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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

Espacio Mediterráneo has activities all this month for International Water DayYoung people and families are encouraged to join in the sustainability and environmental workshops this March Since March is the month of Sustainability and the Environment, and on the occasion of the International Water Day celebrated on March 22.. 20/03/2025

Firefighters rescue greyhound from the waters of Cartagena portA dramatic chase ended with the dog being saved after it jumped into the sea and began swimming towards the shipyard A tense but ultimately happy ending unfolded in the port of Cartagena early on Tuesday morning, March 18, when firefighters managed.. 20/03/2025

Cartagena recovers over a thousand tons of sand to restore beachesWinter beach restoration work completed along key coastal areas The Cartagena City Council has completed its winter beach restoration programme, recovering over 1,000 tons of sand from the sea to regenerate the beaches of Los Nietos and La Gola. The.. 19/03/2025

Cartagena's bike lanes set for expansion with new projectsThe city’s cycle network has more than doubled since 2021, with further improvements on the way Cycling in Cartagena has come a long way in recent years. Once a challenge due to the lack of safe routes, the city has seen its bike lane.. 18/03/2025

Summer flight destinations for 2025 at Murcia Corvera Airport: Complete list of routesThe summer 2025 flight schedule for Murcia Airport includes 18 destinations across Spain and abroad The Region of Murcia International Airport will operate 18 regular flights during the upcoming summer season, which begins on March 30, 2025. .. 17/03/2025

Dead dolphin found on the beach of El Lastre in La UniónThe remains were taken to the Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre de El Valle, in Murcia A dolphin has been removed from where it washed up on the sand of the Playa del Lastre beach in La Unión, according to the local Civil Protection.. 17/03/2025

Proposal for new caravan area near central CartagenaPolitical parties have called for a structured response to the growing motorhome tourism in the municipality The opposition party in Cartagena’s city council is pushing for the creation of a new municipal area for motorhomes near the city centre.. 13/03/2025

Two Murcia municipalities see rental prices increase by more than 17 per centSan Pedro del Pinatar and Mazarrón are now two of the most expensive places in the Region of Murcia to rent a property With rent prices across Spain now off the charts, it’s never been more difficult to secure a long-term tenancy in this.. 10/03/2025

Cartagena's municipal kennel to become a training hub for police and rescue dogsRenovation project will provide specialised facilities for canine units assisting in security and emergency response The Department of Public Safety has initiated the refurbishment of Cartagena's municipal dog pound. This project aims to.. 10/03/2025

A beloved Cabo de Palos bar is reopening this weekRegular customers are excited at the return of a Cabo de Palos staple this March Café Bar Yemanjá in Cabo de Palos, overlooking the waterfront between Cartagena and La Manga del Mar Menor, is a popular spot for brunch, lunch and drinks.. 10/03/2025

Three new Padel courts coming to La Manga ClubThere are several exciting developments in sports, security and financial stability for 2025 at La Manga Club La Manga Club’s Racquets Club is experiencing high demand, prompting an expansion of its Padel facilities. In response, three additional.. 10/03/2025

Murcia's campsites break records as international visitors drive tourism boomOvernight stays have soared to historic highs as foreign tourists flock to the Region Murcia’s campsites are thriving, with January 2025 marking a record-breaking month for overnight stays. According to data from the National Institute.. 04/03/2025

Shot with his own gun? Grisly details emerge of man found dead outside La Manga ClubA shot to the heart, a pistol metres away and unanswered questions: Mystery surrounds the death of a businessman at La Manga Club The Guardia Civil have released more details about their investigation into the mysterious death of Joaquín M... 04/03/2025

Police catch killers of two Brits in La Manga speedboat crash last yearThere is justice for the victims of the La Manga del Mar Menor motorway crash as 17 people have been arrested in a human trafficking and drug smuggling operation linked to the fatal accident Police in Spain have dismantled a criminal organisation.. 27/02/2025

10 sites to see prehistoric rock art in the Region of MurciaFrom Yecla and Moratalla in the north to Isla Plana in the south, Murcia was home to cave-dwelling artists as long as 10,000 years ago Hidden away in caves and rock shelters of the Murcia countryside is evidence that the forefathers of modern humans inhabited..

El Portús campsite developers push ahead with allegedly unauthorised constructionResidents of the recently renamed campsite are facing a renewed battle to keep their homes as potentially illegal mobile homes spring up on the site The long-running conflict between the residents of El Portús Naturist Campsite and its corporate.. 24/02/2025