Until May 24 San Javier Phoenician shipwreck exhibition at the ARQVA museum in Cartagena
Fenicios, Mercaderes del Mar show some of the items found on board the Bajo de la Campana wreck which was found off the coast of La Manga
The ARQVA national museum of underwater archaeology in Cartagena is holding a special exhibition concerning the Phoenician shipwrecks found off the coast of the Region of Murcia until 24th May, with special emphasis on the wreck known as the “Bajo de la Campana”.
This wreck was discovered by divers off the coast of La Manga del Mar Menor in the municipality of San Javier during the 1950s, and has become one of the most important for learning about Phoenician trading and culture, shedding light on their activities in the Mediterranean in the 7th centuries BC. Only 6 such wrecks have been found, two of them in Puerto de Mazarrón, underlining the importance of what is now the Costa Cálida as they dominated trading in the area so many centuries ago.
The exhibition is entitled “Fenicios. Mercaderes del mar” (Phoenicians, Merchants of the Sea), and the items found on board the wreck, some of them on display on this occasion, included at least 55 elephant tusks bearing inscriptions in the Phoenician alphabet, more than 200 tin ingots (each weighing around a kilo), copper ingots, galena (a soft greyish-blue mineral form of lead sulphide which often contains silver), ceramic materials, amphorae used for transporting all types of liquids from wine and water to fish sauce, pine nuts, luxury goods such as a carved stone pedestal, an ivory knife handle and wooden combs, and everyday items life weights used in bartering.
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier (main contact number 661 572285) or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
