Historical Museum of Cartagena de Indias, History museum in Cartagena, Colombia.
The Historical Museum of Cartagena de Indias occupies a colonial palace built with thick stone walls and wooden balconies spread across two floors. The collection spans centuries and covers the city's connections to European, African, and Caribbean worlds.
The building served as the seat of the Spanish Inquisition from 1610 until 1821, a period marked by harsh control and punishment. After independence came, the structure was repurposed and eventually transformed into a museum to preserve the city's complex past.
The exhibits tell the story of how Cartagena became a major port where Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences mixed together. Walking through the rooms, you sense how trade and colonialism shaped daily life in this city.
The museum offers guided tours in multiple languages and features clear signage throughout the exhibition rooms. The building can be explored at a comfortable pace, with staircases and limited elevator access connecting the two floors.
The courtyard displays original instruments used during the Inquisition period, including a guillotine and gallows that visitors can see firsthand. These items offer a stark reminder of the building's darker chapter.
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