Plaza de Bolívar is the main square of Cartagena's walled city, a broad, shaded plaza with a statue of Simón Bolívar at its centre and some of the city's most important buildings arranged around it — the Cathedral, the Palace of the Inquisition, and the city hall. Large trees provide shade and the plaza is busy at almost all hours, with vendors, shoe-shiners, couples, tourists, and locals sharing the space.
The plaza is the natural starting point for a walk through the old city. Tinto sellers circulate with small cups of sweet black coffee. In the evenings, street performers set up and the square fills with a festive atmosphere. Sitting at one of the cafés bordering the plaza for an hour is as good a way as any to get a feel for Cartagena.