September 13 to 18 The torch of the Carthagineses y Romanos fiestas in Cartagena sets out this year from Elche de la Sierra

A 230-km route including Cieza, Ricote and Alhama de Murcia will be covered in 5 stages from the Amilcar Barca viewing point to Cartagena

The 2026 Carthagineses y Romanos fiestas in Cartagena, which enjoy International Tourist Interest status, begin in the city on Friday September 18, but prior to that the Olympic-style torch with its sacred flame (“Iter Ignis”) will be carried by runners on five stages from the town of Elche de la Sierra, in the province of Albacete. The exact starting point is the viewing point of Amilcar Barca, named after the father of Hannibal: it is believed that Hamilcar (as he is known in English) was buried in Elche de la Sierra!

The town later became one of the most important settlements in the area under Roman rule.

This is one of the longest journeys so far for the torch and the route covers a distance of 230 km from the supposed resting place of Hamilcar, and along the way it passes through Hellín and Fuente Álamo before undertaking the final leg, recreating one of the routes which were used in the last centuries BC.

Images: Ayto Cartagena, Wikipedia (public domain)

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.