Cartagena

The town is big and culturally very impressing. Cartagena’s major naval port is a vibrant tourist attraction. The city is a perfect place to stay for a week or a weekend. There are excellent hotels in the town. The city's Moorish, Roman and Phoenician heritage is impressing. Along the seafront are cafes, bars, and restaurants with splendid view over the port.

Cartagena has an extensive cultural wealth and a rich history. Sightseeing becomes an authentic journey across the centuries from the town’s origins through to the present days. There are a number of museums relating to the city’s long and manifold history under the Carthaginians, Romans and Moors, such as the Museo Arqueológico Municipal, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Marítima, and the Museo Naval de Cartagena. Other places worth to visit are: The 13th century Cathedral of Santa María de Gracia and the Iglesia de la Caridad.

The entrance from the Mediterranean is protected by rocky fortified headlands. Inside this sea port, a walled city was built. One can climb the hill above the castle and look over one of nature’s great harbors and its city. From Calle Gisbert opposite the 18th Century Autopsy Pavilion you can walk up to La Concepció Castle. It’s a stiff climb but you get marvelous views of the old bull ring, built on top of a Roman gladiatorial arena, the 18th-century autopsy theatre, and the interior of the old cathedral.

The port of Cartagena nowadays has two docks. On one side is the inner harbor of Escombreras located. Here are different industries established. The other port is in front of the city.

Between the two ports is the nearest beach, Cala Cortina, with all the necessary equipment.  There are other beaches with crystal clear blue water: Isla Plana, La Azohía, Cala Cerrada, Cala Flores, and Honda.

Cartagena has two train stations: one serving the national network on the Línea ferrea (RENFE) Cartagena-Madrid, the other catering for local trains to the nearby Mar Menor, or inland sea. Via Murcia, Valencia, Barcelona you are connected with Paris, London and other destinations in the North of Europe. A great one day tour facilitates the narrow-gauge train from the station in Cartagena to Los Nietos, a village at the border of the Mar Menor.

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