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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

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La Azohía, Cartagena and Cabo de Palos in a national TV documentary on Sunday!Beautiful aerial shots of the Cartagena coastline and the historic city itself The La 2 channel of Spain’s national televisión broadcaster RTVE is showing a documentary on Sunday morning on the city of Cartagena and the coastline of the large.. 13/03/2026

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A fresh coat of sand for Cartagena's coastline before EasterFive beaches, including La Manga and Los Nietos, will be widened in time for the first holiday visitors The Cartagena Town Hall is currently working to add extra sand to five local beaches before the Easter break. Los Nietos, La Manga, Islas Menores.. 11/03/2026

SOS Mar Menor burger wins 'Audacious' award at National Burger ChampionshipThe unusual burger created by Fran Guerrero picked up a national award for originality at the Spanish National Burger Championship A burger inspired by the Mar Menor has picked up a national award for creativity at the Spanish National Burger Championship.. 11/03/2026

Hundreds of families at Villas Caravaning left in limbo as legal battle loomsResidents demand court oversight as safety concerns and unpaid bills leave the campsite in crisis The long-running problems at Villas Caravaning in La Manga have now reached the courts. The Residents' Association has announced it will request.. 10/03/2026

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Murcia's secondary school teachers must have a higher level of English from next yearFrom the 2026-2027 school year, secondary school teachers who want to teach in bilingual classes in Murcia will need to reach a C1 English certificate Starting next school year, secondary school teachers in Murcia will have to reach the C1 level.. 09/03/2026

Take the Circular Challenge at Espacio MediterráneoFun giveaways, an Earth Hour activity and a fresh digital challenge to make March more meaningful This March, Espacio Mediterráneo in Cartagena invites you to do something a little different while you shop - to think green, have fun and maybe even.. 09/03/2026

March Madness at La Palmera Bar & Grill: great food, live entertainment and legendary Sunday roastsThe popular Los Urrutias venue is the perfect spot for Mother’s Day, Easter gatherings and relaxed meals with friends and family March is shaping up to be a busy and exciting month at La Palmera Bar & Grill in Estrella de Mar, Los Urrutias.. 07/03/2026

A century of change: The journey of Spanish women at workAs International Women’s Day approaches, the evolution of women’s working lives in Spain reveals how resilience, reform and education reshaped the country’s workforce. As Spain prepares to mark International Women’s Day on March.. 06/03/2026

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