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A very popular place to visit in Santa Marta is Parque de Los Novios. It has a few monuments in the middle, but the main attraction is the restaurants with outdoor seating.
History
The park has served many functions throughout history. There was a military fortification there in the early 19th century followed by butcher shops and a public market from 1834 to 1881. It received its current name in the early 20th century because lovers would gather there every evening to listen to the bands that played in the square. The park was officially named Parque Santander in 1960 after a monument to Francisco de Paula Santander was erected in the center.
Palace of Justice
The Palace of Justice (Palacio de Justicia) sits on the southern end of the park. It was completed in 1926.
School Four
On the west end of the square is a building which once housed School Four (Escuela Cuarta). This school, which opened in 1928 as the San Luis Gonzaga Public School for Girls (Escuela Pública Para Niñas de San Luis Gonzaga), had a capacity of 600 students. In 1940, it became School Four. It was restored in 2008 and is now used as part of the city’s judicial complex.
Carrera 3
Another great place to check out is Carrera 3 between Parque de Los Novios and Parque de Bolívar. It’s full of restaurants with outdoor seating, street vendors, and sometimes musicians adding to the atmosphere. During my very first visit in 2014, it was a quiet street with not much going on. What a difference a few years makes! The photos below show the exact same scene on a typical day about 5 years apart.
Calle 19
Calle 19 is similar to Carrera 3, but it’s wider and has more hotels along it. There are also restaurants, bars, and cafés with outdoor seating.
At Night
While the daytime is relatively sleepy, the park, Carrera 3, and Calle 19 come alive at night. The atmosphere completely changes after sunset.
