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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

Eight new Murcia eateries shine with Repsol's 'Soletes'Eight local bars and restaurants in the Region of Murcia have been awarded Soletes, bringing the community’s total to 112 recommended spots The Repsol Soletes, or “Little Suns”, recognise places where quality and warmth meet an affordable..

Cartagena beach bars ready to welcome Easter crowds after last year's paperwork nightmareGood weather and sorted paperwork mean Cartagena is ready to make the most of the holiday rush What a difference a year makes. It was almost full summer in 2025 before the Cartagena beach bars ironed out the paperwork and finally started opening.. 27/03/2026

Brussels to probe Zincsas toxic waste scandal in CartagenaEuropean Parliament set to scrutinise years of local inaction on hazardous site After more than 15 years of complaints from Cartagena residents about dangerous waste from the former Española del Zinc factory, the European Parliament is finally.. 25/03/2026

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Murcia death prompts Spain to tighten cosmetic surgery rulesThe updated regulations aim to stop unqualified practitioners after the high-profile death in Cartagena Spain is tightening its rules on cosmetic surgery following a high-profile death in Murcia that exposed serious gaps in patient safety. .. 25/03/2026

El Portús future plan sparks fresh concern as long-term residents face being written out of its historyA public consultation has opened on a transformation that prioritises tourism at the site, even as long-standing residents continue their fight to remain The future of the El Portús campsite near Cartagena has moved into a decisive new phase.. 24/03/2026

New pedestrian path in La Manga del Mar Menor set to be complete within a monthA 2.1-kilometre stretch of new pavement aims to complete a continuous pedestrian route along the Mar Menor strip Work to connect sections of pavement and promenade in La Manga del Mar Menor is expected to be finished within the next month, according.. 24/03/2026

Murcia Corvera Airport all summer flight destinations 2026: See the full list hereConsult the full schedule of flight destinations available from Murcia airport this summer and when they start This year’s summer high season of flights at the Region of Murcia International Airport begins at the beginning of April, and.. 20/03/2026

Water levels in Spain's reservoirs rise to the highest level in 12 yearsReservoirs across the country continue to fill, with the Segura basin just over half full Even though we haven't necessarily enjoyed this unusually grey and rainy start to the year, the recent rainfall has brought some benefits. Spain&#.. 19/03/2026

Cartagena to keep its street markets open on public holidaysNew council measure aims to support traders, boost neighbourhood commerce, and modernise local markets Street traders across Cartagena are gearing up for a busy Thursday March 19, as the Ayuntamiento launches a new measure allowing markets to open on.. 19/03/2026

Environmental group warns of damage to Cartagena's beaches during the cleaning processLocal environmental experts say heavy machinery is clearing seagrass that's important for keeping beaches healthy and supporting wildlife Beach cleaning in Cartagena is being looked at more closely after concerns were raised about how current.. 18/03/2026

Murcia's northwest ring road to fully open next week after years of constructionFinal 7.6km stretch will complete the bypass linking the A-30 and A-7 and help ease heavy traffic around the city Drivers in the Region of Murcia will soon see the long-awaited completion of a major road project designed to reduce congestion around the.. 17/03/2026

Cartagena bus station set for major makeover after 30 yearsGround floor redesign and possible university use planned as the city modernises a key transport hub Cartagena’s bus station is preparing for a significant overhaul more than three decades after it first opened, with a renovation project aimed at.. 16/03/2026

Floating solar power transforms irrigation in the Campo de CartagenaSpain's largest irrigation solar plant serves 9,500+ farmers and cuts €350,000 from bills Spain's largest floating solar plant owned by an irrigation community has launched on the Cola reservoir in Campo de Cartagena. Inaugurated Thursday.. 13/03/2026

What would happen if a plane crashed at Corvera Airport? Emergency services carry out drill to prepare for the worst case scenarioA dramatic mock plane crash this Thursday was designed to test how emergency services in the Region of Murcia would respond if the worst really happened What looked at first glance like a serious air disaster at the Region of Murcia International.. 12/03/2026

Aldi to expand in Murcia with new stores and 75 jobs plannedGerman discount chain deepens its presence in the region as demand for affordable groceries continues to grow The supermarket chain Aldi is stepping up its presence in the Region of Murcia, with plans to open two new stores and recruit around 75 additional.. 12/03/2026

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