Cartagena prepares on the eve of Holy Week for the visit of tourists who will come to the city to enjoy the holy days. 

One of the traditional events that take place during this time is the Candy Festival (Festival del Dulce Cartagenero), a gastronomic event organized by the Mayor's Office and the Institute of Heritage and Culture of Cartagena. In this festival 28 matrons will sell typical sweets made with different fruits of the region. 

This year the festival will take place from April 10th to 17th at the Plaza de los Coches in the Historic Center. 

"Easter is not Easter without the typical Cartagena sweets," said the Mayor of the city, William Dau, who invited all citizens and visitors "to the most iconic place in all of Cartagena: the Plaza de los Coches...there these ladies and many more will be selling their delicious and absolutely spectacular Easter sweets, made with all the tropical fruits", he added. 

At the Candy Festival, diners will be able to find a diverse offer ranging from the traditional dulce de leche to other special mixtures such as 'El Caballito' (papaya and pineapple candy) and 'Mongo Mongo' (guava, banana, coconut and mamey candy). 

Another great variety of sweets that can be found are those of corozo, mango, pineapple, coconut, tamarind, papaya, icaco, guava and plum; grain-based, such as rice, pigeon peas and lentils; also using tubers such as yam, potato and sweet potato; and traditional dry sweets such as cocadas, alegrías, caballitos, turrones and other delicacies of the coast. 

"I am very happy that once again we are holding the Festival del Dulce Cartagenero," said Viviana Torres, matron of the tradition, during the opening event this Friday. 

Through these delicious sweets, the Cartagena matrons seek to save the gastronomic tradition that is part of the intangible cultural heritage of the District.