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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

Swarm of earthquakes makes the Costa Blanca and Murcia trembleA dozen offshore tremors recorded in the south of the province yesterday and this morning A total of 12 small earthquakes occurred nearby off the southern Costa Blanca within a few hours of each other between Monday evening and this morning... 08/08/2025

A dip in the Med for everyone: Cartagena expands free assisted bathing this summerSan Ginés, Playa Honda and La Manga beaches now offer daily support for swimmers with reduced mobility Cartagena has stepped up its commitment to inclusive beaches this summer by expanding its free assisted bathing service across three.. 08/08/2025

Shark sighting sparks beach drama in MazarrónBathers rush out of the water as two-metre shark swims close to the shore in Puerto de Mazarrón Swimmers enjoying a sunny afternoon at La Reya beach in Puerto de Mazarrón got quite a shock on Thursday August 7 when a shark, estimated.. 08/08/2025

Las Dunas shopping centre in Cartagena should be ready in a yearA huge new Mercadona in the centre of Cabo de Palos is one of the most anticipated additions Cranes, concrete and construction workers are a constant sight in Cabo de Palos this summer as work on the new Mercadona supermarket charges ahead. .. 08/08/2025

Lifeguards in Murcia carry out 13,000 beach assists in JulyFewer rescues and first aid treatments, but more people needing help or information Lifeguards and rescue crews in the Region of Murcia carried out over 13,000 interventions in July, according to new figures released under the region’s.. 06/08/2025

Dead cow at Altea beach is second on Costa Blanca in less than a weekCases are so far unexplained but cargo ships carrying livestock have been blamed for previous similar incidents A dead cow in the sea at a beach is an unpleasant surprise for bathers but is not as uncommon as you may think. The severely decomposed.. 06/08/2025

Decrepit La Manga bridge to be replacedHalf a million euros assigned to ensure safe access to La Isleta nautical club, marina and housing The bridge to La Isleta in La Manga del Mar Menor is to be replaced by Cartagena city hall at a cost of over half a million euros. The project.. 05/08/2025

Cartagena beach bars face 20% sales drop under new coastal rulesUnder the new regulations, sun loungers must be situated at least 50 metres from the chiringuitos It’s been a chaotic summer for the chiringuitos in Cartagena. After months of uncertainty, delays and endless paperwork, the beach bars finally.. 05/08/2025

July brought the most rain in 40 years to the Region of MurciaIt was also one of the hottest on record across Murcia, with heatwaves and tropical nights dominating the month It is not every year that a month manages to be both one of the wettest and one of the hottest on record, but that is exactly what happened.. 05/08/2025

Murcia photo of the month August 2025Here’s the top image of the month taken by the Los Alcázares Digital Camera Club (LADCC) For many LADCC members, the prospect of a morning’s photographic outing to the beautiful city of Cartagena was too good to miss, or was.. 01/08/2025

Hundreds march in Cartagena to demand more public investment in Los NietosResidents say they are tired of empty promises and being treated as “second-class citizens” Over 350 residents of Los Nietos marched through the streets of Cartagena this Thursday to protest against what they describe as ongoing neglect.. 01/08/2025

Highway robbery: Southern Spain toll charges spike just in time for summerThe AP-7 from Alicante to Cartagena costs 76% more between June and September than the rest of the year As if soaring grocery bills, sky-high fuel costs and rising electricity prices weren’t enough, now drivers in Spain are being slapped with.. 31/07/2025

Bomb squad evacuates Cartagena beachA potentially lethal naval flare discovered by a hiker triggered the closure of Cala Dorada A peaceful hike through one of Cartagena's most beautiful natural areas turned into a military emergency operation when a Navy member stumbled upon what.. 31/07/2025

Free parking in Cartagena blue zones from August 1Throughout the month, parking tickets are only required on weekdays between 9am and 2pm August has arrived and that means that many coveted parking spots in Cartagena will be completely free during certain hours. The annual summer arrangement.. 31/07/2025

These are the 5 most expensive and exclusive homes in Cartagena, with an asking price of up to €3.5 million!From penthouses to palatial villas, here’s a glimpse into what top-tier living looks like in Cartagena Let’s be honest, we all love a nosey at how the other half live. So if you’ve ever wondered what a million euros (or more) could buy.. 28/07/2025

€250,000 water pipe upgrades for Islas Menores, Mar de Cristal and Los NietosMore than one kilometre of ageing sewer pipe infrastructure has been renewed in these three Cartagena districts The regional government has completed the rehabilitation of over one kilometre of sewerage pipes in the Cartagena coastal towns of Islas.. 28/07/2025

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