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Welcome ToCARTAGENA
A must do visitThe Roman TheatreCartagenaClick Here for more information
Welcome ToCARTAGENA
Mazarron Murcia News & Lifestyle info in English for Mazarron Murcia Spain HOME > MURCIA MAR MENOR & CARTAGENA > CARTAGENAThe 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.
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.
SELECT A SUBJECT OR READ THE LATEST TOWN ARTICLES BELOWWhats On CartagenaCartagena Local News Places to visit Cartagena CityPlaces to visit outlying districtsWhere to Eat CartagenaSemana Santa, Fiestas, TraditionsHistory of CartagenaCartagenaCartagena beachesMedical Info, Doctors and HospitalsPolice, Town hall, Useful InfoPublic spaces and cultural venuesMonuments, churches and plazasLocations with Military ConnectionsTourist Information and ParkingCartagena Cruise ShipsShopping and markets CartagenaProperty Cartagena municipalityCARTAGENA
Whats On CartagenaCartagena Local News Places to visit Cartagena CityPlaces to visit outlying districtsWhere to Eat CartagenaSemana Santa, Fiestas, TraditionsHistory of CartagenaCartagenaCartagena beachesMedical Info, Doctors and HospitalsPolice, Town hall, Useful InfoPublic spaces and cultural venuesMonuments, churches and plazasLocations with Military ConnectionsTourist Information and ParkingCartagena Cruise ShipsShopping and markets CartagenaProperty Cartagena municipality
Highway robbery: southern Spain toll charges spike just in time for summerThe AP-7 from Alicante to Cartagena costs 76% more between June and September than the rest of the year As if soaring grocery bills, sky-high fuel costs and rising electricity prices weren’t enough, now drivers in Spain are being slapped with.. 31/07/2025
Swimming banned on Mar Menor beaches after worrying water analysisLifeguards raised the red flags on these beaches to stop people going in the water as a precautionary measure Swimming in the water has been temporarily banned off the Playa de la Gola beach in La Manga del Mar Menor and Playa Paraíso beach.. 31/07/2025
Bomb squad evacuates Cartagena beachA potentially lethal naval flare discovered by a hiker triggered the closure of Cala Dorada A peaceful hike through one of Cartagena's most beautiful natural areas turned into a military emergency operation when a Navy member stumbled upon what.. 31/07/2025
Free parking in Cartagena blue zones from August 1Throughout the month, parking tickets are only required on weekdays between 9am and 2pm August has arrived and that means that many coveted parking spots in Cartagena will be completely free during certain hours. The annual summer arrangement.. 31/07/2025
These are the 5 most expensive and exclusive homes in Cartagena, with an asking price of up to €3.5 million!From penthouses to palatial villas, here’s a glimpse into what top-tier living looks like in Cartagena Let’s be honest, we all love a nosey at how the other half live. So if you’ve ever wondered what a million euros (or more) could buy.. 28/07/2025
€250,000 water pipe upgrades for Islas Menores, Mar de Cristal and Los NietosMore than one kilometre of ageing sewer pipe infrastructure has been renewed in these three Cartagena districts The regional government has completed the rehabilitation of over one kilometre of sewerage pipes in the Cartagena coastal towns of Islas.. 28/07/2025
Los Nietos residents plan protest march in Cartagena to call for fairer treatmentResidents are demanding long-promised and much-needed improvements from Cartagena City Council, which they accuse of ignoring and forgetting them The residents of Los Nietos are preparing to march through Cartagena on Thursday July 31 in protest at.. 25/07/2025
New life for Cartagena's Galeras Mountain in major green projectCartagena Council plans to reforest Galeras with native trees and restore historic sites using European funding Cartagena’s Galeras Mountain is set for a green transformation, as the local council prepares a major reforestation and restoration.. 24/07/2025
La Manga Club and Cartagena IBI frozen for another 12 monthsResidential property tax held steady as Cartagena council renews its incentives for investment and job creation Cartagena’s City Council has approved its Fiscal Ordinances for 2025-2026, confirming the freeze on the residential property tax (.. 22/07/2025
Boy, 9, one of two in ICU after boat propeller accident in La MangaThe child and his aunt were seriously injured while swimming near Ensenada del Esparto A 9-year-old boy is in a serious condition in the paediatric intensive care unit at the Virgen de La Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia after being struck by the propeller.. 21/07/2025
Plans move ahead for new marine reserve around Cabo CopeRamonete and Puntas de Calnegre residents have been invited to share their input on the project Lorca City Council will hold a meeting with residents of Ramonete and Puntas de Calnegre next week to discuss plans for a new Marine Reserve of Fisheries.. 18/07/2025
This is Marena Murray, the La Manga Club property experts who have been opening doors to luxury lifestyle for over 30 yearsThe La Manga Club real estate experts who offer lifestyle and community with holiday rents, property sales, management services and more at the luxury golf and tennis resort For over three decades, Marena Murray estate agency has been at the heart of La..
Cartagena to be flooded with cruise passengers this ThursdayThree liners with 9,000 tourists on board are due to stop over in the city’s port The cruise liner season for Cartagena will hit its peak this Thursday July 17 with the arrival of three liners bringing almost 9,000 tourists. July is.. 16/07/2025
Summer adventures with Taquilla TicketsFive unforgettable trips through the Region of Murcia and beyond If you’re looking to make the most of your summer in the sun, Taquilla Tickets has you covered. This local, family-run business has been organising fun, accessible trips for the.. 15/07/2025
The best nudist beaches in the Region of MurciaGo bare by the sea at these peaceful Costa Cálida coves You may have done it already, or maybe you’re just curious, but at some point most people have wondered what it would be like to spend a day at the beach with nothing but the sea.. 14/07/2025
First loggerhead turtle nest of summer found in CalblanqueVolunteers uncover 75 turtle eggs and launch 2025 nesting season in Murcia Early on Sunday morning July 13, volunteers from the “Turtle Territory 2025” project discovered the first loggerhead turtle tracks of the season on Calblanque.. 14/07/2025
