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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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Los Alcázares proposes common front for the removal of mud and seaweed from the Mar MenorMayor Mario Pérez Cervera leads an initiative to unite the four Town Halls affected in combating the duckweed in the lagoon The accumulation of algae is a problem which affects water quality in many areas of the Mar Menor, and at the latest meeting.. 24/04/2026

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Snap up a last-minute deal for half-term or the summer holidays in Murcia, SpainRent a villa on the most luxury golf course in sunny southeast Spain, from Rent La Manga Club Families looking to escape the UK this half-term or secure an early summer break in Spain still have time to find a quality stay in one of the country.. 24/04/2026

Murcia to spend €1 million buying land to safeguard the Mar MenorThe Region of Murcia government is focusing on plots of land that can act as natural filters around the lagoon The regional government of Murcia has announced plans to spend €1 million this year buying up land around the Mar Menor in the latest.. 23/04/2026

Cruise ship recovers five bodies off the coast of Cabo de PalosPolice are investigating whether the victims were passengers on a migrant boat found adrift near Cartagena earlier this week Crew members on board the Sapphire Princess cruise ship made a grim discovery late on Tuesday April 21 when they spotted five.. 22/04/2026

La Manga businesses demand urgent shake-up of beach rules and tighter jet ski controlsWith summer just around the corner, businesses want to see an end to the '50-metre rule' and a much firmer hand with jet skis in the Mar Menor Business owners in La Manga are calling for an urgent rethink of beach rules, warning that.. 22/04/2026

Cabo de Palos lighthouse makeover begins with new viewpoints and improved accessMajor €467,000 project aims to make one of Murcia’s most iconic coastal spots safer, greener and easier to enjoy Work has officially begun to transform the area around the Cabo de Palos lighthouse, with a €467,000 investment set to improve.. 21/04/2026