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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

Cabo de Palos lighthouse granted maximum heritage protectionThe iconic Cartagena landmark has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest to ensure its preservation for future generations The lighthouse of Cabo de Palos, one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Murcia coast, has now been granted.. 18/02/2025

Protest called in Cartagena against repeal of LGBT rights lawRights groups are trying to defend their hard-won rights from being taken away in Murcia A rally has been organised outside the Regional Assembly in Cartagena to protest against ongoing attacks and threats from the far right, aimed at pressuring the.. 18/02/2025

Mar Menor municipalities unite for a stronger futureLed by Cartagena, a new association emerges to raise more EU funds and promote local improvements The municipalities of the Campo de Cartagena have joined forces to create a novel association aimed at uniting to achieve common goals, both on home.. 17/02/2025

There will be fewer chiringuitos on Cartagena beaches this summerThe council has reduced the number of beach bar licences and introduced stricter criteria to try to improve quality Cartagena City Council is launching a new tender process for the concession of chiringuito beach bars along its coastline, but.. 12/02/2025

Cartagena Parque ordered to clean up toxic Zinsa lands in TorreciegaCourt ruling confirms company’s responsibility to decontaminate the site of former industrial ponds in El Hondón A court ruling has confirmed that the company Cartagena Parque S.A. must take responsibility for decontaminating the.. 10/02/2025

11 fun holiday activities and affordable rental accommodation at La Manga ClubDiscover an unforgettable holiday at La Manga Club Located in the stunning Region of Murcia, La Manga Club is a paradise for those seeking a mix of relaxation, adventure and world-class facilities. Renowned for its exceptional amenities, the resort..

Murcia and Cartagena train station renovations near completion The improvements to facilities in the Region’s two major cities are nearly finished, despite lengthy delays Cartagena station in 2021 before refurbishment work started The long-awaited refurbishment of the Cartagena and Murcia city.. 07/02/2025

7 hidden gems in the countryside of Murcia!Natural rural treasures in Murcia where you can hear the silent call of Nature this winter! As we tread the same paths and visit the same places day by day the Region of Murcia becomes ever more familiar to us, but do you realize how easy it is to stray.. 30/01/2025

Loss of trees in Murcia towns causing dangerous 'urban heat islands'Murcia’s cities and towns have ever fewer trees, removing shaded areas and increasing the overall temperatures in summer A report from the University of Murcia (UMU) has sounded the alarm over the loss of trees in large cities and urban.. 23/01/2025

Cartagena studies limiting access to Cueva del Agua after diver's deathA 37-year-old woman died while diving in the cave system this weekend, the fifth person who has lost their life there in since 1990 Cartagena City Council is preparing to regulate access to the Cueva del Agua, a renowned cave diving site in.. 21/01/2025

For building jobs big and small on Camposol, trust CM ConstructionQuality construction services with a proven track record Since 2000, CM Construction has been a trusted name on the Camposol Urbanisation, providing high-quality building services for nearly 25 years. Renowned for their professionalism, cleanliness.. 20/01/2025

Expert foot care at Clínica Impulso in MazarrónGet all your foot healthcare needs taken care of at Clínica Impulso Why do we spend generously on our hair, skin and nails while often neglecting the health of our feet? At Clínica Impulso in Mazarrón, Jonathan Méndez..

Issac Peral museum in Cartagena finally set to open its doors to the public after 4 years of renovationsThe Isaac Peral House will display objects, documents and models from the collection of the man himself The museum which will exhibit the life and work of Cartagena inventor Issac Peral, in the house in which he was born, .. 12/12/2024

Popular Café Bar Yemanjá in Cabo de Palos closing for winterCafé Bar Yemanjá will be open again in the spring Café Bar Yemanjá in Cabo de Palos, known for its vibrant summer atmosphere with Latin music and colourful cocktails, will be closing for winter on Sunday December 22 and.. 10/12/2024

Follow the light: a tour of the lighthouses of the Costa Cálida!A seafront tour with a difference sheds light on the history of the coastline of Murcia The Faro del Estacio in La Manga del Mar Menor For millennia lighthouses have stood as guardians of the coastline in civilizations all over the world, shepherding..

6 ways to make the most of the December holidays and Christmas in the Region of MurciaFrom fiestas in Yecla to diving in the Med, passing through wine tours, cultural days out and medieval and Christmas markets in the Region of Murcia With national holidays falling on both 6th and 8th December, and the latter being a Sunday and postponed to..

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