While walking the streets of the walled city of Cartagena, you can easily get lost in it’s vibrant colors. Couple that with the amazing food, great museums, and lively music, you could easily stay in this area forever. But that would be a mistake. Whether you explore the world’s third-largest barrier reef that makes up Islas del Rosario National Park or you swim in the Totumo Mud Volcano there is plenty to do outside of the city! However, just a 10 minute stroll outside the city walls, you can discover one of the best kept secrets to exploring Cartagena street art: the neighborhood of Getsemani.

Walking around Getsemani, you'll see some the most amazing displays of Cartagena street art! See why exploring Cartagena Street art needs to be on your bucket list! #CartagenaStreetArt #CartagenaGraffiti #GetsemaniStreetArt
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A Brief History of Getsemani 

The neighborhood of Getsemani has had a rocky evolution. Originally, the Spanish invasion pushed out the indigenous tribes from Cartagena and all surrounding regions. Getsemani became the local barrio for African Slaves of those in the walled city next door. In the early 1800s, a free man of color, Pedro Romero, led his “Lanceros de Gestemani” against the Spanish, becoming a hero of Cartagena’s independence movement.

Sadly, after independence was obtained, Getsemani fell into a dismal state. It developed a reputation as a neighborhood of drugs, violence, crime, and prostitution. Though less than a 5 minute walk from the famous walled city, every traveler to Cartagena was warned that Getsemani was an unsafe place to explore.

Luckily, that all changed at the turn of the 21st century. As Cartagena opened it’s doors to tourism, a sort of cultural renaissance slowly came to Getsemani. Suddenly, the old remnant run down buildings were being converted to hostels, shops, and restaurants. Plaza de la Trinidad became a center for local musicians, street performers, and artists to share their talents.

This rebirth and revitalization all came to a head around December 2013. Getsemani became a vivid graffiti scene of protests toward the gentrification and increasing tourism of the area. Rather than discourage the Cartagena street art, an International Festival of Urban Art was held on the Streets of Getsemani. For this event, both local and international street artists were invited to share murals featuring everything from animals to events important to the people of Cartagena. The result was one of the most amazing and largest displays of street art in the world. Thankfully, it preserved and easy to explore.

Note: Below are some of the amazing murals and pieces of Cartagena street art we found. Some of the images are thumb nails. Feel free to click on them to see the images in full view!

Exploring Cartagena Street Art in Plaza de la Trinidad

There is no doubt that any visitor to the neighborhood of Getsemani will end up at Plaza de la Trinidad! Here you will find amazing street food, cheap drinks, and plenty of opportunity to people watch as you are entertained by the local musicians and artists. But, if it is Cartagena street art you are looking to explore, then look for the Black Bird known as “Maria Mulata” behind the statue of Pedro Romero.

Yurika MDC created the mural based on of a local legend. According to the story, there were once colorful birds called Maria Mulatas that loved to sing in Cartagena. One day a horrible fire broke out and engulfed the city in flames. The colorful birds flew into the fire ravaged area and with their long beaks scooped up the locals and flew them to safety. Sadly, by flying back and forth through the smoke and soot, the Maria Mulatas lost their colorful feathers and were blackened forever. It is said that on bright days, locals can still see the brilliant colors in the bird’s black plumage.

Getsemani street art on social issues

Just because Cartagena embraced the street art scene doesn’t mean that protests toward the gentrification and increasing tourism stopped. This is evident when Peruvian artist, El Decertor, created his giant mural titled, “Defender Lo Que Nos Queda.” This large mural showcases the struggle of the locals from Getsemani who are working to preserve the identity and memory of their community.

Another Peruvian artist known as Jade also chimed in on the gentrification of Getsemani. He created this mural of a lower class man holding the flag of Cartagena while protesting the sale and higher prices of housing in his home town.

Honoring Cartagena’s favorite sons

Whether it is a hero of Cartagena’s independence movement, their famed salsa singer, or great athletes, you are bound to find some of the cities favorite sons immortalized in the Cartagena street art.

Pedro Romero, hero of the independence movement

Famous salsa singer Joe Arroyo

The Boxers

One of Cartagena’s favorite sons is former two-time world middleweight champion boxer and Cartagena native, Rodrigo Valdez. This mural immortalizes his with epic rivalry with Carlos Monzón.

The strong women of Cartagena

When exploring Cartagena street art, many strong women of different backgrounds can also be seen. From a mural of the Smiling Afro-Colombian woman to the local model Ana Luisa Muñoz, the women of Cartagena are showcased with strength and confidence.

Immortalizing the Palanqueras

The palanqueras or fruit sellers, are one of the most iconic characters of Cartagena. You can see them walking around everywhere in their vibrant dresses usually balancing large bowls of fruit on their heads. Historically, these women would trek into Cartagena everyday loaded with fruit harvested from trees surrounding their native Palenque. With such a rich history and vibrant aesthetic, it is easy to see why they would be immortalized in Cartagena street art.

Remembering the indigenous people

Before the Spanish invasion of what is now Cartagena, the area was originally inhabited by the Calamari people that dominated the Caribbean coast. Throughout Getsemani you will find a number of murals that pay tribute to the original indigenous inhabitants.

The amazing animals

While strolling around, you are bound to see many beautiful depictions of animals in the Getsemani street art. Some are simply beautiful images, while others portray a more environmental warning to onlookers.

The doors of a barrio

American best-selling novelist Katherine Karen Dunn once said, “Behind every locked door on Skid Road are a thousand stories.” With such a seedy history as a neighborhood of drugs, violence, and prostitution, there must be crazy stories hidden within Getsemani. As you walk through the streets, make sure you also look at the doors to see some incredible street art hiding in plain sight.