Sister cities of Santa Marta

Santa Marta, is a Colombian city, the capital of the department of Magdalena and third major urban center of the Caribbean Region after Barranquilla and Cartagena. Founded on July 29 of 1525 by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, it is the oldest existing city in Colombia as it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, and second oldest of South America.

This city, located in the bay of the same name, is one of the leading tourist destinations in the Colombian Caribbean. Its location between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, with the highest peaks in the country, and the Caribbean Sea, make it a very attractive destination to explore the variety of wildlife that exists in the area. It also provides many cultural and historical sites to visit. As an important fact, Simon Bolivar died on a farm named Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino which at the time was outside the city on December 17, 1830. Because of this, the Constitution of 1991 conferred upon the city of Santa Marta, the character of District.

Its most popular and busiest business area is located in the historic downtown near the Market Square. The area between the first Carrera, 22nd Street and Railroad Avenue frame the historical and commercial center of the city.

The current symbols of the city of Santa Marta are the bi-colored flag White and Blue sky], and the two coats of Arms. The first one, being used since May 1929 that has a turret and a ship with four rows. And the second one which the municipal government started using in 1951 that includes the Virgin Mary.