Convento de Santo Domingo, Cartagena

Convento de Santo Domingo is a three-story stone structure featuring a central courtyard surrounded by wide corridors and numerous rooms arranged around multiple cloisters. The building displays typical colonial architecture with thick walls, arched openings, and interconnected spaces designed for both religious and educational purposes.

Construction began in 1549 under Friar Jose de Robles and extended over 150 years due to fires, attacks, and limited resources. The prolonged building period reflects the difficulties faced in establishing permanent structures during the early colonial period.

The convent served as a major center for education in colonial New Granada, offering instruction in philosophy and theology to support religious training and missionary work across the region.

The building sits in Cartagena's old quarter and is easily reached on foot from Plaza Santo Domingo. Visitors should know that stairs and corridors are narrow, and exploring multiple floors requires some physical effort.

The building contains multiple burial chambers discovered during restoration work, including the tomb of Spanish Admiral Blas de Lezo. These hidden underground spaces provide insight into the city's early history and its most important figures.