dispersed their living contents, navigating cargo holds full of terrified captives to be the first, lone face of kindness they would see in the New World. From there, he would follow their path to the holding pens, providing sustenance in tangible forms as well as spiritual.
After he died in 1654, word of his life spread around the world. A modest museum adjacent to the church dedicated to Claver has become a place of reflection and contemplation for all those who have been touched by the saint’s work, directly or otherwise.
Under the church’s altar, the remains of Claver rest in an illuminated case. Throughout the museum, religious works of art dating back centuries are displayed alongside Pre-Columbian archaeological pieces. Many of the rooms and open-air halls are lined with paintings and other creations either inspired by or featuring Claver himself.
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday 9AM – 4:30PM
Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10AM – 4PM
Entry fees: 28,000 pesos (US$6.75), Seniors and children 20,000 pesos (US$4.80)
Address: Carrera 4 #30-1, Centro, Cartagena
Tel. +57 310 443 7519
Email: museo@sanpedroclaver.co
Website https://sanpedroclaver.co/
Museum Location
EMERALD MUSEUM
Located in Bocagrande, a neighbourhood on the eastern edge of the city, Caribe Jewellery was founded by three brothers in 1983. The facility is far more than just another jewellery store, as it doubles as a museum.
Museo de la Esmeralda Cartagena is housed inside Caribe Jewellery, a famous Cartagena jewellery store. This specialty museum displays a beautiful collection of rare Colombian emeralds and gems from around the world.
Visitors to the museum learn about the history, techniques and heritage of emeralds and gold. Then, they are given the option to buy emerald and gold jewellery of their own. A tour through the museum will enable you to learn about these precious gems and understand the history of the brilliant green gemstone.
Covering the history of emeralds and emerald mining in Colombia, the engaging chambers of this fascinating exhibit also have detailed and explanatory displays of the jewels themselves.
At the Emerald Museum, visitors will be taken through the history of these special green gems while learning about how they are mined in the seven mines currently still in operation in Colombia.
The museum contains a variety of exhibitions, guides and details about how the gems are used today. There is even a small reflection of the legendary city of El Dorado.
At the end of the tour, you have the opportunity to buy some of these gems or indeed have one of your own reset to a new design. Visitors are impressed with the museum aspect of the attraction, saying that the tour is very informative and showcases many beautiful pieces.
Opening hours:
Monday through Saturday, 9AM to 6:30PM
Sunday 9AM to 3PM
Entrance to the museum costs 40,000 pesos (US$10 per person), with free for anyone admission for anyone who buys jewellery at the store.
To reserve a time at the museum and learn more about the Caribe Jewellery and Emerald museum, check out their website
Emerald Museum Location
Tel. +57 (6) 665 4625
Email: contact through the website
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