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Cartagena Today

The city of Cartagena

Cartagena is a city of contrasts, its rich cultural and military history merely a backdrop for the industrial and commercial activity which supports the second largest city in the Region of Murcia.

Its natural strategic port has offered shelter to traders for thousands of years, and the rich mines of the Sierra Minera provided a reason for the frequent wars which were fought in order to possess it, Cartagena still being a major naval base today, as well as boasting a rich military heritage of patrimony. The history of Cartagena charts its development and the cultures which have shaped it today.

The city has developed a lucrative tourism industry based on the number of historical places which tourists can visit and enjoy, including the RomanTheatre Museum, ARQUA, MURAM, Casa de la Fortuna, Cartagena Municipal Archaeology Museum, the Augusteum, the Molinete and other well preserved Roman buildings and museums.

In addition there has been major investment in the creation of a new market for cruise ship tourism.

Cartagena

These days the port remains a major focal point for commercial activity, and the Escombreras industrial area has attracted major businesses including the Repsol refinery, SABIC petrochemicals and Holcim concrete plants within a concealed industrial zone. Cartagena is also the home of the regional parliament building of Murcia.

The Campo de Cartagena is a major source of agricultural employment, copnsisting of flat and fertile irrigated areas where salad crops, peppers, potatoes and courgettes are grown, while non-irrigated crops include olives, carobs and almonds.

The more mountainous outlying districts of Cartagena boast extensive areas of beaches, stretching around the coastline from Isla Plana in the west to Cabo de Palos in the east. Here, the spit of La Manga del Mar Menor encloses the Mar Menor, giving Cartagena an extensive offering of prime sandy beaches with safe bathing conditions in Europe's largest saltwater lagoon.

This in turn creates a varied leisure industry, with watersports, a motor racing circuit, some of the best diving facilities in Europe and one of Spain's most prestigious golf and residential complexes, La Manga Club, all creating leisure and tourism opportunities for local businesses.

Cartagena has a rich cultural offering, with important Semana Santa and Romans and Carthaginians fiestas, Carnival, the Mar de Músicas and Cartagena Jazz festivals. The El Batel auditorium and congress centre enhances an already rich cultural programme.

LOCATION

Click for map, Cartagena Spain

There is often confusion on map searches as there is another Cartagena in Columbia. Cartagena Spain is located in the south of the region of Murcia and is a major port and industrial centre.

The municipality of Cartagena covers an area of 558 square kilometres, with a population of 218,000 making it the second most populated municipality of the 45 in the Region of Murcia.

It shares boundaries with Torre Pacheco, Los Alcázares, La Unión, Mazarrón and Fuente Álamo.

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CARTAGENA

Alicante invites Carthaginians and Romans to join the Moors and Christians celebrations in DecemberThe news comes after an Alicante delegation opened the iconic Cartagena parade last weekend Two hundred Moors and Christians of Alicante, together with two music bands performing their traditional marches, took pride of place at one of the Region.. 27/09/2023

Cartagena immigration holding centre will finally be movedIt is hoped that the new permanent immigration detention centre will provide better housing conditions for displaced migrants The Port Authority of Cartagena (APC) will begin work this coming Monday to adapt the land in La Algameca in order to start.. 27/09/2023

Students left stranded without public transport to get to school in MurciaProtests as 6,000 students have been left without school transportation in towns across Murcia There has been polemic over the start of the new school year in the Region of Murcia for the 2023/34 course as students have been left without public buses.. 26/09/2023

Cartagena museum unveils two cannons from the La Mercedes warshipThe Murcia port city will host an exhibition dedicated to the Renaissance frigate at the end of the year After several months of conservation and study, the ARQUA National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in the port of Cartagena has added two.. 26/09/2023

Cartagena voted best-value place in Spain for foreigners to liveThe port city sailed to the top of the list of the cheapest and most desirable places in Spain to move to The celebrated city of Cartagena has risen above every other locale to be voted the best place in Spain for foreigners to move to. This is according.. 25/09/2023

Sacred fire extinguished as Cartagena Carthaginians and Romans festival 2023 comes to an endThis year’s Fiesta de Cartagineses y Romanos was another successful one for Cartagena After 10 full days of celebrations and activities in which many participants and visitors to Cartagena got a chance to witness the Carthaginian and Roman past.. 25/09/2023

Club MMGR introduce revolutionary new Sauna and Ice bathThe new ice bath and top-of-the-range barrel sauna are your path to ultimate wellness! Coming to Club MMGR Monday October 9 Club MMGR, Mar Menor Golf Resort are thrilled to announce the latest additions to the wellness facilities on offer – a.. 25/09/2023

The first phase of excavation of the portico of the Roman Theatre of Cartagena is almost completeFindings from the archaeological site will be displayed at the Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena The excavation works carried out in the first third of the Portico of the Roman Theatre of Cartagena are about to be completed. The recovery and restoration.. 21/09/2023

Isaac Peral House Museum in Cartagena could finally open by next summerA further 300,000 euros will need to be pumped into the project in order to complete the submarine museum During the first half of next year, Cartagena will add another exciting tourist attraction to its extensive network of museums with the Isaac.. 20/09/2023

Cartagena steps up cleaning of its ramblas to prevent floodingCartagena City Council continues cleaning ramblas to reduce the possible impact of heavy rainfall The City Council of Cartagena is continuing its campaign to clean and clear the ‘rambla’ waterways in order to minimise the effects of the.. 20/09/2023

Demolition on Cartagena Guardia Civil barracks continues with officers still working insideAround 70 officers are forced to work in the Cartagena station as the building is torn down around them Although demolition of the old Guardia Civil barracks in Cartagena began several weeks ago, on August 27, as many as 70 officers continue to work.. 19/09/2023

UK Padel magazine editor visits Club MMGRMike Dale, the editor of UK online Padel magazine “The Padel Paper” visits Club MMGR, Mar Menor Golf Resort While on a family break in nearby Orihuela Costa, the editor of UK online Padel magazine “The Padel Paper” Mike Dale was.. 13/09/2023

Mazarron, Cartagena and Mar Menor towns propose new railway line to join Costa Calida municipalitiesIn a historical meeting, representatives of towns all along the Murcia coast have agreed to boost the ‘Costa Cálida’ brand, including with a possible new rail connection The Mayor of Mazarrón, Ginés Campillo, has taken.. 13/09/2023

Cabo de Palos and La Manga buses to run until end of SeptemberCartagena extends its bus services for a further three weeks The municipality of Cartagena has chosen to extend its additional bus service that connects the city with La Manga del Mar Menor until the end of September, and to maintain the line that.. 11/09/2023

Until October 1 Marinera tapas routes in different areas of the Region of MurciaThis typical Murcia and Cartagena tapa is among the most representative of the Region Among the most popular tapas in the Region of Murcia is the emblematic “marinera”, which consists of a generous portion of Russian salad balanced on a “..

Explore the benefits of Pilates at Club MMGRGet your body and mind in tune with personalised classes for all levels at Club MMGR, Mar Menor Golf Resort Join in Pilates at Mar Menor Golf Resort's Club MMGR with personalised classes for all levels. Exercises are guided and in a relaxing environment..