The oldest city in Costa Rica is Cartago which was founded by the Spanish in 1565 Cartago was actually the capital of the country until 1823 when that honor was ceded to San Jos Cartago located 14 miles southeast of San Jos is a bustling city of about 150 000 Many of the original colonial buildings have been destroyed by earthquakes over the years the last one in 1910 but there are also many restored buildings here so that it retains its historical ambiance to a degree There are many condos for sale in Cartago Costa Rica that cater to business people and to students who come here to attend the Costa Rica Institute of Technology an engineering school founded here in 1961 The Bas lica de Nuestra Se ora de Los ngeles Our Lady of the Angels Basilica quite close to the city s central square is open every day Worshipers from all over Central America journey to Cartago from August 1 2 as it is a feast day for Costa Rica s patron saint the Black Virgin La Negrita
Cartago sits at the base of Iraz Volcano but the volcano itself is a 45 minute drive away Tourists throng to Cartago in order to visit this volcano as it s actually possible to drive right up to the summit normally wreathed in clouds and walk down into the crater Cartago has all the conveniences of a modern city plenty of good restaurants and lots of things to see and do The large shopping mall is located some 5 miles west of the city Cartago condos have been built throughout the city and are available for individuals of all income levels In order to find the best residences in the city it is necessary to consult with an experienced real estate broker
