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| Other sites of interest |
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 Church of the Immaculate Conception
Because of its large size, this church is considered to be the cathedral of Mompox. Over the years, it has undergone several restorations. Originally built of straw and adobe by Pedro de Heredia in 1541, it was transformed ten years later by enlarging the structure and adding masonry and a colonial tiled roof. In 1795 it was decorated inside and out, but in 1839 the Governor of the Province ordered its demolition and the building of the present church.
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 Santa Bárbara Church
wThe most beautiful and important church in the city, its construction was started at the end of the sixteenth century. By 1613 the temple and the smaller chapel called Santo Ecce Homo had been completed. The church has a beautiful baroque bell tower with a balcony sporting a Solomonic railing. It is decorated with moldings of fine palm trees, flowers and lions. A dome encircled by cresting crowns the tower and the church’s three altars are totally gilded. |
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Founded in 1530 by the Spaniards, Santa Cruz de Mompox is located on a large island built up in the Magdalena River on its journey to the sea. It became an important port for the transportation of goods and attracted persons who, interested in the wealth offered by the new lands, set out to explore them. From the time of its very foundation, it has preserved architectural features born of the mixture of its Spanish and Indian builders. The wrought iron work decorating doors, railings and window grills along the Calles (streets) de la Albarrada, Real del Medio and de Atrás is also to be found in the churches like Santa Bárbara, San Agustín, San Juan de Dios and la Concepción.
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The city is located 248 km from Cartagena de Indias along a paved national highway. On reaching Magangue, one must board a boat for a 2-hour sail to the island. Small aircraft also fly into Mompox’s San Bernardo airport or the airport at Corozal, one hour and forty-five minutes away.
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Tourist Attractions |
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 San Francisco Church and Convent
The temple was founded in 1580 by order of Brother Francisco Gonzaga with the mission of attracting souls for the Church because there were very few priests in the region. A handsome mural painting was damaged during reconstruction work in 1996. More recently the foundations of the temple were reinforced and it was completely restored.
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 San Juan de Dios Hospital
The hospital was founded in 1550 and in 1663 the Order of the Hospital Brothers took over its management. It depended for its maintenance and operation on the donations of the powerful families in the region and the royal tax charged for each rower moving up or downstream on the Magdalena River. San Juan de Dios is considered to be oldest hospital in America still functioning in its original building.
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 Mansions
One of the most attractive is the House of the Apostles located on Calle Real del Medio, housing handsome images of the twelve apostles and of Jesus at the Last Supper.
The City Hall, known as the Municipal House, contained the dungeons and the mayor’s reception room. It has great historical value, for it was here that on August 6, 1810 the Act of Independence from Spain was signed under the slogan of “Freedom or Death.”
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 Municipal Palace or the Cloister of San Carlos
Built in 1660, this cloister housed the city’s first secondary school until the Jesuits were driven out. It ceased to be a convent in 1767. In 1809 the Universal School of Saint Peter the Apostle founded by Pedro Martínez de Pinillos was inaugurated on the same premises.
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