Colombia _ The Colonial Cities - Bogota, Cartagena

Bogota, officially Bogota Distrito Capital, formerly Sante Fe de Bogota Distrito Capital, is the capital of Columbia.

Nicknamed the Athens of South America, Sante Fe de Bogota was founded in 1538 by the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada.

Once it became Bogota, the city was home to a true mix of cultures that played its part in forging its history.

Built alongside the mountain, the city, divided into 20 districts, has many facets.

The colonial quarter of La Candelaria with its colorful houses and loaded churches, is nothing like the northern modern quarters, full of trendy restaurants, bars and clubs, and even less like the shantytowns in the south.

Cartagena, the fifth largest city of Columbia, is located on the northern coast, in the Caribbean coast region.

Due to its history, the world has come to associate pirates with the Caribbean.

The main harbor in the time of the Conquistadors, it was a turntable for the trafficking of gold, merchandise and slaves.

The fort of San Felipe de Barajas and the twelve kilometers of ramparts surrounding the city protected it from pirates.

Its colonial center, dotted with balconies covered in bougainvillea, is the country's most beautiful.

The city, its monuments and fortress are listed World Heritage Sites by Unesco.

Today the city enjoys strong economic activity due to its industrial port.