City history
Once the colonial capital of Costa Rica, Cartago remains a cornerstone of the nation's history, renowned for its religious significance and Spanish colonial heritage.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Named after the ancient city of Carthage"
No specific indigenous name for the settlement is reliably documented; the city was founded by Spanish colonists in 1563.
Classical reference
Established as a Spanish settlement, the city served as the official administrative capital of Costa Rica until the year 1823.
Chapter two
Cartago adheres to Central Standard Time (UTC-6) year-round and does not observe any seasonal daylight saving time adjustments at all.
Chapter three
The city was officially established as a Spanish settlement located within the fertile and scenic Central Valley region of Costa Rica.
The political capital of Costa Rica was officially transferred from the historic city of Cartago over to San José during 1823.
Improvements in regional connectivity and transportation helped integrate the former capital more closely into the emerging economic centers of the nation.
A series of major earthquakes in the early twentieth century led to significant reconstruction and changes in the city's urban landscape.