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Cartagena Today

Introduction to 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 Military Naval base today, as well as boasting a rich heritage of Military patrimony.The History of Cartagena charts it's development and the cultures which have shaped it today.

The City is developing 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, Augusteum , the Molinete and other well preserved Roman buildings and Museums, major investment into extending the port creating a new market for cruise tourism.

However the port is also a major focal point for commercial activity, and the Escombreras Industrial area has attracted major businesses with the Repsol refinery, SABIC petrochemicals and Holcim concrete plants confined within a concealed industrial zone. Cartagenais also the home of the Regional Assembly.

The Campo de Cartagena is a major agricultural employer, flat irrigated areas producing salad crops, peppers, potatoes and courgettes, whilst non-irrigated crops include olives, carobs and almonds.

The more mountainous pedanías of Cartagena boast extensive areas of wild beaches, stretching around the coastline to Cabo de Palos, where the La Manga strip encloses the Mar Menor, giving Cartagena an extensive offering of prime sandy beaches with safe bathing conditions in Europe's largest saltwater lake.

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

Cartagena Spain has a rich cultural offering, with an important Semana Santa, the Romans and Carthaginians Fiestas, Carnival, the Mar de Músicas and Cartagena Jazz festivals, the newly inaugurated El Batel auditorium and congress centre promising an enriched cultural programme.

Where is Cartagena Spain?

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, as well as Industrial centre.

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

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

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16 Cartagena beaches prepare to host weddings in 2023The coastal Cartagena beauty spots will be available for nuptials and other tourist events Earlier this year, in response to suggestions from residents, Cartagena city council promised that more beaches would be made available for seaside weddings.. 04/07/2022

Beach weddings to be permitted at 16 locations in Cartagena as of January 2023No summer weddings will be authorized at Cartagena beaches to reduce the inconvenience to bathers The Town Hall of Cartagena has announced that permission is to be given for weddings to be celebrated at 16 locations along the coastline of the municipality..

26 lifeguard points up and running at Cartagena beaches for the peak summer season90 staff on duty at the Mar Menor and Mediterranean beaches of Cartagena during July and August With July under way the summer 2022 beach safety and lifeguard is fully operational at beaches in the municipality of Cartagena, lookout points now being manned..

Weekly summer markets under way in Isla Plana, La Azohia, Los Nietos, Islas Menores and Los UrrutiasThe Cartagena beach markets run this year until September 15 Last Friday July 1 saw the reopening of the summer weekly markets in coastal towns and villages of the municipality of Cartagena, with the first two being held in Islas Menores and Isla Plana and..

Bathers save a 67-year-old drowning woman at Cartagena beachMembers of the public pulled the unconscious woman from the sea at La Azohía beach in the Murcia municipality The rapid response of fellow bathers helped save the life of a drowning woman at La Azohía beach in Cartagena on Tuesday afternoon.. 29/06/2022

Deep Purple to top the bill at the 2023 Rock Imperium Fest in CartagenaThe first edition of Rock Imperium brought 40,000 visitors to Cartagena this weekend Following the huge success of the Rock Imperium Fest this weekend in Cartagena, when around 40,000 rock fans congregated in the Parque El Batel to see acts including.. 27/06/2022

Carnage in Cartagena on San Juan with burning bins and police altercationsPolice in riot gear quickly and peacefully resolved the disruptions that erupted in several Cartagena neighbourhoods When the Region of Murcia should have been enjoying the return of the San Juan bonfires and parties after two years of the pandemic.. 24/06/2022

Restoration and conversion project to go ahead at the spectacular Fortaleza de Bocaoria in Campillo de AdentroThe spaghetti western-style building has mystified visitors to the guns of Castillitos for many years! The Town Hall of Cartagena has issued a licence for a project to renovate a building in the tiny hamlet of Campillo de Adentro which has fascinated.. 24/06/2022

73-year-old rescued from Britannia cruise ship and taken to hospital in CartagenaThe man had to be evacuated from the P&O liner in Murcia waters after suffering a health problem A 73-year-old man had to be rescued in an emergency boat by the Spanish coastguard from the Britannia cruise ship this Wednesday, June 22, after he.. 23/06/2022

Youths and police clash in violent Cartagena street battleBurned garbage containers, vandalised police cars and injured officers as young people at street party turn violent Murcia Police are investigating a pitched battle that took place last night on the streets of the city of Cartagena, where police clashed.. 21/06/2022

Cartagena Town Hall proposes new urban beach at the mouth of the harbourThe beach will be created alongside the Fuerte de Navidad which guarded the bay of Cartagena The Town Hall of Cartagena has outlined a scheme to create a new semi-urban beach in the area of El Espalmador, alongside the winding road which leads out to the Fuerte..

Caldero, the chief culinary speciality of Cabo de Palos and the Mar MenorOne of the most iconic dishes of the Costa Cálida shows that expensive ingredients are not needed to create an unforgettable sensation for the taste buds! No visit to the Costa Cálida is complete without sampling the local cuisine, which is promoted..

Green light for further archaeological excavation of the Molinete hill in CartagenaThe Molinete is already home to the Roman Forum museum and the latest dig will focus on the Morería district of Cartagena Over the last 30 years or so more and more of the ancient past of the city of Cartagena has come to light, with excavations..

Corvera airport summer bus service starts today with a new timetableThe times for the bus line, which now connects Murcia city and Cartagena with Corvera airport, have changed from what was first announced The long-awaited bus service between Cartagena, Murcia and Corvera airport finally starts today, Wednesday June.. 15/06/2022

Top snorkelling sites in the Region of MurciaCrystalline Mediterranean waters and spectacular scenery and marine life make for great snorkelling beaches in the Costa Cálida Now that the heat of summer has reached the Costa Cálida there is no better way to cool down than with a dip..

Plaza Bohemia summer market in La Manga open every evening until September 15For many years the market has been a focal point of activity in La Manga del Mar Menor The Town Hall of Cartagena has confirmed that the arts and crafts market in Plaza Bohemia, which has been a focal point of summer activity in La Manga del Mar Menor for..