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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
Three Murcia beaches go head to head for Best in Spain awardTwo beaches in Cartagena and one in Lorca are competing for the 2025 crown Playa de Calblanque Three stunning beaches on the Costa Cálida have been shortlisted in the race to be crowned Spain’s best beach in this year&rsquo.. 23/05/2025
Cartagena shells out €46k to repair Plaza del Galúa viewpoint after just 5 yearsThe stunning La Manga del Mar Menor viewpoint was built in 2020 to commemorate fallen General Air Academy pilots Built in 2020 as a tribute to the General Air Academy pilots who lost their lives during training the previous year, the Plaza del Gal.. 20/05/2025
74-year-old motorist arrested after driving the wrong way for 12 miles on the AP-7 in CartagenaThe same man had been arrested three days earlier for a similar offence on a motorway in Valencia A 74-year-old man has been arrested by the Guardia Civil after driving 20 kilometres in the wrong direction on the AP-7 motorway in the municipality.. 20/05/2025
President of homeowners' association in La Manga ordered to pay €14,000 for biting neighbour's faceThe attack followed a dispute over a water leak between properties and left the victim with part of his cheek missing The Provincial Court of Murcia has sentenced the president of a homeowners’ association in La Manga del Mar Menor to pay &euro.. 19/05/2025
Road closures in Calblanque Regional Park all this weekUntil the end of May, there will be restrictions on local roads due to roadworks From today, Monday May 19, 2025, roadworks begin to improve the infrastructure for public use in the Regional Park of Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña.. 19/05/2025
Spain's first opium poppy plantation bust made by police in CartagenaOfficers arrested two brothers and suspect the plantation was intended to produce heroin “on a large scale” Opium poppies found growing by police in Algeciras in 2022 National Police have discovered an illegal opium plantation.. 15/05/2025
Establishment of Cabo Cope marine reserve nears completionReserves have proven beneficial for commercial fishing and tourism, and this plan would mean Murcia has more than any other Spanish region Cabo Cope Fishing may be an essential productive activity but overfishing can deplete fish populations.. 13/05/2025
Murcia population rises again as immigration drives growth across the RegionNew figures show the Region is one of Spain’s fastest growing, with coastal areas attracting more foreign residents The Region of Murcia continues to experience strong population growth, gaining nearly 17,000 new residents over the past.. 12/05/2025
Murcia gains three more Blue Flags this year, bringing its total to 36Cartagena leads the way with 10 flags, while the Mar Menor misses out for the ninth consecutive year The Region of Murcia will have 36 Blue Flags in summer 2025 – three more than in 2024, including 29 for beaches and seven for marinas. According..
National Geographic's best beaches in Spain for 2025 include one in MurciaThe prestigious magazine has selected 25 of the country’s finest coastal hideways, as well as compiling individual lists for various autonomous regions, including Murcia The summer is almost upon us and as the weather heats up, many of us.. 09/05/2025
Cartagena to install 4 floating pontoons to protect swimmers and the Mar MenorThe temporary walkways will help swimmers avoid sludge while protecting Mar Menor marine life Cartagena City Council is planning to install four floating pontoons along the Mar Menor to make it easier and safer for people to enjoy the water, while.. 09/05/2025
El Portús naturist campsite prepares to reopen without the nudistsThe new site owner plans to open in August, but the campsite is still mired in legal battles, a bitter beach access row and residents who refuse to leave their homes Plans to reopen the El Portús campsite this summer without its traditional.. 08/05/2025
New association unites towns around the Mar Menor under one umbrellaThe collaborative step has been taken to promote local development and shared infrastructure in the area A new association has been formally established to bring together the municipalities that are part of the Campo de Cartagena and Mar Menor area.. 07/05/2025
More than 900 eels released into the Mar MenorA major conservation project aims to study this endangered species and assess the impact of fishing More than 900 eels have been released into the Mar Menor as part of a major project to study and protect the European eel, a species currently classified.. 28/04/2025
La Manga Club sees record-breaking tourism numbersThe resort welcomed over 52,000 guests in 2024, the majority from Europe, following the relaunch of its 5-star Grand Hyatt hotel La Manga Club, the renowned resort in Murcia, has reported a landmark year in 2024, surpassing 52,000 guests and recording.. 24/04/2025
La Manga Life 2025 magazine is out nowA celebration of the La Manga Club community, showcasing local businesses and life around the resort The La Manga Life 2025 magazine has been released and is now available to read online now, while the print copy is due to be distributed and.. 22/04/2025
