"SANTA MARTA - LAST REPOSE FOR LATIN... " a Santa Marta Travel Page by mtncorg

Founded in 1525 by Rodrigo de Bastidas - known as Spain’s ‘Noblest Conquistador’ for his refusal to maltreat native Americans even in his quest for gold - Santa Marta is the oldest surviving town founded by Europeans in the Americas. The town’s importance declined with the development of Cartegena des Indias after 1533. The city serves as a major coal port and as a tourist destination today. It is also the city where Colombia’s greatest football player Carlos Valderraman, best remembered for his blonde permed locks - he is now an asssistant coach with Atelico Junior in Barranquilla. The most historic site can be found a couple miles southeast of town at the site of a former sugar mill known as Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino - built in the 17th century - where on Dec 17, 1830, Simon Bolivar , El Libertador, died.

I was here for but a few hours, so can only provide a brief overview of what could be a much more fascinating location.