Cartagena, Naval port city in Murcia, Spain.
Description
This coastal settlement sits on a natural Mediterranean harbor ringed by four hills and protected by old fortifications. The historic core runs from the waterfront to the slopes of Castillo de la Concepción, with a Roman theatre from the 1st century BCE.
History
Carthaginian general Hasdrubal founded the settlement in 227 BCE under the name Qart Hadasht. Romans took it in 209 BCE and renamed it Carthago Nova, developing the harbor into a major fleet base.
Culture
The National Museum of Underwater Archaeology displays shipwrecks and trade goods from every period of the harbor's past. Around Plaza del Ayuntamiento, narrow streets run past Art Nouveau mansions standing beside older facades from the 18th century.
Practical
A walk through the old town connects the Roman theatre, Byzantine wall, hilltop fortress and Art Nouveau buildings along Calle Mayor. Most landmarks lie within the compact center and are reachable on foot.
Did you know?
Silver mines near La Unión once supplied metal for Carthaginian coins and later for Roman campaigns. An underground network of tunnels and shafts still runs beneath the hills south of the city.
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Sierra minera de Cartagena-La Unión
10.9 km
Roman Theatre of Cartagena
272 m
Batería de Castillitos
13.9 km
Parque Regional de Calblanque
20.7 km
Carthago Nova amphitheatre
384 m
Sierra de la Muela, Cabo Tiñoso y Roldán
12.8 km
Reserva Marina de Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas
29.9 km
Cape Palos Lighthouse
26.2 km
Batería de Cenizas
14.5 km
La Manga Club
16 km
Castle of La Concepción
265 m
City Hall of Cartagena, Spain
371 m
Punic wall of Cartagena
550 m
Cala Cortina
2.4 km
Bullring of Cartagena, Spain
382 m
La Algameca Chica
2.1 km
Monument to the Heroes of Cavite and Santiago de Cuba
441 m
Naval Museum of Cartagena
533 m
Monastery of San Ginés de la Jara
14.9 km
Cueva de los Aviones
1.9 km
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology
587 m
Ancient Roman forum district, Cartagena
137 m
Seamanship Instruction Barracks, Cartagena
475 m
House of Fortune
183 m
The Zulo
522 m
Cueva Victoria
14.7 km
Torre de Navidad
1.8 km
El Icue
383 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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