Old Town Heritage Estate — Restored Colonial Mansion In Cartagena’s Walled City

In Cartagena’s walled city, history is not kept behind glass; it is lived in. The Old Town Heritage Estate is one of its rare private addresses: a restored colonial mansion dating to circa 1900, rising three levels within the UNESCO World Heritage historic centre, its rooftop pool set against the bell tower of the cathedral.

Behind a discreet street façade, the house unfolds inward in the colonial manner. A sequence of courtyards opens to the sky, draped in cascading vines and framed by arched galleries whose high beamed ceilings and thick masonry walls keep the interiors cool through the Caribbean afternoon. Black-and-white checkered floors, terracotta tile and exposed stone meet white shutters and dark timber; the restoration honours the original proportions of the building while introducing the comfort of a contemporary residence.

The ground floor is made for gathering. A long dining table runs beneath green pendant lamps and a canopy of greenery, served by a professional-grade kitchen, while salons furnished in linen and rattan open onto shaded galleries and planted patios. Six individually designed suites, served by seven bathrooms, are arranged around the courtyards, each with its own character of light, shutter and view.

The rooftop is the crescendo. A pool runs the length of the terrace, and pergola-shaded lounges, built-in loungers and an open-air dining area look across the terracotta roofscape to the cathedral tower, with the Caribbean just beyond the walls. Mornings here are quiet; sunsets belong to the city’s bells.

At a glance
– Architect-measured 831 m² (8,945 sq ft): 588 m² (6,325 sq ft) of interior living space and 243 m² (2,620 sq ft) of courtyards, balconies, terraces and mirador, on a lot of approximately 308 m² (3,315 sq ft)
– Six en-suite bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three levels and two mezzanines crowned by a rooftop mirador
– Rooftop pool, pergola lounges and open-air dining with cathedral views
– Multiple interior courtyards, arched galleries and high beamed ceilings
– Formal dining room, professional-grade kitchen, air conditioning
– Fully restored, with original architectural details preserved throughout

A legacy residence
The walled city is a finite, protected district, and restored houses of this scale rarely come to market. With six suites arranged around private courtyards and a rooftop made for entertaining, the estate is a natural family residence, a Caribbean second home of real distinction, and a gathering place for generations in Colombia’s most storied city. In a market of enduring international demand, it is also a legacy asset of rare flexibility.

Location
Within the walls, the house is a short walk from the Cathedral and Plaza de Bolívar, the restaurants and galleries of Centro and San Diego, the nightlife of Getsemaní and the bastions of the city wall at sunset. Rafael Núñez International Airport is approximately 15 minutes away, with nonstop flights to Miami and New York and one-stop connections to Europe.

Where lifestyle meets legacy. Private viewings, floor plans and a detailed property dossier are available to qualified buyers upon request.