City history
As the oldest surviving city in Colombia, Santa Marta sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, blending ancient Tairona roots with Spanish colonial history.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Saint Martha"
Specific indigenous names for the settlement are not reliably documented, so the earliest historical Spanish record is used.
Saint Martha
The formal name established during the Spanish colonial period.
Chapter two
Colombia standardized its time zone to UTC-5 across the nation, including the coastal region of Santa Marta.
The city maintains a consistent temporal rhythm by not observing daylight saving time.
Chapter three
Rodrigo de Bastidas founded the city, making it the oldest continuously inhabited Spanish settlement in Colombia.
The enhancement of port facilities solidified Santa Marta's role as a critical trade hub in the Caribbean.
Post-war expansion led to significant improvements in urban connectivity and local services within the city.