Cartago Municipality, Administrative municipality in Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Cartago Municipality is an administrative area in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, positioned in the flat and fertile valley of the Río La Vieja. The main settlement is surrounded by smaller villages scattered across pastures and sugarcane fields.
The settlement was founded by Spanish conquerors led by Captain Jorge Robledo in 1540 and moved several times before settling at its current site in 1691. Colonial structures from that era still shape the oldest quarter of the town.
On weekends, locals gather to hear bambuco and other regional sounds drifting from taverns and public squares. This tradition reflects the region's passion for string instruments and local rhythms.
Visitors can walk through the center, where colonial streets lead to churches, small parks, and markets. Rural neighborhoods lie in the surrounding area and can be reached by car or local buses.
During the colonial era, the area hosted its own foundry that tested and processed gold from surrounding towns. This function made the place a key node in the metallurgical network of the Spanish crown in the region.
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