From railway stations to prisons, hoteliers around the world are taking historic buildings and breathing new life into them.
The latest to do so? The Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena, which is made up of a number of historic buildings including a 16th-century San Francisco cloister, a former theatre and the 1920s landmark Club Cartagena.
Found in the Colombian city’s Getsemaní neighbourhood, guests are just moments away from the UNESCO-listed Walled City.
The 131-key hotel is meant to reflect Cartagena’s historic legacy and Caribbean spirit, and there are also a number of private residences from Rodriguez Valencia Arquitectos available for purchase.
What to expect inside the new Four Seasons hotel
The late François Catroux, dubbed the “decorator of choice for aristocrats” by The New York Times, spearheaded the design of the hotel.
Of the 131 rooms, 27 are found within heritage buildings, with Catroux working hard to preserve the architectural features that give the property its Spanish colonial character.
Working with local artisans, the hotel features sculptural plaster relief elements from Alejandro Hernández, in-room artworks from Miguel Cárdenas and furniture and textiles from Poli Mallarino.
Guests can relax by the two rooftop pools which offer spectacular views over the city, or book in for a treatment at the Umari Spa.
Named for the plant, which is associated with spiritual growth, treatments make use of traditional Colombian botanicals and ingredients.
Set to become a food and drink destination within the city, Four Seasons Hotel Cartagena has eight bars and restaurants.
These include classic steakhouse The Grand Grill, Pizzeria Della Chiesa and breakfast spot El Patio del Limonar.
You can try the country’s famed coffee at Café Rialto, or try cocktails at Bar Lelarge. El Aljibe – named for the water cistern it replaces – is the city’s first speakeasy, while El Palmar is the place to be for rooftop sundowners.
Airlines offering direct flights to Cartagena from Europe include KLM from Amsterdam Schiphol and Plus Ultra from Madrid.
Alternatively, you can fly via Miami, or Colombia’s capital Bogotá, which is served by airlines including Air France, Iberia and Lufthansa.
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