Italy enhances the cultural and historical heritage of Cartagena – News from Embassies

As part of the celebrations for 160 years of bilateral relations between Italy and Colombia, the Italian government has approved a EUR 3 million cooperation project for the municipality of Cartagena. This is the largest international cooperation project granted by a single donor received by Cartagena and is intended for work on the Cathedral and its historic fortifications, as well as the training of artisans, vendors and tour operators.

   
The announcement of the project, to be carried out through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation to promote tourism in the city, restore and modernise important assets and places of cultural interest, and strengthen the popular economy, was made by the Italian Ambassador to Colombia, Giancarlo Maria Curcio, and Cartagena Mayor Dumek Turbay on Friday 10 January in the Customs Palace, the historic headquarters of the Caribbean city’s mayor’s office.

   
“On the occasion of 160 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and Colombia, the Embassy developed important activities with the Colombian authorities throughout 2024. In particular, within the framework of development cooperation, our Government has approved a project to enhance the cultural and historical heritage of Cartagena, whose walls were built by an Italian engineer, Battista Antonelli, who worked for the Spanish crown in the 17th century. In this way, Italy wants to strengthen its commitment to Colombia and, in particular, Cartagena, by giving new life to its iconic architectural works and focusing on sustainable and community-based tourism,’ the Italian Ambassador emphasised.

   
Forty years after the Unesco declaration, the project will be used for work on the Cathedral of Santa Catalina of Alexandria, its outdoor square where the statue of John Paul II stands; the fortification of Santa Catalina and the La Tenaza wharf; the construction of a pedestrian footbridge parallel to the Murallita del Diablo; and the building of an elevated bridge between the fortifications of San Ignacio and San Francisco Javier.

   
In addition, funds from Italy will be used to strengthen and order the popular economy in the Centro Historico, by training and equipping 74 artisans, fruit and coconut water vendors with new furniture, as well as for the training of more than 3,600 tour operators.

   
“We are very happy to be able to count on this important support from Italy to preserve Cartagena’s architectural and cultural heritage in an integral manner, benefiting the local community in socio-economic terms and ensuring the long-term preservation of historical and cultural resources. Our tourism, as well as sustainable tourism, must be an engine of socio-economic inclusion for the most vulnerable communities,’ said Mayor Dumek Turbay.

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