June 21 Guided visit to the Modernist villa of Huerto de las Bolas in Cartagena

An architectural jewel created outside the city of Cartagena in the Modernist style

A series of guided visits, events and exhibitions are being held in Cartagena this spring to celebrate the city’s Modernist heritage, dating from the influx of wealth around the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, and among them is this guided visit to the country villa of El Huerto de las Bolas in the northern outskirts of the city.

This is one of the most eye-catching and yet little-known buildings in Cartagena and is a mix of a summer home for the wealthy 125 years ago and an ornamental garden. There are fruit orchards and an aviary alongside the residence, which was built by the Llagostera family, recently arrived from Catalunya to prosper in the boom brought about by the mines of the Sierra Minera.

It is now on the edge of the out-of-town Santa Ana residential development and is a fine example of the “trencadis” or broken-tile mosaic technique favoured by artistic architects such as Antonio Gaudí, and the recently restored viewing area is one of the highlights.

The intention of this visit is to make more people aware of the architectural attractions of the building, and the two guided tours begin at 10.00 and 11.15 on Sunday 21^st June. Car parking is available at the Restaurante Casa Beltrí, accessed along Calle Pisa, and online bookings will be made available here from 5^th to 20^th June.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the Cartagena section of Murcia Today.