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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

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

Murcia's Carlos Alcaraz named World Sportsman of the Year at the 2026 Laureus AwardsThe tennis prodigy from El Palmar was awarded for the 2025 season, which saw him return to world number one and win both Roland Garros and the US Open Carlos Alcaraz was named World Sportsman of the Year on Monday night April 20, at the 2026 Laureus.. 21/04/2026

Summer artisan market confirmed for Plaza Bohemia in La MangaThirty stalls have been approved and the market will focus entirely on handmade crafts and jewellery during the summer months The Cartagena City Council has approved a plan to turn its iconic Plaza Bohemia in La Manga into a dedicated artisan market.. 21/04/2026

Three dead and two survivors rescued from drifting migrant boat off Cartagena coastAuthorities are investigating whether more dead bodies may have been tossed in the sea after the vessel was found adrift for up to 20 days The dangers of crossing the Mediterranean have once again come into sharp focus after a small migrant boat carrying.. 21/04/2026

Murcia photo of the month April 2026Here’s the April image of the month taken by the Los Alcázares Digital Camera Club (LADCC) The word ‘Opposites’ refers to things that are completely different or contrary to each other in meaning, nature or direction.. 21/04/2026

Murcia holds massive land reserves but housing bottleneck remains despite thousands of planned homesStudy reveals over 350,000 potential homes but only a small fraction ready for construction as demand continues to rise The Region of Murcia is sitting on one of the largest housing development potentials in Spain, with enough land identified to theoretically.. 20/04/2026

What happens when local elderly care home residents plant trees in their neighbourhoodCaser Residencial Santo Ángel has joined a city-wide initiative that is blending environmental action with community spirit A few weeks ago, residents of the elderly care and nursing home Caser Residencial Santo Ángel stepped outside.. 20/04/2026

One of Murcia's seaside towns nominated as among the best beach destinations in SpainNational Geographic readers have shortlisted the town alongside some of Spain's most popular coastal destinations As temperatures start to rise and the first warm, spring-like days get people thinking about beach trips again, attention naturally.. 17/04/2026

Cartagena gives green light to replace ageing La Isleta bridge in La MangaThe project will replace the old crossing to the La Isleta Yacht Club with a safer, modern design Plans to rebuild the La Isleta Bridge in La Manga are finally moving forward after Cartagena City Council approved the conditions needed to begin the.. 17/04/2026

Stress testing: Dozens of lorries park on new Alhama de Murcia AVE bridge to test its durabilityLorry load tests on the Murcia-Almería line check the strength of a new viaduct as work continues on the Mediterranean Corridor Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente shared some striking images of load testing on a high-speed.. 17/04/2026

Mar Menor balnearios remain closed for repairs but expected to reopen for summerThe platforms were closed earlier this year after routine inspections picked up clear signs of wear and tear that made them dangerous to use The pantalanes or balnearios, which can be translated as floating walkways or bathing platforms, that are.. 16/04/2026

Cartagena heads to Miami cruise fair with record passenger numbers for 2026Alongside record forecasts for 2026, Cartagena is also presenting plans for a new cruise terminal and ongoing work along the waterfront The port of Cartagena is once again in Miami to promote itself at one of the most important events in the global.. 15/04/2026

Mazarrón backs support space for cancer patients at Cartagena hospitalThe initiative aims to provide a dedicated area for patients and families facing long waits during treatment The Town Hall of Mazarrón has expressed its support for a new social and healthcare initiative at Santa Lucía Hospital in Cartagena.. 15/04/2026

Cartagena street shade plan brought forward ahead of the summer heatThe 'Teselas' project on Calle del Carmen promises to cut temperatures by up to 6°C Anyone who was in Cartagena last summer will probably remember being pretty uncomfortable a lot of the time. Businesses on Calle del Carmen and their customers.. 15/04/2026