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The hill of La Popa is a good site to appreciate the Heroic City from a distance, with a beautiful view that includes the Caribbean, the Island of Tierrabomba, the tourist area, the walled downtown, La Boquilla, the northern zone and the city in general.
In colony times there were farmsteads, small country places and fisheries in its surroundings. At the beginning of the XVIIth century, the town Hall decides it was necessary to build a convent on the top of the hill for the church members that helped clear and clean the area. With collects, enough was gathered to make a wooden chapel with a cabin next to it.
As superior of the monastery was designed Fray Alonso de La Cruz Paredes, who being at the convent on the desert of Ráquira received a divine message that entrusted him with the foundation and construction of a convent of the order of Saint Augustine at the top of the nearest hill to the city of Cartagena de Indias.
The convent of Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria was founded. Later on, the wooden church was replaced by a strong one. An inn was also built to receive he visitors and pilgrims.
Was used as headquarters and fortress during the independence and civil wars of the XIX century. By political laws it was abandoned until restored in 1964 by the Augustinian religious. Today it is one of the most visited places in Cartagena de Indias. |
