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The Albarrada of Mompox is the street along the Magdalena River, much of it pedestrianized. This post covers all sites from Plaza Santa Bárbara running south in the historic town center. Mompox is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Colombian Heritage Town (Pueblo Patrimonio).
Plaza Santa Bárbara
Plaza Santa Bárbara is the most scenic plaza in Mompox. Its centerpiece is the most beautiful of all the churches in Mompox, the Church of Santa Bárbara (Iglesia de Santa Bárbara), which was built in 1733.
The plaza is surrounded by old colonial buildings, many of them containing restaurants and businesses. Our hotel, Casa Amarilla, was one of these buildings.
A popular place to meet or hang out, Plaza Santa Bárbara features wide lanes under tall shady trees. There are even some old cannons situated along the Albarrada pointing towards the river.
Parque Santander
South of Plaza Santa Bárbara, the street becomes unpaved, wider, and greener. The first point of interest is Parque Santander, which is a small park with a bust of Francisco de Paula Santander.
Fort San Anselmo
Situated just south of the park is Fort San Anselmo (Fuerte de San Anselmo). This old building wasn’t actually a fort but was used as a warehouse for merchandise. It has been converted into a restaurant, El Fuerte, owned by a man from Austria, and a souvenir shop.
Parks and Homes
Continuing south, there are more parks and green spaces as well as a football field. It’s a bit cooler in this area thanks to the trees. We also noticed a few locals setting up businesses with a table and chair, including a barber shop and lemonade stand.
The colonial homes along this section of the Albarrada aren’t refurbished like the ones running north from Plaza Santa Bárbara. Many are abandoned and some are for sale.
Portals of the Bodega
We walked as far south as the Portals of the Bodega (Portales de la Bodega), which was an old warehouse in colonial times. It was used to store gunpowder, tobacco, and aguardiente.
