When you're wandering through Cartagena and find yourself on Gisbert Street, that sleek glass tower rising 45 meters up the hillside is hard to miss. The Ascensor Panorámico has become something of a local landmark since it opened in 2004, designed by architects Andrés Cánovas Alcaraz and Martín Lejarraga to solve a very practical problem.

Back in 1878, they carved out Gisbert Street by cutting straight through the Concepción Hill, effectively separating the harbor from the city center. It was a bold urban planning move, but it left people with quite a climb to reach the Castillo de la Concepción at the top. The panoramic elevator bridges that gap, whisking you up to the summit where Parque Torres and the castle offer some of the best views over the city and bay.

The ride itself is part of the experience. The glass cabin gives you a front-row seat as you ascend, with views unfolding of the Roman amphitheater ruins below, overlaid rather dramatically with the modern bullring. You'll also spot the 18th-century military buildings that now house part of the Polytechnic University, plus the distinctive Autopsy Pavilion and Naval Hospital. On a clear day, the Santa Lucía fishing port and the striking El Batel auditorium are clearly visible in the distance.

What's clever about this setup is how it connects different layers of Cartagena's history. The base of the elevator sits right at the entrance to the Civil War Shelter Museum, built into the old air raid tunnels that honeycomb the hillside. So you can explore underground wartime history, then shoot up to medieval fortifications in a matter of minutes.

The elevator has definitely changed the skyline since it went up. Some locals took time to warm to its modern aesthetic, but it's become part of the city's identity now. It's functional rather than flashy – no bells and whistles, just efficient transport up a steep hill with great views thrown in.

An audio guide is available if you want deeper context about what you're seeing during the ascent. The whole experience takes just a few minutes, but it's a smart way to save your energy for exploring the castle and park at the top rather than huffing up the old pathways.