As is the style of these old colonial mansions, the interior courtyard is a key feature of this home. And in this casa, the space is breathtakingly large with huge palms and other tall trees. Under covered archways, you’ll find comfy sofas bedecked with colourful cushions and throws, and tables laden with art books and unusual ceramics and sculptures. The first floor also has no shortage of comfortable areas to sit and relax, with a variety of wicker seating and large shaded daybeds overlooking the courtyard below. A grand living room boasts a spectacular double-height wooden ceiling with ornate beams and has a traditional wooden balcony overlooking the streets of old Cartagena.

There is nothing flashy about the beauty of this grand house – authentic rough plaster walls add an old-world charm, as do original rustic floor tiles and wooden shutters and floorboards, particularly in the dappled sunlight. Bedrooms and living spaces are filled with antique furniture and floors and walls are often lined with handwoven rugs and tapestries collected from across Asia and South America. An abundance of candles and lamps throughout the courtyard and house also provide wonderfully atmospheric lighting after dark.

Even after the sun has gone down you’ll find it hard to resist a dip in the mosaic-tiled pool at one end of the courtyard, which looks particularly magical when lit up at night. A circular table sits, surrounded by tropical planting, in the centre of the patio, perfectly positioned to enjoy food or drinks in the most tranquil of settings.

Off the patio lie two double bedrooms, while upstairs there are three more double rooms. Ensuite bathrooms have rainfall showers, bold tiling and antique mirrors. The large master suite has a high wooden ceiling and a king-size bed and its ensuite bathroom has double sinks and a large tiled bathtub with rainfall shower. All bedrooms have air conditioning. There is a small but special seventh bedroom with a separate shower room in the original lookout tower, accessed by a wooden stair leading up from the patio. The views from the tower are particularly beautiful at sunset and look out over the city’s scenic rooftops and to the twinkling sea beyond.