Museum of Cartagena de Indias
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Excellent little history museum that really spells out the consequences of colonialism for much of the Americas. I didn't even realize that the Spanish Inquisition had an impact here in the Americas until coming here. The history and the reasons and motivations are all laid bare by the historical accounts and biographies told within. I thought it was an excellent little history lesson and a good example of colonial history taught the correct way, by identifying the oppressors and the oppressed. From what I understood of the descriptions, it really does seem as if they try to present all of the history in an open and honest way, something we rarely see back in the states where I'm from. Also helps that the outside architecture is all so beautifully preserved here in the walled city. It truly is like stepping back into time. Very inexpensive to get in as well, I believe it was 10 mil per person.
Zach ChesebroZach Chesebro
50
The Spanish Inquisition conjures visions of witches, torture, and religious persecution. As an important seat of Spanish colonial power, Cartagena housed an office of the Inquisition. Today the Palacio de la Inquisición in Cartagena doubles as a museum of the Inquisition as well as the Cartagena Historical Museum. You can see some examples of torture devices and learn about the city’s history. The office was founded in Cartagena in 1610, the third site of the Inquisition in the Americas after those at Veracrúz, Mexico and Lima, Peru. It had jurisdiction over the colony of Nueva Granada, which included present day Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela. The Inquisition in the Americas tended to be less brutal than in Spain itself, and that was particularly true in Cartagena. The city was an important international trading center, which gave it a cosmopolitan quality that tended to lead to more tolerance. However, during its 200 years in operation, the Inquisition in Cartagena did investigate close to 900 people. Of those, 56 were convicted and made to carry out acts of penance, 12 of those publicly, and 5 of whom were sentenced to death.
Abdulkarim ALZarouniAbdulkarim ALZarouni
30
Despite being across the ocean from Spain, Cartagena was a notable jewel in the crown of the Spanish empire and a residence of several hundred Spanish Catholics and their priests. Primarily the Inquisition was directed at these. The museum is a well documented and maintained tribute to their memories and pain. The less historically-minded can enjoy the quiet courtyards, bright colors and impressive architecture, but most people will be touched by the brutality of life at the time. While much is in Spanish, there is an effort to have translations in English for key exhibits. I also pointed Google Lens at several signs and received an excellent translation. It's very much worth your tourist time and money to get a better historical picture of the harsh rigors of the life in a colony, especially as religious fever tore through Europe.
Adam DeRidderAdam DeRidder
20
The Museum of the Inquisition is a place that gives you pause to think. Cartagena and much of Latin America possess so much beauty but beauty built on a dark past. The displays on the first floor were well presented with good signage in English and a even more comprehensive in Spanish. The second floor covers more of the history of Cartagena but unfortunately their is quite a bit less English in the event that your Spanish isn't great. Overall it was a good experience having gone with our three children (ages 9-13), all of them asked good questions stimulated by the displays and information presented. Tough to ask for more than that from a museum as a parent!
Jay BiberJay Biber
30
I hate to write a very negative review but this has declined into a nearly useless effort to educate. It used to offer a mindbending array of the instruments of torture used during the inquisition that served to sear the experience into one's brain. Most of those are gone in exchange for the tiny display of replicas and a brief (poorly translated) animation. The rest of the museum is an OK review of the history of the city, but not very enlightening or very clear in its flow. Are used to look forward to bringing people to this museum and now, I don't think it's even worth the price of admission. Sad as it was one of the highlights of the city.
D G (Dan Consumer Guru)D G (Dan Consumer Guru)
10
They are renovating the must so hopefully it will be improved. I would recommend for Spanish speakers but if you don't speak Spanish there is not much in English. A few interesting artefacts from the Spanish inquisition and nice architecture but aside from that not much to see. No air conditioning and only a few rooms. I used Google translate throughout in order to read the descriptions which were 90% in Spanish. No air conditioning Réplicas or just written I walked through using Google translate which worked but was a bit slow Video with English subtitles that attemptsnti bring a story to live.
Katherine SleethKatherine Sleeth
00
Nearby Attractions Of Museum of Cartagena de Indias
Monumento Torre del Reloj
La Serrezuela Mall
Plaza de la Trinidad
Monumento India Catalina
Muelle de la Bodeguita
Plaza de Santo Domingo
Las Bóvedas
Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias
Plaza de Santa Teresa
EL BALUARTE SAN FRANCISCO JAVIER

Monumento Torre del Reloj
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La Serrezuela Mall
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Plaza de la Trinidad
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Monumento India Catalina
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Nearby Restaurants Of Museum of Cartagena de Indias
Restaurante San Valentin
RESTAURANTE CANDÉ Cocina 100% Cartagenera
BUENA VIDA Marisquería Caribeña & Rooftop (Cartagena)
Alquimico
Restaurante La Casa de Socorro
LA BRIOCHE Centro Historico
Mirador Gastro Bar
La Mulata
Andrés Carne de Res Cartagena
Cuzco Cocina Peruana

Restaurante San Valentin
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RESTAURANTE CANDÉ Cocina 100% Cartagenera
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BUENA VIDA Marisquería Caribeña & Rooftop (Cartagena)
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Basic Info
Address
46, Plaza de Bolivar Carrera 3 33, Bolívar, Colombia
Map
Phone
+57 605 6644570
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Website
muhca.gov.co
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Reviews
Overview
4.2
(2K reviews)
Ratings & Description
attractions: Monumento Torre del Reloj, La Serrezuela Mall, Plaza de la Trinidad, Monumento India Catalina, Muelle de la Bodeguita, Plaza de Santo Domingo, Las Bóvedas, Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias, Plaza de Santa Teresa, EL BALUARTE SAN FRANCISCO JAVIER, restaurants: Restaurante San Valentin, RESTAURANTE CANDÉ Cocina 100% Cartagenera, BUENA VIDA Marisquería Caribeña & Rooftop (Cartagena), Alquimico, Restaurante La Casa de Socorro, LA BRIOCHE Centro Historico, Mirador Gastro Bar, La Mulata, Andrés Carne de Res Cartagena, Cuzco Cocina Peruana

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