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Cartagena has started a lively transformation ahead of the Carthaginians and Romans Festival, with the city set to receive a total of 12,000 fresh plants as part of a bold beautification plan. Organised by the Cartagena City Council’s Parks and Gardens Department, the initiative is designed to add colour and visual delight to the main festival venues, ensuring a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for visitors and locals alike.

 

So far, around 3,500 ornamental plants have already been placed, and thousands more are due to follow. The varieties chosen, such as Celosia Dragon, Celosia Flamma, Zinnia Profusion, Coleus, and Salvia, promise a wide spectrum of colours and enduring freshness that will last well throughout the celebrations. These flowers have mainly been planted in the areas where festival events and parades take place, so the festive streets and squares will look particularly eye-catching this year.

 

The Carthaginians and Romans Festival is held every September to commemorate the city’s fascinating history, taking locals and visitors back to the time of the Second Punic War. It’s a lively tradition inspired by legendary events - from the founding of ancient Qart Hadast by the Carthaginians in 227 BC, to the famed siege and conquest by Roman general Scipio Africanus in 209 BC. The festival is packed full of colourful parades, theatrical re-enactments and a huge camp next to the stadium, all bringing Cartagena’s ancient civilizations to life.

 

This burst of colour not only brings life to the city’s most emblematic festival spots, but also aims to enhance the experience for the thousands of visitors who come to enjoy Cartagena’s unique historical festivities. Declared of International Tourist Interest, the Carthaginians and Romans Festival shines a light on Cartagena’s rich past and gives residents and tourists plenty of reasons to celebrate. This floral makeover adds a fresh touch to the city’s Roman and Carthaginian legacy, making this year’s event all the more inviting.

 

With the transformation well underway, locals and holidaymakers can look forward to a Cartagena bursting with colour as the city prepares to tell its story once more through parades, battles, and centuries-old traditions.

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena