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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

Red alert issued in Murcia as storms bring flooding and disruption across SpainTorrential rain has caused flooding, travel disruption and thousands of emergency call-outs across eastern Spain, with one man confirmed dead after his vehicle was swept away by floodwater in Barcelona Storms have caused flooding and major disruption.. 17/09/2026

Cartagena bus drivers plan fresh strike over alleged unpaid rest daysUGT says staff are at breaking point as it calls for action over pay, overcrowding and digital tickets Cartagena’s city buses could face fresh disruption next week after UGT announced a programme of strike action over what it says are unpaid rest.. 17/09/2026

Cartagena gets ready to welcome 120,000 cruise passengers as huge autumn season gets underwayIt’s looking like October will be the busiest month with 39 ships scheduled to call at the port of Cartagena Cartagena is gearing up for a bumper autumn cruise season, with 85 ship visits scheduled between September and November and a combined.. 17/09/2026

Three Murcia restaurants shortlisted for Spain's top new restaurant awardThe three restaurants are among 41 restaurants shortlisted for the 2025 TheFork Awards Three restaurants from the Region of Murcia have been shortlisted for a national award celebrating some of Spain's best new restaurants. Pepe Juan Barra.. 16/09/2026

Here's your chance to EAT the Roman Theatre in Cartagena!Cartagena's famous monument has been recreated in chocolate, giving visitors a very tasty new souvenir to take home Fancy taking a bite out of one of Cartagena's most famous landmarks? You can now do exactly that, with the city's Roman.. 16/09/2026

Storm warnings in the Murcia Region as temperatures drop by up to 10 degreesYellow weather warnings are in place for storms and heavy rain, while temperatures could fall by up to 10 degrees in parts of the Region within 24 hours After days of late-summer heat,the Region of Murcia is about to see a change in the weather.. 16/09/2026

Spanish property prices are rising three times faster than wagesProperty values have risen by 36.3% in three years, while salaries have increased by just 12.3%, making it harder for buyers to save for a deposit Buying a property in Spain is getting harder as prices continue to rise much faster than wages. Property..

Cartagena-Madrid rail link moves closer to reopening as works enter final stagesThe Government says the Cartagena-Chinchilla line is almost ready to reopen, following a 12,000-signature campaign calling for the return of direct passenger services The long-awaited reopening of the railway line between Cartagena and Chinchilla.. 15/09/2026

Espacio Mediterráneo is turning back-to-school season into something to look forward toThe Cartagena shopping centre is hosting a pop-up spa experience this September, with free hand massages, prizes and a wishing tree September has a funny way of arriving. One minute you're enjoying the last of the summer, the next the alarm.. 15/09/2026

Baby seahorses make a comeback in the Mar Menor after years of declineMore sightings and a wave of juveniles are giving Mar Menor conservationists fresh hope for the lagoon's seahorses Just a year ago, the outlook for the Mar Menor's seahorses looked grim. During 17 monitoring dives in 2025, researchers found.. 15/09/2026

12,000 signatures call for the return of the Cartagena-Madrid train serviceThe service was suspended more than four years ago, with campaigners now calling on the Government to set a firm date for the return of passenger trains A campaign to restore the direct train between Cartagena and Madrid has now reached the Spanish.. 14/09/2026

Thinking of buying in Spain? Just Murcia Property says September could be the time to actWith strong demand for homes in the Region of Murcia, expert local knowledge is more valuable than ever For many people, a summer holiday in Spain is when the idea of owning a home here starts to feel like a real possibility. After weeks spent enjoying.. 14/09/2026

New international flight announced for Corvera airport from March 2027The new flight will operate three times a week from March 30, giving passengers another direct option for European travel Murcia's regional president Fernando López Miras has announced a new direct flight connection from the Region of.. 14/09/2026

Murcia photo of the month September 2026Here’s the September image of the month taken by the Los Alcázares Digital Camera Club (LADCC) LADCC’S monthly competition, entitled ‘Golden Hour’, proved a great challenge to many as this light is only seen up.. 14/09/2026

Storm chaos sweeps across Spain as torrential rain triggers widespread floodingA 63-year-old woman died in Mallorca as torrential rain causes flooding, cancelled flights and travel disruption across the Mediterranean After a week that began with intense heat, Spain has seen a dramatic change in the weather, with thunderstorms.. 11/09/2026

Two new green filters will tackle nitrate pollution around the Mar MenorThe facilities in El Albujón and Los Alcázares will treat up to 1.5 million cubic metres of groundwater each year The government has approved the first two green filters planned as part of the project to protect the Mar Menor, with the.. 11/09/2026

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