Historic Centre of Santa Cruz de Mompox

Founded in 1540 on the banks of the River Magdalena, Mompox played a key role in the Spanish colonization of northern South America. From the 16th to the 19th century the city developed parallel to the river, with the main street acting as a dyke. The historic centre has preserved the harmony and unity of the urban landscape.

By virtue of the fact that Santa Cruz de Mompox lost much of its economic importance in the 19th century, its historic centre has not been subjected to the pressures for redevelopment that have affected other towns of this type in northern South America. The historic centre’s original street pattern has been preserved intact, along with a large proportion of its earlier buildings. Its level of authenticity is therefore high in terms of its setting, forms, materials and construction techniques. Most of the buildings are still being used for their original purposes. The historic centre has therefore retained its original residential function. The historic centre is generally in a good state of preservation; private owners have considerable pride in their properties, which they maintain in good condition without government funding.

The development of the town over time illustrates the processes of colonial penetration and dominion during the Spanish conquest and the growth of communications and commerce from the seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. Unlike the majority of colonial Spanish settlements, which were organized around a town square, Santa Cruz was laid out along the river instead. The city contains three such nodes, Plaza Central or Plaza de la Concepción, Plaza de San Francisco to the north, and Plaza de Santa Bárbara to the south. The symbiosis between city and river has persisted from the earliest settlements in this location, demonstrating an exceptional association between natural landscape and townscape.