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Welcome ToCARTAGENA
HOME > MURCIA MAR MENOR & CARTAGENA > CARTAGENAThe 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.
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.
SELECT A SUBJECT OR READ THE LATEST TOWN ARTICLES BELOWWhats On CartagenaCartagena Local News Places to visit Cartagena CityPlaces to visit outlying districtsWhere to Eat CartagenaSemana Santa, Fiestas, TraditionsHistory of CartagenaCartagenaCartagena beachesMedical Info, Doctors and HospitalsPolice, Town hall, Useful InfoPublic spaces and cultural venuesMonuments, churches and plazasLocations with Military ConnectionsTourist Information and ParkingCartagena Cruise ShipsShopping and markets CartagenaProperty Cartagena municipalityCARTAGENA
Whats On CartagenaCartagena Local News Places to visit Cartagena CityPlaces to visit outlying districtsWhere to Eat CartagenaSemana Santa, Fiestas, TraditionsHistory of CartagenaCartagenaCartagena beachesMedical Info, Doctors and HospitalsPolice, Town hall, Useful InfoPublic spaces and cultural venuesMonuments, churches and plazasLocations with Military ConnectionsTourist Information and ParkingCartagena Cruise ShipsShopping and markets CartagenaProperty Cartagena municipality
Renfe introduces +Renfe&tú contactless card on Cartagena-Los Nietos Cercanías lineA new rechargeable smart card aims to streamline train access and offer flexible ticketing options Renfe has launched its ‘+Renfe&tú’ contactless card service on the Cartagena-Los Nietos cercanías line, effective from.. 17/06/2025
The supermarket giant that is rapidly gaining ground in MurciaThe increasingly popular chain is opening new stores in Cartagena, Murcia and Caravaca Move over Mercadona, there’s some competition in town. Valencian supermarket cooperative Consum is gaining ground in the Region of Murcia, with three new.. 16/06/2025
How Murcia celebrates a very special 20th anniversary this year: A milestone for treating others with equal respectMurcia has come a long way in the last two decades when it comes to equality of treatment for all in society, but there is still much work to be done As a foreigner living in Spain, sometimes it’s easy to feel like an ‘other’ and.. 16/06/2025
San Javier overhauls La Manga housing and infrastructure as tourism boomsAn ambitious plan has been launched to modernise and improve infrastructure in one of Murcia’s most popular coastal destinations La Manga del Mar Menor, the slender strip of land that separates the Mediterranean from Europe's largest saltwater.. 16/06/2025
No trains between Murcia and Cartagena until June 17Renfe is introducing a replacement bus service while Adif carries out upgrade works Rail services between Murcia city and Cartagena have been suspended due to infrastructure works on the Balsicas-La Palma Pozo Estrecho section of railway, with Renfe.. 13/06/2025
Cartagena beach bus schedule for transfer to playas in Cala Cortina and El PortúsThe beach bus returns to Cartagena this summer with different routes for getting to Cala Cortina and El Portús This Friday June 13 sees the start of bus number 12 in Cartagena, the ‘BUS PLAYA’ which connects the city centre of Cartagena.. 13/06/2025
Over 30 endangered manta rays released after being captured by accident in La Azohía, MurciaConservation groups and traditional fishers join forces to protect endangered marine species in the Mediterranean More than 30 manta rays accidentally caught in the Almadraba of La Azohía, near Cartagena, have been successfully tagged and released.. 12/06/2025
Café Bar Yemanjá welcomes customers for the summer seasonThe kitchen is open all day for brunch, lunch and dinner from Thursday to Monday, all summer long Located on the seafront in Cabo de Palos, customer favourite Café Bar Yemanjá is once again ready to welcome customers for the summer... 12/06/2025
Up-and-coming pop star Ana Ruiz tells why 'the next Shakira' is all her own womanExciting new talent Ana Ruiz speaks exclusively to Murcia Today about her new album and the inspiration behind it Ana Ruiz by Victor del Pozo Once in a while, a vibrant new pop musician bursts onto the scene with a distinctive style and.. 11/06/2025
New to Rent La Manga Club: Frontline villa with private pool available for short-term let and vacation rentalSee this and other properties to rent short-term at La Manga Club There is a super frontline golf villa new to rentlamangaclub.com that is available for short-term holiday rentals now. This stunning 4-bedroom villa for rent .. 10/06/2025
Summer kicks off early in Cabo de Palos with high tourist numbers, great terrazas and a new car parkThe coast of Cartagena close to La Manga is coming alive as visitors pour in for the long weekend Summer has unofficially arrived in Cabo de Palos. With the Día de la Región long weekend in full swing, beaches are packed, terraces are.. 09/06/2025
Despair among beach bar owners and thirsty bathers as new chiringuito rules delay opening in CartagenaFor most beach bars the new regulations are proving either difficult or impossible to obey For a couple of months now, since the start of the Easter holidays, residents and visitors at the beaches of Cartagena have been speculating about why hardly any.. 06/06/2025
Ancient Murcia hilltop chapel to be restored... but workers have to transport the materials using donkeys! After an 11-year delay, the company must carry out restoration works using only mules or helicopters to protect the heritage site’s natural setting After more than a decade of delays, Portman Golf, S.A. has been ordered to finally complete long-.. 04/06/2025
More buses and new routes coming to La Manga this summerExtra buses will run from mid-June through September to better serve locals and tourists in La Manga In anticipation of another bumper summer season, La Manga has once again decided to increase the frequency of some of its most popular buses and alter.. 04/06/2025
From Summer solstice to shooting stars: A guide to Spain's spectacular June skyTake a tour of the skies this month with the English-speaking team at Murcia’s Finca Astronomica For those of us lucky enough to live in Spain, the night sky offers a constant source of wonder. Last month, the beautiful Flower Moon reminded.. 03/06/2025
New housing projects for Murcia to relieve lack of supply and soaring pricesDevelopments are in the pipeline for Murcia and Cartagena as supply is down 11% and prices up 24% in the Region over the last year Property developers and local authorities are working together to address the current housing crisis in Murcia, which.. 02/06/2025
