Camellón de los Mártires

In front of you stretches the promenade that links the walled city with Getsemaní. Along it you will see nine marble busts. They are the Martyrs of Cartagena, and their story is the bitter side of the independence you heard about in Plaza de Bolívar.

1Morillo's siege

In August 1815 General Pablo Morillo arrived in Cartagena, sent by Ferdinand VII to win back the colonies. He besieged the city by land and sea for more than three months. When the Spanish troops entered in early December, they found streets full of people who had died of hunger and disease.

224 February 1816

The leaders of the independence movement were given summary trials. On 24 February 1816 nine of them were executed here, on what was then open ground facing the gate: among them Manuel del Castillo, José María García de Toledo, Martín Amador, Pantaleón Germán Ribón and the Irishman Santiago Stuart. Sources disagree on whether all of them were shot or hanged.

Morillo wanted to make an example of them; Cartagena ended up turning the place into a tribute.

The city was free again in 1821. Over time, that open ground became a promenade and a memorial to the nine.

If you feel like it, walk over to the India Catalina monument on the other side of the avenue.

3What to look for

• The nine busts, each with the martyr's name.
• The view of the Clock Tower from the promenade.
• The life of the promenade, a meeting point between the old town and Getsemaní.