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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

La Manga beachfront residents demand closure of hazardous sea dykeThe Federation of Neighbourhood Associations of Cartagena (FAVCAC) has warned the structure poses a "an obvious danger" to the public Concerned residents living close to Playa de los Alemanes at the beginning of La.. 25/05/2023

Boules, scuba diving, horseriding, skydiving and more alternative activities at Club MMGRClub MMGR, Mar Menor Golf Resort has expanded the facilities and activities on offer to include many new and thrilling experiences In addition to Club MMGR’s onsite facilities which include Basketball, Padel, Gym, CrossFit, Soccer, Mini golf, Swimming..

WATCH: Accusations fly over illegal luxury villas in Cabo de PalosA controversial video claims several “influential” Cartagena figures have ignored planning laws A prominent politician in Cartagena has taken to social media to highlight three “luxury” chalets which have allegedly been extended.. 17/05/2023

Loggerhead turtle released on Calblanque beach, MurciaThe young turtle, an endangered species internationally, was returned to the wild today A loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) was released into the sea today, Tuesday May 16, on the Playa de Calblanque beach after recovering at the El Valle Wildlife.. 16/05/2023

Club MMGR Director of Padel travels to Miami Florida to train and certify new padel coachesClub MMGR Director of Padel and General Manager, Alfonso Sernández, travels to the USA to induct new coaches into the sport of Padel Mar Menor Golf Resort’s Club MMGR Director of Padel and General Manager, Alfonso Sernández, recently travelled..

Two men face 10 years in jail for kidnapping and torturing a man in CartagenaThey are accused of boiling water over the Murcia victim and threatening to cut off his penis over a drug debt Two men aged 19 and 22, accused of kidnapping and torturing a man in Cartagena over an alleged drug debt contracted by his brother.. 15/05/2023

The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club hotel is now openIt’s been a long time coming, but the old Príncipe Felipe Hotel has finally been reopened under a new name The Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa, the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Spain and the luxury brand’s fourth in Europe.. 15/05/2023

Green light for new health clinic in La AzohiaLocals in La Azohía will be pleased that the project is finally moving forward after going so long without a health centre Cartagena City Council has finally given the green light to a project to adapt the premises that they acquired last.. 12/05/2023

Where is the finest view in the Region of Murcia? The regional tourist board names 17 favouritesThere is a huge variety of views, from Yecla in the north to Águilas in the south, but is your favourite on the list? Choosing the best view in the Region of Murcia is an impossible task, partly because everyone is entitled to their own opinion.. 11/05/2023

Pickleball arrives at Club MMGR, Mar Menor Golf ResortThe fast growing sport in the US can now be played at Club MMGR on the new “Pickleball” court Played in 70 countries by 4.8 million players, this badminton/ping-pong/tennis derivative is the fastest growing sport in the USA, and &ldquo..

May and June 2023 Cartagena harbour tours with boat trip includedDiscover the beauty and history of the harbour of Cartagena with Mediterranean Cartagena Tours The fine weather appears to have settled in the Costa Cálida for the summer of 2023 and with it the superb Cartagena Harbour tours run by Mediterranean Cartagena..

Murcia politicians have 50 days to decide whether to extend Mar Menor planning and building moratoriumThe ban on new construction in La Manga del Mar Menor expires on August 3, but parliament has broken up for the next month and a half The parliamentary activity of the Regional Assembly in Murcia has come to an end for this legislature, and in the.. 27/04/2023

Gluten-free meals and a special breakfast offer at La Solana restaurant in La Manga Club!La Solana is the onsite restaurant at the prestigious La Quinta Club in La Manga Club La Solana Bar and Restaurant at La Quinta Club in La Manga Club has recently become the only establishment in the area to be fully recognised and accredited by the Celiac..

Safe and effective laser treatment for warts and moles with Clinica Diaz CaparrosThe CO2 laser removes most skin lesions in just 10 minutes and is virtually painless Warts, moles and seborrheic keratosis (benign skin growth), while not usually considered serious health conditions, can be bothersome and cause patients to feel self.. 25/04/2023

Bathing jetties on Mar Menor beaches will be ready in JuneFor another year running, floating pontoons will be needed to swim in the Mar Menor due to the flotsam and jetsam on the shore The polluted state of the Mar Menor lagoon means that, for yet another year, temporary floating pontoons will have to be.. 25/04/2023

A return to traditional farming: How to save the Mar MenorNew report suggests major changes need to be made to Murcia’s agricultural industry to protect the environment A new study commissioned by the public company Tragsa for Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition has proposed a radical.. 21/04/2023

Leroy Merlin Cartagena Banner March 290 x 290