Santa Marta, Columbia

Did you know that Martas all over the world have their own city? That's right - Santa Marta is a seaside resort on the Caribbean Sea on the coast of Columbia.

From Wikipedia:

Santa Marta was the first city to be founded in Colombia and second in South America after Cumaná (1521) in Venezuela. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas. It is located on the country's Caribbean coast, and was often raided by pirates throughout its early history. El Libertador Simon Bolivar, died in a ranch named Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino on the outskirts of Santa Marta in 17 December 1830.

It had a population of 521,482 in 2000 and is, today, an important port city. It serves as the departmental capital of Magdalena department.

Set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, this city is one of great contrast. From the Spanish colonial buildings of the old city to the modern luxury beach front apartments of Rodadero.

In recent years, Santa Marta has attracted large numbers of people displaced by the paramilitary groups operating throughout the interior of the country. The warm climate and the possibility of occasional work serving the tourist industry increasing the cities popularity. Santa Marta is also one of Colombia's major maritime commercial ports.

Santa Marta was also the site of the 1928 Santa Marta Massacre:

The Santa Marta Massacre, in Spanish, matanza de las bananeras, was a massacre of workers for the United Fruit Company that occurred on December 6, 1928 in the town of Cienaga near Santa Marta, Colombia. An unknown number of workers died after the government decided to send the military forces to end a month long strike organized by the workers' union in order to demand better working conditions.