Cerro de La Popa is Cartagena's highest point — a 150-metre hill east of the walled city crowned by the Convento de la Popa, a 17th-century Augustinian monastery that was the city's spiritual sentinel for three centuries. The convent houses the shrine of the Virgen de la Candelaria (the patroness of Cartagena), a small museum of religious art, and a viewpoint that provides the best panoramic view of Cartagena — the walled city, the harbour, Bocagrande, Manga island, and the Caribbean all visible from the edge of the cliff.
The convent was captured and used as a fort during the 1815-1816 Spanish re-conquest of Cartagena (when the city was briefly independent during the Wars of Independence), and later by independence forces during the 1820s. Access to the hilltop is only safe by taxi or guided tour — the slopes are steep and the surrounding neighbourhoods are not recommended for walking up. The view alone justifies the trip.
Verified Facts
La Popa is 150 metres high
The Augustinian convent dates to the 17th century
The Virgen de la Candelaria is Cartagena's patron
The convent was used as a fort during 19th-century wars
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Cerro de la Popa, Cartagena, Colombia
