Over the weekend of July 23 and 24, the V Latin American Book Fair was held in Cartagena, a celebration where several Latin American authors gathered to present their most recent works and discuss the future of literature in the region. 

The event was held at the Palacio de la Proclamación, a colonial building located in the Historic Center of the city. Its purpose is to foster a greater sense of belonging among the people of Cartagena, as well as the inhabitants of the department of Bolivar and the Colombian Atlantic Coast, to literature, creation, poetry and the arts.

This year's theme was 'Bolivar and Cartagena in Literature,' and the international guest was Panama.

Walter Caicedo, cultural manager and founder and director of the fair, is a reading promoter who has sought to "stimulate the free publication of authors in his country who have had obstacles to enter the Latin American publishing market." It's why the fair is so important in the regional context. 

As part of the agenda of activities, there were different spaces for conversations on journalism and the cultural scene, with personalities such as Colombian journalist and writer Juan Gossain and Alberto Casas Santamaría alongside him, who apart from being a journalist, stands out for his work in politics and as a radio panelist. Both dished on current affairs in their talk at the festival.

Several independent authors also took the opportunity to launch their new stories, as well as to connect with new readers from Cartagena. 

These types of spaces are what continue to strengthen the 'Corralito de Piedra' as an ideal tourist and cultural destination for the personal growth of those who visit.