Las Bóvedas are 23 barrel-vaulted dungeons built into the city walls in 1798 at the northern corner of the walled city — originally military storerooms for gunpowder and munitions, later used as prisons during the 19th-century independence wars, and now converted into artisan craft shops selling hammocks, mochilas (woven bags), Colombian coffee, and the emerald jewellery for which Colombia is famous (the country produces an estimated 55% of the world's emeralds).
The vaulted spaces — with 15-metre-thick walls that give the interiors a constant cool temperature — are among the most atmospheric shopping environments in Cartagena, and the quality of craft is generally higher than in the casual beach vendors in Bocagrande. The view from Las Bóvedas over the walls towards the Caribbean is one of the best in the old town, and the evening drumming groups that sometimes play outside the arches add to the ambiance.
Verified Facts
Las Bóvedas were built in 1798 as military storerooms
There are 23 vaulted chambers
Colombia produces about 55% of the world's emeralds
The walls are 15 metres thick
Get walking directions
Calle 34, Centro, Cartagena, Colombia
