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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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CARTAGENA

Kings College Murcia now offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma ProgrammeThe British school will be the only school in the region offering the IB DP in English King’s College Murcia are offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to further enhance student excellence in the Murcia area. The school..

Streets closed in Cartagena as storms leave flooding around the Mar MenorLos Alcázares and Cabo de Palos are the areas that have been worst affected by the rain so far Up to seven roads have been closed in and around Cartagena due to the rains falling in the Murcia Region this week. The yellow weather warning issued.. 06/10/2022

Costa Blanca bikers blame dangerous bus driver for Murcia accidentOne member of the Costa Blanca Rawhiders MG motorcycle club made a narrow escape after an accident involving a bus last weekend After a scary incident last weekend in which a motorcyclist was almost run over by a bus near Canteras, Murcia, the group.. 05/10/2022

Yellow weather warning around Mazarron and the Mar Menor on Wednesday and ThursdayThe alert has been raised as up to 20mm of rainfall is forecast in one hour A yellow weather alert – the lowest level alert of the yellow-orange-red system used in Spain – has been issued by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) for.. 05/10/2022

Licor 43 Baristo, a unique fusion of Canary Islands coffee and Licor 43Direct sales of Licor 43 Baristo to the public are only at the Experiencia 43 visitors centre One of the hidden jewels in the Canary Islands is the Valley of Agaete, where the extremely rich volcanic soil has been helping locals to grow exquisite coffee beans..

Cartagena neighbourhood plagued by rat and snake infestation blame filthy conditionsResidents living in the Regon of Murcia city's La Vaguada area claim rats have literally taken over the streets and their homes A Cartagena neighbourhood is battling a rat infestation that is reportedly so bad, rodents are invading homes. Residents.. 04/10/2022

Cartagena locals voice strong opposition to new AVE train lineThe groups believe the new train tracks will unfairly divide several Cartagena localities Last month, Adif Alta Velocidad confirmed its plan to run a section of the long-awaited AVE line between Torre Pacheco and Cartagena, a 10-kilometre stretch.. 04/10/2022

Further efforts to ensure that restoration begins of the monastery of San Ginés de la JaraProperty developer Hansa Urbana has been fighting the obligation to restore the monument for years The Urbanismo department of the council of Cartagena has cleared the way for outbuildings around the historic monastery of San Ginés de la Jara, which..

Dead body spotted in the Cabo de Palos Marine ReserveThe corpse was reported floating in the water this morning by a local diving club The lifeless body of a person was found this Monday morning, October 3, in the waters of Cartagena, specifically in the Cabo de Palos Marine Reserve, according to sources.. 03/10/2022

Over 30 degrees, but very wet: Murcia weather forecast October 3-9It will be warm and wet in Murcia this week, with rain forecast almost every single day Welcome to ‘veroño’. It’s not quite verano but it certainly doesn’t feel like otoño autumnal weather. The temperatures are.. 03/10/2022

Green light for more than a dozen solar parks in Mar Menor and Cartagena sparks backlashAccoif action group is up in arms over the granting of licenses for 14 plants in the Region of Murcia municipality Outraged residents and the Alliance of Campo de Cartagena for the Management of Photovoltaic Installations (Accoif) have publicly blasted.. 29/09/2022

Cartagena requests 5 million from EU for new bike lanesThe Murcia municipality also plans to create two new car parks with electric vehicle charging points The Cartagena City Council has once again approached Brussels for a cash injection, this time requesting 5 million euros from Next Generation funds.. 29/09/2022

Alfonso XII reopened to traffic in Cartagena as roadworks continue apaceThe section that was closed for the Plaza Mayor works near the Port has been reopened to traffic The section of the Paseo Alfonso XII in Cartagena next to the port, which was closed since the beginning of August due to the refurbishment works taking.. 26/09/2022

Cartagena Port sails to 100,000 cruises passengers so far this yearThe passenger figures for the port in the Region of Murcia are not yet on a par with 2019, but are on a posititve and encouraging upward trajectory Cartagena Port has already welcomed 100,000 cruise passengers so far this year (as of the end of August.. 26/09/2022

Licor 43 offers new chocolate liqueur at the Experiencia 43 visitors centre just outside CartagenaLicor 43 Chocolate can be purchased only in selected restaurants and at Experiencia 43! For seventy-six years Licor 43, produced in Cartagena, has been one of the most popular liqueurs in Spain, proving to be an international success as it has been marketed..

Murcia and Alicante trains to Madrid only stop at Chamartin and not Atocha from today onwardsThe trains from Alicante to the Spanish capital, which are the only option for passengers from Murcia, now stop 20 minutes further from the centre of Madrid As of today, Tuesday September 13, most of the trains to Madrid from Alicante and Murcia will.. 13/09/2022