Cartagena, Spain#Landmarks

File:Peñas Blancas (20201206 114249).jpg

The city of Cartagena is located in the southeastern region of Spain in the Campo de Cartagena.

The Cartagena region can be viewed as a great plain inclined slightly in the direction NW-SE, bordered at the north and the northwest by pre-coastal mountain ranges (Carrascoy, El Puerto, Los Villares, Columbares and Escalona), and at the south and southwest by coastal mountain ranges (El Algarrobo, La Muela, Pelayo, Gorda, La Fausilla y Minera, with its last spurs in Cape Palos).

The dominant geology of the region is metamorphic (slate, marble) and sedimentary (limestone). The most widely present kind of soil is calcic xerosol. Other soils that occur in the municipality are the leptosol, which forms the Mediterranean coast, and the petrocalcic xerosol.{{Cite book |title=Atlas Global de la Región de Murcia |pages=187 |language=es}}

The city is located just at the end of the new AP-7 motorway. The following villages are part of Cartagena municipality: La Azohía, Isla Plana, Los Urrutias and Los Nietos.

The Old Town is limited by five small hills (Molinete, Monte Sacro, Monte de San José, Despeñaperros and Monte de la Concepción) following the example of Rome.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ciudadportuaria.com/2016/11/cartagena-ciudad-de-las-cinco-colinas.html |title=Ciudad Portuaria: Cartagena, ciudad de las cinco colinas. Parte I |date=16 November 2016 |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201094423/http://www.ciudadportuaria.com/2016/11/cartagena-ciudad-de-las-cinco-colinas.html |url-status=live}} In the past, there was an inner sea between the hills called the Estero that eventually dried up. On this site, the "Ensanche" (Expansion or New Town) was built at the beginning of the 20th century.

The urban area is delimited or crossed by several watercourses, some of which go deep into the urban network during a large part of their courses.

The maximum height in the municipality is reached in the Peñas Blancas massif, at 627 metres above sea level.{{Cite web|date=11 June 2013|first=Pepa|last=García|title=Horizonte sin límite|url=https://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20130524/local/comarcas/ruta-201305242115.html|website=La Verdad|publisher=Grupo Vocento}}

Cartagena has a transitional climate between the hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh) and the hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh), tending more towards the latter.{{cite web |url=https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |title=Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en España 1951-2020|website=aemet.es |access-date=23 August 2024 | language=es}} Its location near the sea moderates the temperature, and annual precipitation typically does not surpass {{cvt|300|mm|0}}. Cartagena has never recorded any temperature below freezing (below {{cvt|0|C|F}}) since records began.

The annual average temperature goes up to around {{cvt|19.2|°C|0}}. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of {{cvt|12.7|°C|0}}. In August, the warmest month, the average temperature is {{cvt|27.0|°C|0}}. The wind is an important climatic factor in the region.

{{Weather box

| location = Cartagena 1991-2020 normals, extremes (1988-present)

| single line = Yes

| metric first = Yes

| Jan record high C = 25.6

| Feb record high C = 25.6

| Mar record high C = 29.4

| Apr record high C = 27.7

| May record high C = 31.9

| Jun record high C = 36.9

| Jul record high C = 38.3

| Aug record high C = 41.5

| Sep record high C = 34.0

| Oct record high C = 33.9

| Nov record high C = 28.8

| Dec record high C = 24.7

| year record high C =

| Jan high C = 16.6

| Feb high C = 17.0

| Mar high C = 18.7

| Apr high C = 20.4

| May high C = 23.5

| Jun high C = 27.0

| Jul high C = 29.8

| Aug high C = 30.4

| Sep high C = 27.5

| Oct high C = 23.9

| Nov high C = 20.0

| Dec high C = 17.5

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 12.7

| Feb mean C = 13.3

| Mar mean C = 15.1

| Apr mean C = 17.0

| May mean C = 20.1

| Jun mean C = 23.6

| Jul mean C = 26.4

| Aug mean C = 27.0

| Sep mean C = 24.3

| Oct mean C = 20.6

| Nov mean C = 16.4

| Dec mean C = 13.7

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 8.9

| Feb low C = 9.7

| Mar low C = 11.4

| Apr low C = 13.6

| May low C = 16.7

| Jun low C = 20.2

| Jul low C = 23.0

| Aug low C = 23.7

| Sep low C = 21.0

| Oct low C = 17.2

| Nov low C = 12.8

| Dec low C = 9.9

| year low C =

| Jan record low C = 1.3

| Feb record low C = 1.9

| Mar record low C = 2.9

| Apr record low C = 5.6

| May record low C = 7.4

| Jun record low C = 13.7

| Jul record low C = 18.4

| Aug record low C = 17.9

| Sep record low C = 14.5

| Oct record low C = 9.3

| Nov record low C = 4.4

| Dec record low C = 1.4

| year record low C =

| precipitation color = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 30.6

| Feb precipitation mm = 21.0

| Mar precipitation mm = 25.2

| Apr precipitation mm = 23.9

| May precipitation mm = 14.5

| Jun precipitation mm = 5.3

| Jul precipitation mm = 1.1

| Aug precipitation mm = 3.4

| Sep precipitation mm = 39.3

| Oct precipitation mm = 29.5

| Nov precipitation mm = 35.5

| Dec precipitation mm = 30.9

| Jan precipitation days = 3.0

| Feb precipitation days = 2.7

| Mar precipitation days = 3.2

| Apr precipitation days = 3.1

| May precipitation days = 1.9

| Jun precipitation days = 1.0

| Jul precipitation days = 0.3

| Aug precipitation days = 0.7

| Sep precipitation days = 2.9

| Oct precipitation days = 3.2

| Nov precipitation days = 4.1

| Dec precipitation days = 3.4

| year precipitaion days =

| unit precipitation days = 1 mm

| Jan humidity = 70

| Feb humidity = 70

| Mar humidity = 70

| Apr humidity = 69

| May humidity = 66

| Jun humidity = 67

| Jul humidity = 68

| Aug humidity = 70

| Sep humidity = 71

| Oct humidity = 72

| Nov humidity = 70

| Dec humidity = 71

| year humidity =

| source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia (AEMET OpenData){{cite web |url=https://opendata.aemet.es/centrodedescargas/inicio8 |title=AEMET OpenData|website=aemet.es |access-date=23 August 2024 | language=es}}

}}

{{main|Districts of Cartagena, Spain}}

File:Diputaciones Cartagena.svg

The municipality has 24 districts, known as diputaciones (councils). The origin of this administrative structure has its date in the beginning of the 18th century when the population was increasing and the municipality was becoming less tractable.{{Cite web |title=Archivo Municipal de Cartagena |url=https://archivo.cartagena.es/edadModerna_Despegue_SituPoli_detalle27.asp |language=es |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727073414/https://archivo.cartagena.es/edadModerna_Despegue_SituPoli_detalle27.asp |url-status=live}} The districts are:{{Cite web |title=Barrios y Diputaciones I Historia I Tu Ciudad I Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/barrios_diputaciones.asp |language=es |access-date=1 May 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328152744/https://www.cartagena.es/barrios_diputaciones.asp |url-status=live}}

• Cartagena Casco: This is the district where the main town (also named Cartagena) is located and is located in the south of the municipality. Its population consisted of 57,001 in 2019.
• San Antonio Abad: It is located in the south of the municipality and adjoins Cartagena Casco in its south and Canteras in its west. The number of inhabitants was 44,882 in 2019.
• El Plan: It adjoins La Magdalena in its west and Lentiscar in its east. There were 35,974 residents in 2019.
• Rincón de San Ginés: It is located in the southeast end of the municipality. Its population consisted of 10,214 people in 2019.
• Canteras: This coastal district is placed in the south of the territory and faces the Mediterranean Sea in its south. It is also adjoining to Perín in its west and San Antonio Abad in its east. There were 10,167 people living in 2019.
• El Algar: It is located in the east of Cartagena and adjoins Lentiscar in its north. The number of inhabitants consisted in 7,961.
• Santa Lucía: It is located in the south of the municipality and faces the Mediterranean Sea in its south.
• La Palma: It is located in the north of the municipality. It shares borders with Lentiscar in its east.
• Pozo Estrecho: It is placed in the north of Cartagena and shares borders with La Palma in its east and with El Albujón in its west. There were 5,149 people who resided in the area in 2019.
• La Aljorra: This district occupies the northwestern end of the municipality. The number of inhabitants equaled to 4,962 people in 2019.
• La Magdalena: It occupies part of the west of the municipality and adjoins La Aljorra in its north. Its population consisted of 3,893 in 2019.
• Alumbres: It is located in the southeast quarter of Cartagena.
• Albujón: It is placed in the northwest of Cartagena and shares borders with La Aljorra in its west.
• San Félix: It is located in the approximate centre of Cartagena and is adjacent to Lentiscar in its northeast. The territory was inhabited by 2,694 people in 2019.
• Santa Ana: This district is placed in the northern half of Cartagena. It adjoins Pozo Estrecho in its north. Its population consisted of 2,501 people in 2019.
• El Beal: The territory is located in the east of the municipality and shares borders with Rincón de San Ginés in its south. There were 2,342 residents present in 2019.
• Lentiscar: This district is placed in the northeast end of Cartagena. There were 2,022 residents in 2019.
• Perín: It is located in the south of the municipality and adjoins the Mediterranean Sea in its south and Los Puertos in its west. Perín was home to 1,591 people in 2019.
• Los Puertos: It occupies the southwest end, but also part of the inner west that is not the end of the municipality and is adjoining Campo Nubla in its west. This was inhabited by 1,349 people in 2019.
• Miranda: This district is placed in the northwest quarter of Cartagena. It shares borders with Pozo Estrecho in its northeast and El albujón in its northwest.
• Hondón: It is located in the southeast quarter and is adjoining San Félix in its south. The district was inhabited by 1,117 people in 2019.
• Campo Nubla: This district occupies part of the west end of the municipality. The territory was home to 203 people in 2019.
• Los Médicos: It is placed in the northern half of the territory. The district shares borders with La Palma and Pozo Estrecho in its north.
• Escombreras: It is located in the south of Cartagena. There were 9 people living in the area in 2019.

Despite the intense mining, tourist and industrial exploitation that the area has suffered for centuries, the territory around Cartagena city hosts an extraordinary natural wealth and diversity, with a large number of botanical endemic species. Part of its area is subject to different levels of legal protection.

File:Tetraclinis articulata cartagena.jpg]]

Cartagena's coastal mountains have one of the highest levels of botanical biodiversity on the Iberian Peninsula. A number of surprising Ibero-African species, which are found only in southern Spain (mostly in the provinces of Murcia and Almería) and North Africa. Among these, there stands out Tetraclinis articulata or Sandarac (sabina mora or ciprés de Cartagena —Cartagena cypress in Spanish) native to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Malta, and Cartagena, growing at relatively low altitudes in a hot, dry Mediterranean woodland. Some species are seriously endangered like the siempreviva de Cartagena (Limonium carthaginense), the rabogato del Mar Menor (Sideritis marmironensis), the zamarrilla de Cartagena (Teucrium carthaginense), the manzanilla de Escombreras (Anthemis chrysantha), the garbancillo de Tallante (Astragalus nitidiflorus), the jara de Cartagena (Cistus heterophyllus carthaginensis){{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=20000&Ficha=20205&Activa=3 |title=El Medio Natural en Cartagena - EL MEDIO NATURAL |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075859/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=20000&Ficha=20205&Activa=3 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://archivo.asociacionanse.org/araar/herbario.htm |title=Flora de la Comarca de Cartagena en peligro |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617211841/https://archivo.asociacionanse.org/araar/herbario.htm |url-status=live}} and the varica de San José (Narcissus tortifolius).

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File:Echinaster sepositus20.jpgs in Cartagena]]

Among the animal species includes some threatened or endangered ones like the peregrine falcon, the Eurasian eagle-owl, the golden eagle and the Bonelli's eagle, the spur-thighed tortoise, the greater horseshoe bat and, especially, the Spanish toothcarp, a fish endemic to south-eastern Spain.{{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=10000&Ficha=10012&Activa=1 |title=El medio natural en Cartagena - EL MEDIO NATURAL |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727074334/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=10000&Ficha=10012&Activa=1 |url-status=live}} In addition, the presence of the common chameleon (the only chameleon in Europe) has been documented for about 30 years, although it is not clear whether it is native or introduced.{{Cite news |url=https://www.laverdad.es/nuestra-tierra/naturaleza/camaleones-conquistan-monte-20171031014042-ntvo.html |title=Los camaleones conquistan el monte |newspaper=La Verdad |language=es |first=Pepa |last=García |date=31 October 2017 |access-date=14 March 2019 |publisher=Vocento |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508111444/https://www.laverdad.es/nuestra-tierra/naturaleza/camaleones-conquistan-monte-20171031014042-ntvo.html |url-status=live}} Some other species of note include the greater flamingo, the red fox, the European rabbit, the European badger, the beech marten, the common genet, the wildcat and the wild boar.{{Cite news |url=https://www.murciaturistica.es/es/espacio_natural/calblanque,-monte-de-las-cenizas-y-pe%C3%B1a-del-aguila-4496/ |title=Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Águila |work=Web oficial turismo Región de Murcia |access-date=11 September 2018 |language=es |publisher=Instituto de Turismo de la Región de Murcia |archive-date=10 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164838/https://www.murciaturistica.es/es/espacio_natural/calblanque,-monte-de-las-cenizas-y-pe%C3%B1a-del-aguila-4496/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=38e0a350-8d06-4bf9-ac41-f6d3abfd00d4&groupId=14 |title=Proyecto Plan de Ordenación de los recursos naturales. Sierra de la Muela, Cabo Tiñoso y Roldán |date=March 2006 |work=Dirección General del Medio Natural |publisher=Consejería de Industria y Medio Ambiente |pages=138 |language=es |access-date=14 March 2019 |agency=Dirección General del Medio Natural |archive-date=20 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420090913/http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=38e0a350-8d06-4bf9-ac41-f6d3abfd00d4&groupId=14 |url-status=live}}

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File:Calblanque09.jpg

• Mar Menor, a salty lagoon separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a sand bar {{convert|22|km|0|abbr=off}} in length and with a variable width from {{convert|100|to|1200|m|0|abbr=off}}. It has a surface area of nearly {{cvt|170|km2|0}}, a coastal length of {{cvt|70|km|0}}, and warm and clear water with relatively high salinity, which does not exceed {{convert|7|m|0|abbr=off}} in depth. It belongs to four municipalities, including Cartagena. In 1994, it was included on the list of the Ramsar Convention (nº706) for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. It is also one of the Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) by the United Nations. Its five volcanic islands (Perdiguera, Mayor or del Barón, del Ciervo, Redonda and del Sujeto) just like El Carmolí and San Ginés hills, the Hita and Amoladora beaches, the Lo Poyo salt marsh and the salt mines of Marchamalo are protected as well.{{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=70000&Ficha=70002&Activa=1 |title=El medio natural en Cartagena - EL MEDIO NATURAL |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075612/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=70000&Ficha=70002&Activa=1 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=70000&Ficha=70003&Activa=1 |title=El medio natural en Cartagena - EL MEDIO NATURAL |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727074135/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=70000&Ficha=70003&Activa=1 |url-status=live}}
• Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila, declared a Natural Park and Site of Community Importance (SCI). It is located in the south-east of the municipality.{{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/DocExt/bibliodoc/PORN_Calblanque.pdf |title=PORN_Calblanque.pdf |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905212951/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/DocExt/bibliodoc/PORN_Calblanque.pdf |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Murcianatural - Calblanque, Monte de las Cenizas y Peña del Águila |url=http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/web/guest/calblanque-monte-de-las-cenizas-y-pena-del-aguila2 |access-date=24 November 2020 |language=es |archive-date=4 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204210353/http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/web/guest/calblanque-monte-de-las-cenizas-y-pena-del-aguila2 |url-status=live}}
• Sierra de la Muela, Cabo Tiñoso and Roldán mountain, Natural Park, Site of Community Importance and Special Protection Area (SPA). It occurs in the south-west of the municipality.{{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=003&Ficha=360&Activa=24 |title=El Medio Natural en Cartagena - EL MEDIO NATURAL |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727073440/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/medionatural/areas.asp?CodMenu=003&Ficha=360&Activa=24 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Murcianatural - Sierra de La Muela-Cabo Tiñoso y Roldán |url=http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/web/guest/sierra-de-la-muela-cabo-tinoso-y-roldan2 |access-date=24 November 2020 |language=es |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129054108/http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/web/guest/sierra-de-la-muela-cabo-tinoso-y-roldan2 |url-status=live}}
• Sierra de la Fausilla, Special Protection Area. It is placed in the south of Escombreras district and between Cartagena and Calblanque Regional Park.
• Islands and Islets of the Mediterranean coast, including Grossa Island (belonging to the municipality of San Javier, Hormigas Islands, Palomas Islands and Escombreras Islands, some of them also designed as Special Protection Area.{{Cite web |url=https://www.borm.es/borm/documento?obj=anu&id=768159 |title=Publicación número 3564 del BORM número 131 de 08/06/2018 |language=es |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=12 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412193324/https://www.borm.es/services/anuncio/768159/pdf |url-status=live}}

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{{see also|History of Cartagena, Spain}}

There is evidence of the presence of individuals belonging to the genus Homo in the cave {{ill|Cueva Victoria|es}} 1,300,000 years ago. This cave is located in the southeastern quarter of Cartagena.{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |last=Grandal López |first=Alfonso |year=2005 |isbn=849566956-0 |pages=33 |publisher=Áglaya |language=es}}

Remains of Neanderthal individuals of the Mousterian culture were found in the Cave of los Aviones. This place is located close to Cartagena.{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |last=Grandal López |first=Alfonso |pages=35}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,309,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-10056-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de San Antonio Abad - Prehistoria, Antigüedad y Edad Media - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002536/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,309,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-10056-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}} There were also remains of Neanderthals belonging to the Mousterian culture in the {{ill|Cueva Bermeja|es}}, which is located in the southwestern quarter of the municipality.

At the southeast corner of the municipality remains of humans of the Upper Paleolithic were discovered. The paleontological sites are the Abrigo de Los Déntoles cove, the Cueva de Los Mejillones, and the {{ill|Cabezo de San Ginés|es}} (hill). The West of the municipality was also the scene of human activity in that period. Concrete evidence of this are the caves Cueva del Caballo and Cueva Bermeja.{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,308,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-11135-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de Rincón de San Ginés - Prehistoria - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913040025/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,308,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-11135-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}}{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |last=Grandal López |first=Alfonso |pages=38}}

The southeast end of Cartagena was inhabited again during the Mesolithic. Important points are the Cueva de los Pájaros and Cueva de los Mejillones (caves). Neolithic components such as ceramic shards have been found.{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |pages=40}}

The southeast of Cartagena was again inhabited during the Neolithic. The sites are Las Amoladeras and Calblanque. The south of the Alumbres district was also inhabited during that period. The archaeological site is located in the Cerro del Gorguel (hill) and in it remains of a characteristic Neolithic hamlet were discovered.{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |pages=41}}

The reasons for the dearth of human presence and structures in this municipality during the Neolithic period were the lack of rainfall and the absence of water courses. During the Bronze Age there was a similar situation.{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |pages=42–43}}

The Argaric civilization inhabited the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula (Región de Murcia and Almería) during the Bronze Age. Nevertheless, they did not significantly occupy this municipality, there were few structures belonging to them and they had little relevance here. They lived in the northwest.{{Cite book |title=Historia de Cartagena para principiantes |pages=48}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,318,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7979-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de La Aljorra - Historia de La Aljorra - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=13 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002445/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,318,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7979-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}}

File:Cartagena muralla punica.jpg

The town is thought to have originally been named Mastia. Possessing one of the best harbors in the Western Mediterranean, it was re-founded by the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal around 227 BC{{cite web |url=http://www.ayto-cartagena.es/frontend/pagina/_xzuM2Hlr2V_Gp6yszA4zZ27GcAZyjSUJuNr0pzP0gH8 |title=Callejero {{pipe}} Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |publisher=Ayto-cartagena.es |access-date=4 April 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701224836/http://www.ayto-cartagena.es/frontend/pagina/_xzuM2Hlr2V_Gp6yszA4zZ27GcAZyjSUJuNr0pzP0gH8 |archive-date=1 July 2012}} as Kart-hadasht ("New City"),{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Cartagena-Spain | title=Cartagena | Spain, Map, & Population | Britannica }} a name identical to Carthage, for the purpose of serving as a stepping-off point for the conquest of Spain.

The Roman general Scipio Africanus conquered it in 209 BC and renamed it Carthago Nova (literally "New New City") to distinguish it from the mother city. It became a tributary community (civitas stipendaria).{{Cite book |page=32 |chapter=Cartagena y su término de la Edad Media al siglo XIX |first=Ángel Luis |last=Molina Molina |title=Estudios sobre Desarrollo Regional |year=2008 |isbn=978-84-8371-794-3 |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/2754227.pdf |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723185248/https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/2754227.pdf |url-status=live}} Julius Caesar gave the town Latin Rights, and Octavian renamed it in his honor as the colony Colonia Victrix Iulia Nova Carthago or Colonia Vrbs Iulia Nova Carthago (C. V. I. N. C.) depending on the source. The city was very relevant both in the Carthaginian and the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. In 298 AD, Diocletian constituted a new Roman province in Hispania called Carthaginensis and settled the capital in this city. It remained important until it was sacked by the Vandals in 435 AD.{{Cite web |url=https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7509-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de Cartagena- Antigüedad - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727080712/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7509-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/10.asp?pt_idpag=888 |title=Historia de la Ciudad I Historia I Tu Ciudad I Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118161948/https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/10.asp?pt_idpag=888 |url-status=live}}

During the Roman period, it was the site of major silver mines, yielding a daily revenue of 25,000 drachmae. It was known also for the production of garum, a fermented fish sauce, and for esparto grassHammond, N.G.L. & Scullard, H.H. (Eds.) (1970). The Oxford Classical Dictionary, p. 209. Oxford: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-869117-3}}. which granted it a new name, Cartago Spartaria.

File:Lucerna bizantina.jpg

The demise and fall of Western Roman sovereignty caused Cartago Spartaria to go into decline. It was occupied successively by the Vandals (409–425), the Visigoths (425–551 and 624–714) and the Eastern Romans (551–624), who made it the capital of Spania (the Byzantine Empire's westernmost province).{{Cite web |url=https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7509-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de Cartagena- Antigüedad - Región de Murcia Digital |website=www.regmurcia.com |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727080712/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7509-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}} During this time the Christian diocese of Cartagena lost its place as the primary diocese in Hispania to the more reliably Visigothic Archdiocese of Toledo, a primacy it would never recover.

Cartagena was re-conquered by the Visigoths, who held it until the Muslim conquest in 714 AD. By that time it was barely a fishing village.{{Sfn|Molina Molina|2008|p=35}} It was called Qartayannat-al-Halfa. It was subsequently ruled by the Umayyads (714–756), the Caliphate of Cordova (756–1031), the Taifa of Denia (1031–1076), the Taifa of Saragossa (1076–1081), the Taifa of Tortosa (1081–1092), the Almoravids (1092–1145), the Almohads (1145–1229) and the Taifa of Murcia (1229–1245). During the Islamic period, Cartagena primarily oriented itself to the sea, possessing at best a small rural hinterland.{{Sfn|Frey Sánchez|2003|p=257–258}}

Following the local refusal to abide to the 1243 Treaty of Alcazaz, a Castilian army led by the infante Alfonso of Castile took Cartagena by force in 1245 by means of a military operation combining land forces and a Cantabrian fleet.{{Sfn|Molina Molina|2008|p=37}} It was granted a fuero copied after Córdoba's in 1246.{{Sfn|Frey Sánchez|2003|p=256}} Similarly to the other subdued rebel towns, it early underwent an aggressive process of Castilianization.{{Sfn|Frey Sánchez|2003|pp=255–256}} The diocese of Cartagena was restored in 1250, but its seat was established in Murcia since 1266, a decision later formalised in 1291.{{Cite book|year=2013|isbn=978-84-15463-39-9|url=https://medievalistas.es/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/025.pdf|page=24|title=La diócesis de Cartagena en la Edad Media (1250-1502)|first=Juan|last=Torres Fontes|first2=Ángel Luis|last2=Molina|publisher= Sociedad Española de Estudios Medievales|location=Madrid}} In 1270, Alfonso created the Order of Santa María de España for the naval defense of the Crown of Castile and established its headquarters in Cartagena. In 1296, Cartagena was briefly annexed to the Crown of Aragon, but returned to Castile by the Treaty of Elx in 1305, which fixed the final boundary between the kingdoms of Valencia and Murcia. Cartagena then lost its status as royal demesne and became a seigneurial jurisdiction, a situation which lasted until 1346.{{Sfn|Molina Molina|2008|p=38}} Cartagena did not fully recover until the 18th century, when it became a leading naval port in the Mediterranean.{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7513-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de Cartagena - Edad Media Cristiana - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-date=7 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707035633/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7513-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}}

File:Cartagena 1634.jpg (1634)]]

On 3 September 1643, the Battle of Cartagena took place near the Cabo de Gata between a Spanish fleet and a French fleet.{{Cite web |url=http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/wp/blog/2018/02/01/1-643-combate-de-cabo-de-gata/ |title=1643 COMBATE DE CABO DE GATA – Melilla Medioambiente |date=1 February 2018 |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=1 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201203320/http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/wp/blog/2018/02/01/1-643-combate-de-cabo-de-gata/ |url-status=live}}

In 1728, Cartagena became the capital of the Spanish Navy's Maritime Department of the Mediterranean and the city was heavily fortified with the construction of a modern castle in the place of a former Moorish Kasbah, several barracks and a huge Cartagena Arsenal. In a relatively short period of time, the population of the city grew from around 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/10.asp?pt_idpag=888 |title=Historia de la Ciudad - Historia - Tu Ciudad - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118161948/https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/10.asp?pt_idpag=888 |url-status=live}}

In 1757, during the Seven Years' War, a French naval force was forced to take shelter in the port. A squadron under Duquesne sent to reinforce them was attacked and defeated by a British squadron under Henry Osborn at the Battle of Cartagena.

File:Manuel de la cruz vazquez-vista de cartagena.jpg (1786)]]

In 1873, the city established a self-governing Canton of Cartagena and become the center of the Cantonal Revolution. Governmental forces besieged the city for several months until they surrendered.{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7516-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de Cartagena - Siglo XIX - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915122207/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7516-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}}

During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), Cartagena was the main base of the Spanish Republican Navy and one of the primary strongholds of the Republican Government. It held out against the forces of General Francisco Franco longer than any other city in Spain, being the last of its cities to surrender.{{Cite web |url=https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7517-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |title=Historia de Cartagena- Siglo XX - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727080817/https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871&r=ReP-7517-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}} The city saw its industrial activity increase during the 1950s, resulting in greater prosperity and this trend continued until a general decline in manufacturing throughout Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

At the moment, Cartagena comprises part of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, and is the seat of the Regional Assembly of Murcia.{{Cite web |title=CARM.es - Asamblea Regional |url=http://www.carm.es/web/pagina?IDCONTENIDO=2007&IDTIPO=100&&IDMENU_PADRE=1987&IDMENU_RAIZ_AGENDA=123&RASTRO=c$m22640,123,1987 |access-date=15 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624082127/https://www.carm.es/web/pagina?IDCONTENIDO=2007&IDTIPO=100&&IDMENU_PADRE=1987&IDMENU_RAIZ_AGENDA=123&RASTRO=c%24m22640,123,1987 |url-status=live}} It is also capital of the maritime province of Cartagena, which was granted by the Royal Decree of 5 October 1607 under the reign of Philip III.

According to the Municipal census, as of January 2011, Cartagena has 218,210 inhabitants, ranking 24th in Spain in terms of population (and 6th among the non-capitals). 182,021 people live in the urban area and 39,840 in the several satellite quarters. According to the official population data, 14.73% of the municipality's population had a foreign nationality.

Its metropolitan area, which includes the municipalities of La Unión, Fuente Álamo de Murcia, Los Alcázares, San Javier, Torre Pacheco, San Pedro del Pinatar and Mazarrón, has a total of 390,983 inhabitants.

{{historical populations

| title = Demographic evolution of Cartagena since 1842

| cols = 3 | align = none

|1842|33593

|1857|59618

|1877|75908

|1887|85753

|1900|103373

|1910|102542

|1920|101613

|1930|102705

|1940|115468

|1950|113160

|1960|123630

|1970|146904

|1981|172751

|1991|173061

|2001|184686

|2010|214165

| source = INE{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.es/intercensal/intercensal.do?search=1&cmbTipoBusq=0&textoMunicipio=Murcia&btnBuscarDenom=Consultar+selecci%F3n |title=Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842 |access-date=17 June 2011 |work=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |language=es |archive-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802185757/https://www.ine.es/intercensal/intercensal.do?search=1&cmbTipoBusq=0&textoMunicipio=Murcia&btnBuscarDenom=Consultar+selecci%F3n |url-status=live}} Note: The municipal extension varies from the 1857 census and the previous one because of the annexation of La Palma and La Unión segregated.

}}

Economy activities related to energy are among the main ones in the municipality. They are located in Valle de Escombreras. This spot, which is a valley, is located in a district named Escombreras that is placed in the south of the municipality and of 5–10 km from the main locality by its west.{{Cite web |url=https://www.carm.es/web/servlet/integra.servlets.Blob?ARCHIVO=CARTAGENA-Informe%20Municipal%202012.pdf&TABLA=ARCHIVOS&CAMPOCLAVE=IDARCHIVO&VALORCLAVE=90080&CAMPOIMAGEN=ARCHIVO&IDTIPO=60&RASTRO=c450$m40847 |title=cartagena - CARM.es |page=11 |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727073656/https://www.carm.es/web/servlet/integra.servlets.Blob?ARCHIVO=CARTAGENA-Informe%20Municipal%202012.pdf&TABLA=ARCHIVOS&CAMPOCLAVE=IDARCHIVO&VALORCLAVE=90080&CAMPOIMAGEN=ARCHIVO&IDTIPO=60&RASTRO=c450$m40847 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/urbanismo/Ficha/Diputacion?&Valor=23 |title=Urbanismo Cartagena |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230093949/https://urbanismo.cartagena.es/urbanismo/Ficha/Diputacion?&Valor=23 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartagena.es/barrios_diputaciones.asp |title=Barrios y Diputaciones - Historia - Tu Ciudad - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328152744/https://www.cartagena.es/barrios_diputaciones.asp |url-status=live}} Agriculture is another noteworthy activity in Cartagena and 37.9% of the territory consisted of crop lands in 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://econet.carm.es/web/crem/inicio/-/crem/sicrem/PU_CartagenaCifrasNEW/P8004/sec2.html |title=CREM - Datos Municipales Cartagena - 1. Evolución de la distribución general de la tierra |language=es |access-date=8 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727085810/https://econet.carm.es/web/crem/inicio/-/crem/sicrem/PU_CartagenaCifrasNEW/P8004/sec2.html |url-status=live}} The most widely grown products are melons, lettuces, potatoes, lemons and almonds.{{Cite web |title=CREM - Datos Municipales Cartagena - 3. Evolución de la superficie dedicada a cada grupo de cultivo. |url=https://econet.carm.es/web/crem/inicio/-/crem/sicrem/PU_CartagenaCifrasNEW/P8004/sec4.html |access-date=10 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610201317/https://econet.carm.es/web/crem/inicio/-/crem/sicrem/PU_CartagenaCifrasNEW/P8004/sec4.html |url-status=live}} 52.77% of the agreements occurred in this sector and 42.83% of the workers were hired as labourers in 2012.{{Cite web |title=Cifras de empleo municipal. 2º semestre de 2012. Municipio de Cartagena |url=https://www.sefcarm.es/web/integra.servlets.Blob?ARCHIVO=Cartagena.pdf&TABLA=ARCHIVOS&CAMPOCLAVE=IDARCHIVO&VALORCLAVE=93829&CAMPOIMAGEN=ARCHIVO&IDTIPO=60&RASTRO=c$m5082,5147,6887,42850 |access-date=10 June 2020 |pages=12, 18 |language=es |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610211350/https://www.sefcarm.es/web/integra.servlets.Blob?ARCHIVO=Cartagena.pdf&TABLA=ARCHIVOS&CAMPOCLAVE=IDARCHIVO&VALORCLAVE=93829&CAMPOIMAGEN=ARCHIVO&IDTIPO=60&RASTRO=c$m5082,5147,6887,42850 |url-status=live}} Shipbuilding has less weight than some centuries ago, but it is still moderately important. This is performed in the port of Cartagena, the main locality of the municipality. Plastic production is also performed, specifically in the northwest of the territory. The tertiary sector has risen during the last decades, specifically tourism and hotel industry. 14,12% of the agreements in the municipality were aimed at waiters in 2012.{{Cite web |title=Cifras de empleo municipal. 2º semestre de 2012. Municipio de Cartagena |url=https://www.sefcarm.es/web/integra.servlets.Blob?ARCHIVO=Cartagena.pdf&TABLA=ARCHIVOS&CAMPOCLAVE=IDARCHIVO&VALORCLAVE=93829&CAMPOIMAGEN=ARCHIVO&IDTIPO=60&RASTRO=c$m5082,5147,6887,42850 |access-date=10 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610211350/https://www.sefcarm.es/web/integra.servlets.Blob?ARCHIVO=Cartagena.pdf&TABLA=ARCHIVOS&CAMPOCLAVE=IDARCHIVO&VALORCLAVE=93829&CAMPOIMAGEN=ARCHIVO&IDTIPO=60&RASTRO=c$m5082,5147,6887,42850 |url-status=live}}

As generally in Spain, the governors of the municipalities are indirectly elected on the day of municipal and regional elections, every four years.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, del Régimen Electoral General. |url=https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305071852/http://www.boe.es:80/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1985-11672 |archive-date=5 March 2014 |access-date=3 January 2021 |website=BOE.es - Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado |at=article 42, article 194 |language=Spanish}} The D'Hondt system is used for allocating the governors from the votes. The body of all the elected councilors is named pleno and has 27 members in Cartagena.{{Cite web |title=Composición│Pleno│Gobierno y Corporación│Ayuntamiento│Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/composicion_pleno.asp |access-date=28 November 2020 |language=es |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124184026/https://www.cartagena.es/composicion_pleno.asp |url-status=live}} The head governor has the name of alcalde (feminine, alcaldesa). Since Cartagena is inhabited by more than 5,000 people, there is also a junta de gobierno local,{{Cite web |url=https://dpej.rae.es/lema/junta-de-gobierno-local |title=Definición de junta de gobierno local - Diccionario panhispánico del español jurídico - RAE |website=Diccionario panhispánico del español jurídico - Real Academia Española |access-date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623113815/https://dpej.rae.es/lema/junta-de-gobierno-local |url-status=live}} the members are selected by the alcalde from the pleno. Currently, there are 9 members in the governing cabinet. Four members of the cabinet belong to Partido Popular party, one to Ciudadanos and there are also four nonpartisan politicians, including the alcaldesa, who belonged to PSOE (Partido Socialista Obrero Español) party but were expelled of the party because they had made an agreement with Partido Popular party and Ciudadanos in order to compose the pleno.{{Cite news |date=20 August 2018 |title=PSOE expulsa a la alcaldesa y sus 5 concejales por pactar con el PP y Cs |language=es |work=El Confidencial |url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2019-08-20/psoe-expulsa-a-alcaldesa-cartagena-pacto-cs-pp_2185231/ |access-date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920080022/https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/2019-08-20/psoe-expulsa-a-alcaldesa-cartagena-pacto-cs-pp_2185231/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Composición│Junta de Gobierno│Gobierno y Composición│Ayuntamiento│Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/junta_gobierno.asp |access-date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124185026/https://www.cartagena.es/junta_gobierno.asp |url-status=live}}

There are also committees named juntas vecinales in some localities and districts.{{Cite web |title=Composición│Juntas Vecinales│Gobierno y Corporación│Ayuntamiento│Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/juntas_vecinales.asp |access-date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=24 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124183124/https://www.cartagena.es/juntas_vecinales.asp |url-status=live}} Administrative centres are also available for inhabitants who don't live in the main town and the can perform some administrative processes there. They are located in some districts and localities and name is omitas.{{Cite web |title=OMITAS│Atención al Ciudadano│Ayuntamiento│Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/16.asp?pt_idpag=383 |access-date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126222024/https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/16.asp?pt_idpag=383 |url-status=live}}

File:AytoCartagena.jpg

Thanks to its strategic position on the Mediterranean, Cartagena has been inhabited by many different cultures, which have left their mark on its rich cultural heritage during a glorious and turbulent history.{{Cite web |url=https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871 |title=Historia de Cartagena - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727085549/https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,373,m,1871 |url-status=live}}

The "Cartagena, Port of Cultures" initiative was created to allow visitors to enjoy a wide range of activities and visits, discovering the cultural wealth and rich history of the city. It is one of several projects to energize the tourist possibilities of this potential major cultural destination,{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartagenapuertodeculturas.com/ |title=Cartagena Puerto de Culturas |language=es |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823200135/https://www.cartagenapuertodeculturas.com/ |url-status=live}} frequently neglected by the mass-tourism, due to the proximity of several holiday resorts, and the refinery and other industrial development, which gave a bad reputation to the city because of pollution; these last have now fortunately been eradicated.

File:CT teatro romano y catedral.jpg

Although there are some ruins from the Carthaginian period, like the remains of the Punic rampart (built in 227 BC with the foundation of the city), most of its oldest monuments date from the time of the Roman Empire when Cartagena flourished.

The archaeologist Blanca Roldán studied this Punic Rampart and other Punic remains, especially on the Molinete Hill. Among its numerous Roman remains, the recently restored Roman theatre of Carthago Nova is prominent and is one of the city's landmarks. Work on it started at the end of the 2nd century BC. The Roman Theatre Museum was recently officially inaugurated. In Roman Republican Times, the mines near Cartagena provided silver and lead for all the Roman Empire.{{Cite web |url=https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_arqueologico.asp |title=Concejalía de Turismo - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727154052/https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_arqueologico.asp |url-status=live}}

Other Roman remains can be found in several buildings and interpretative centres, including the Roman Colonnade, the House of Fortune, the decumanus/cardo and the Augusteum.

The Torre Ciega was built by the Romans for burials; it formed part of the Necropolis.

The Roman Amphitheatre (1st century AD) was sited where the now-abandoned Bullring was built, but only some of the surrounding walls and part of the rooms under the stands are still visible. Recent work is revealing more evidence.

Besides the Roman heritage, archaeological sights include the remains of the Santa María la Vieja Cathedral, which was irreversibly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. It dates from the end of the 13th century. The decorated floor of a Roman house of the 1st century BC can be found in the crypt.{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=c,522,m,162&r=CeAP-3987-R_122_DETALLE_REPORTAJES |title=Catedral Antigua de Santa María - Historia - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914165702/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=c,522,m,162&r=CeAP-3987-R_122_DETALLE_REPORTAJES |url-status=live}}

A Byzantine rampart can be found, close to the Roman Theatre and the Cathedral.

The Concepción Castle (now Centre for the Interpretation of the History of Cartagena) was reconstructed in the 13th century using large structures from the Amphitheatre. Apart from the Roman Theatre Museum, there are also two important archaeological museums: the Municipal Archaeological Museum and the recently opened Arqua (National Museum of Maritime Archaeology).

File:Cartagena muralla CarlosIII.JPG

The Campus Muralla del Mar, an old military hospital, was one of the first works carried out after the transformation of the city into the main Spanish naval base in the Mediterranean, and is now the seat of the Polytechnic University. In the vicinity, there is the Autopsy Theatre, which is where anatomy classes used to be given. Rehabilitation for tourism provides for the interpretation of the nearby buildings at the time of their construction.{{Cite web |url=https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_barroco.asp |title=Concejalía de Turismo - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727080218/https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_barroco.asp |url-status=live}}

These buildings and several other baroque or neo-classical buildings demonstrate the military importance of Cartagena. These include the Charles III Rampart, the Castillo de San Julián, the Arsenal, the Midshipmen's Barracks (academy and naval barracks), the Naval Headquarter Palace (built in 1740 and subsequently rebuilt) and the Artillery Headquarters, which also houses the Military Museum.

Among the Baroque or Neo-classical Churches in Cartagena are El Carmen, Santo Domingo and Santa Maria de Gracia.

The austere facade of the Molina House hides the Centre of Arts and Craft.{{Cite web |url=https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,522,m,1075&r=CeAP-2273-C_622_DETALLE_CENTRO |title=Casa Palacio Viuda del Molina - Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727084217/https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=a,75,c,522,m,1075&r=CeAP-2273-C_622_DETALLE_CENTRO |url-status=live}}

File:Gran Hotel2.JPG

Cartagena is home to numerous Art Nouveau buildings from the early 20th century, when a bourgeoisie settled in the city due to the growth of the local mining industry. Many prominent building were designed by Victor Beltri, the prolific Modernist architect of the city.{{cn|date=January 2025}} These buildings include the City Hall, the Grand Hotel, the Casino (all of them among the city's landmarks).

The Railway Station has some outstanding iron doors and columns on its facade, and inside can still be seen the original ticket office, door frame, ceiling, and lamps. Other modernist or eclectic houses include the Clares House, the Aguirre Palace (which houses the Regional Museum of Modern Art, or MURAM), the Cervantes House (relatively big in comparison with other modernist buildings), the Llagostera House, the Pedreño Palace, the Dorda House, the Zapata House and the Urban Expansion Company House.{{Cite web |url=https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_modernista.asp |title=Itinerario Modernista y Ecléctico |work=Concejalía de Turismo |publisher=Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831174954/https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_modernista.asp |url-status=live}}

Several charming, lively streets cover this area, such as Calle Mayor (High Street), the major pedestrian and commercial street of the city, full of boutiques and bars with typical "tapas", Carmen Street, Puertas de Murcia Street and many more.

The Caridad church is one of the most important churches in the city, since it is dedicated to the patron of Cartagena, Nuestra Señora de Caridad. The interior is dominated by a dome, similar to the Pantheon of Agrippa, in Rome. There are also several outstanding sculptures by the famous Murcian sculptor Francisco Salzillo and his school.{{Cite web |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=,c,522,m,162&r=CeAP-671-PORTADA_CENTRO_AMPLIADO |title=Basílica de la Caridad |work=Región de Murcia Digital |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |publisher=Fundación Integra |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914165607/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=,c,522,m,162&r=CeAP-671-PORTADA_CENTRO_AMPLIADO |url-status=live}}

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File:Submarino peral.JPG in 2015 in the new Naval Museum of Cartagena]]

The Civil War Shelter-Museum is based on the galleries excavated out the Concepción hill (site of the Castle) to serve as air-raid shelters during the Spanish Civil War. Many naval and military attractions belong to this era, such as the Naval Museum and the world-famous Peral Submarine invented by Isaac Peral (born in Cartagena) that was launched in 1888 as one of the first submarines ever. It was displayed on Cartagena's harbour promenade until its move to the Naval Museum, after a full restoration.{{cite news |url=http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/v/20111201/cartagena/submarino-peral-adios-muelle-20111201.html |title=Submarino Peral: adiós Muelle, hola Museo Naval |first=José Alberto |last=González |newspaper=La Verdad |language=es |date=1 December 2011 |access-date=14 March 2019 |publisher=Vocento |archive-date=27 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627030809/http://www.laverdad.es/murcia/v/20111201/cartagena/submarino-peral-adios-muelle-20111201.html |url-status=live}}

The Monument to the Heroes of Santiago de Cuba and Cavite (1923) is a war memorial erected in honour of the Spanish sailors who died in combat with the US Navy in waters off Cavite and Santiago off the Philippine and Cuban coasts.{{Cite web |url=https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_contemporaneo.asp |title=Itinerario Contemporáneo |work=Concejalía de Turismo |publisher=Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914232805/https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_contemporaneo.asp |url-status=live}}

Other attractions include the Lift-Gangway near the former Bullring and the Concepción Hill, the Regional Assembly (the Parliament of the Region of Murcia) whose facade includes architectural influences from the Renaissance while maintaining a modernist air (typical in the Levant), and the Carmen Conde-Antonio Moliner Museum that reconstructs the atmosphere in which these poets from Cartagena created some of their most important works.{{Cite web |url=https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_contemporaneo.asp |title=Concejalía de Turismo - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=1 February 2020 |archive-date=14 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914232805/https://turismo.cartagena.es/itinerario_contemporaneo.asp |url-status=live}}

File:Elportus.jpg

Although the city itself is only a port, within the city limits lies part of La Manga del Mar Menor (the other part belonging to the municipality of San Javier) which encompasses the Mar Menor. Cartagena also includes part of the Murcian Mediterranean Coast. Cartagena holds the distinction of being the Spanish city with the most beaches (10) certified "Q for Quality" by the ICTE (Instituto para la Calidad Turística Española). These beaches are: Cala Cortina, Islas Menores, Playa Honda beach, Mar de Cristal, Cala del Pino, Cavanna beach, Barco Perdido beach, El Galúa beach, Levante beach and La Gola beach.{{Cite web |url=https://turismo.cartagena.es/listado_playas.asp |title=Playas |work=Concejalía de Turismo |publisher=Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=14 September 2018 |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918212042/https://turismo.cartagena.es/listado_playas.asp |url-status=live}}

El Portús beach is adjacent to the naturist camping site, so nude bathing is practiced on this beach.{{Cite news |title=El Portús, Spain: Easy on the naked eye |last=Cornwell |first=Jane |newspaper=Metro |date=19 August 2010 |access-date=5 August 2016 |url=http://metro.co.uk/2010/08/19/el-portus-spain-easy-on-the-naked-eye-484534/ |archive-date=15 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815211836/http://metro.co.uk/2010/08/19/el-portus-spain-easy-on-the-naked-eye-484534/ |url-status=live}}

Cartagena is in Healtharea II (Cartagena) in Region of Murcia. In this area there are 17 subareas, and 13 are in the municipality. Two hospitals are included in the region and both are placed in the municipality. Cartagena is also home to 30 consultorios (primary care health centres with fewer functions than the centros de salud) and 12 centros de salud.{{Cite web |title=MurciaSalud, el portal sanitario de la Región de Murcia. Centros Sanitarios |url=http://www.murciasalud.es/caps.php?op=mostrar_area&id_area=2 |access-date=17 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023010844/http://www.murciasalud.es/caps.php?op=mostrar_area&id_area=2 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=SIAP. Datos cuantitativos de la fase 1. Glosario de términos - Definiciones y aclaraciones |url=https://www.mscbs.gob.es/estadEstudios/estadisticas/docs/siap/GLOSARIO_DE_TERMINOS.pdf |access-date=17 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924122907/https://www.mscbs.gob.es/estadEstudios/estadisticas/docs/siap/GLOSARIO_DE_TERMINOS.pdf |url-status=live}}

Cartagena is served by the Autopista AP-7 linking it to towns and cities further up the Mediterranean coast, and Autovía A-30 to Murcia. The Chinchilla–Cartagena railway reached Cartagena railway station in 1863 and the current station opened in 1903. It will be the future terminus of the Madrid–Levante high-speed rail network. The narrow-gauge Cartagena–Los Nietos line serves commuters between Cartagena and La Unión and Los Nietos to the east.

Bus facilities are also present in Cartagena by the urban bus service. There are lines to localities of the municipalities and adjacent municipalities such as La Unión and Torre-Pacheco.{{Cite web |title=Línea 1: CAPITANES RIPOLL-SAN FÉLIX│Transportes públicos│Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=http://wwwe.cartagena.es/ALSA/linea1.asp |access-date=13 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920111159/https://wwwe.cartagena.es/ALSA/linea1.asp |url-status=live}}

There are nine early childhood and primary education public centres in the main town and five secondary centres. Four concertados (semiprivate) centres are also placed in the territory and they include primary as well as secondary education. 38 primary education centres are located in the other districts as well as 10 secondary education centres. A special education centre can be found in the district El Plan, that is in the east of the western half of Cartagena.{{Cite web |title=Listado de centros |url=https://transparencia.carm.es/documents/184026/184318/Directorio+de+centros+educativos+p%C3%BAblicos/5822499b-8648-4325-88fe-e10101e3bb66 |access-date=11 September 2020 |website=Portal de la Transparencia |language=es |archive-date=14 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214124149/http://transparencia.carm.es/documents/184026/184318/Directorio+de+centros+educativos+p%C3%BAblicos/5822499b-8648-4325-88fe-e10101e3bb66 |url-status=dead}}

A public university named Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT), a centre of the public distance university UNED, a campus of the private university Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM) and a private university, which name is ISEN, occur in the municipality.{{Cite web |title=UCAM Campus de Cartagena │ UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia |url=https://www.ucam.edu/cartagena |language=es |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927062914/https://www.ucam.edu/cartagena |url-status=live}} UPCT includes degrees related to engineering and architecture,{{Cite web |title=Estudios de Grado - Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena |url=https://www.upct.es/estudios/grado/ |access-date=15 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=14 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914225820/https://www.upct.es/estudios/grado/ |url-status=live}} in UNED there are 28 degrees,{{Cite web |title=UNED │Lista de Grados Universitarios Oficiales en la UNED |url=http://portal.uned.es/portal/page?_pageid=93,1643102&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |access-date=15 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=14 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914225817/http://portal.uned.es/portal/page?_pageid=93,1643102&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |url-status=live}} in UCAM people can choose among 9 degrees{{Cite web |title=Estudios Cartagena │UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia |url=https://www.ucam.edu/cartagena/estudios?f=Cartagena |access-date=15 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809115325/https://www.ucam.edu/cartagena/estudios?f=Cartagena |url-status=live}} and in ISEN 9 degrees are taught.{{Cite web |title=Isen Centro Universitario │Isen Centro Universitario |url=http://isen.es/ofertaacademica |access-date=15 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922035637/https://www.isen.es/ofertaacademica |url-status=live}}

There are also three vocational education centres (CIFP) in the municipality,{{Cite web |title=Programas Europeos En La Formación Profesional |url=https://www.carm.es/web/pagina?IDCONTENIDO=27544&IDTIPO=100&RASTRO=c816$m17010,27322,5753 |access-date=15 September 2020 |language=es}} but vocational degrees are taught in some secondary education centres (IES). The main town is home to a centre of a national public organisation about language teaching. English, French, German, Arabic and Italian are taught from A1 level to C2.{{Cite web |title=EOI Cartagena |url=https://www.murciaeduca.es/eoicartagena/sitio/index.cgi?wid_seccion=1&wid_item=2 |access-date=12 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920083918/https://www.murciaeduca.es/eoicartagena/sitio/index.cgi?wid_seccion=1&wid_item=2 |url-status=live}}

They town council has an organisation named Universidad Popular de Cartagena where several courses are taught and courses for access to middle vocational degrees, higher vocational degrees and university degrees are included.{{Cite web |title=Cursos y Talleres 2019/2020│Universidad Popular de Cartagena |url=https://up.cartagena.es/cursos_y_talleres.asp |language=es |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901152328/https://up.cartagena.es/cursos_y_talleres.asp |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Formación│Cursos y Talleres 2019/2020│Universidad Popular Cartagena |url=https://up.cartagena.es/formacion.asp |language=es |access-date=11 September 2020 |archive-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901161001/https://up.cartagena.es/formacion.asp |url-status=live}} A centre for adult education can also be found in the main town where people can study elemental contents, secondary education for adults, the contents of the secondary education examination, the contents of the entry examination for CFGS (higher level vocational education), the contents of the entry examination for university degrees, Spanish, English, and a FPB (basic vocational education) for Computing.{{Cite web |title=CEA Cartagena |url=https://www.murciaeduca.es/ceacartagena/sitio/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |language=es |archive-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209134442/https://www.murciaeduca.es/ceacartagena/sitio/ |url-status=live}}

Probably the most remarkable element in regard to sports is Fútbol Club Cartagena (F. C. Cartagena) team, which is in Segunda División, the second level of the Spanish football league system. Another sport team is Futsal Cartagena, which is in Segunda División during most seasons. A successful team is UCAM Cartagena Tenis de Mesa.{{Cite web |url=https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2016/04/01/plasticos-le-llega-momento/725655.html |title=A Plásticos le llega su momento - La Opinión de Murcia |date=31 March 2016 |language=es |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131153953/https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2016/04/01/plasticos-le-llega-momento/725655.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://cartagena.ucam.edu/noticias/ucam-cartagena-virtual-campeon-de-liga-de-tenis-de-mesa-femenino |title=UCAM CARTAGENA virtual campeón de liga Tenis de Mesa Femino |date=1 April 2019 |language=es |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131154001/http://cartagena.ucam.edu/noticias/ucam-cartagena-virtual-campeon-de-liga-de-tenis-de-mesa-femenino |url-status=live}}

Other sports that are played in the municipality are basketball, at Club Basket Cartagena; handball, whose most noteworthy team is C.A.B. Cartagena; and badminton, at UPCT Bádminton Cartagena.{{Cite web |url=https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2016/07/15/basket-cartagena-seguira-ano-liga/753008.html |title=El Basket de Cartagena seguirá otro año más en la Liga EBA - La Opinión de Murcia |date=14 July 2016 |language=es |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131153952/https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2016/07/15/basket-cartagena-seguira-ano-liga/753008.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2016/04/24/cab-cartagena-campeon-segunda/731542.html |title=El CAB Cartagena, campeón de Segunda |date=23 April 2016 |language=es |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131154000/https://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2016/04/24/cab-cartagena-campeon-segunda/731542.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://deportes.cartagena.es/detalle_noticia.asp?id=53915 |title=El UPCT Bádminton Cartagena brilla en el Campeonato Regional Absoluto |date=11 April 2019 |language=es |access-date=31 January 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727090731/https://deportes.cartagena.es/detalle_noticia.asp?id=53915 |url-status=live}}

An international competition of aesthetic group gymnastics was held along with IFAGG (International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics) in Cartagena from 17 May to 19.{{Cite web |url=https://ifagg.sporttisaitti.com/events/?x118457=287373 |title=20th IFAGG World Championships, Junior World Championships, IFAGG Trophy 2019, Cartagena, Spain - International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics, IFAGG |website=ifagg.sporttisaitti.com |access-date=3 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727085558/https://ifagg.sporttisaitti.com/events/?x118457=287373 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartagena.es/detalle_agenda.asp?id=54334&pagina=1&c=37&t=&d=&h= |title=Comienza en Cartagena el Campeonato del Mundo de Gimnasia Estética de Grupo, que podrá seguirse por streaming en internet |language=es |access-date=3 February 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727101313/https://www.cartagena.es/detalle_agenda.asp?id=54334&pagina=1&c=37&t=&d=&h= |url-status=live}}

In regard to sports facilities, the two main ones for the average citizen are two pavilions, whose names are Pabellón Central or Wsell de Guimbarda and Piscina Municipal, but there are also pavilions and sports facilities in the districts.{{Cite web |title=Instalaciones│Instalaciones│Concejalía de Deportes - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://deportes.cartagena.es/instalaciones.asp |access-date=12 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=7 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007134907/https://deportes.cartagena.es/instalaciones.asp |url-status=live}} A stadium can also be found in the main city area.{{Cite web |title=El Cartagonova reestranará en el derbi ante el Real Mucia │Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/detalle_noticias.asp?id=46192 |access-date=13 September 2020 |language=es |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620164645/https://www.cartagena.es/detalle_noticias.asp?id=46192 |url-status=live}}

• Hasdrubal the Fair (c. 270 BC – 221 BC), military leader and general
• Licinianus of Cartagena (554–602), archbishop of the Diocese Cartaginense{{Cite web |title=Liciniano de Cartagena│Real Academia de la Historia |url=http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/25499/liciniano-de-cartagena |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=es |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021195653/http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/25499/liciniano-de-cartagena |url-status=live}}
• Hazim al-Qartayanni (1184–1211), poet{{Cite web |title=Cartagena. La Noche los Museos. Rutas y Visitas 2019 |url=http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=&r=AgP-23727-DETALLE_EVENTO |access-date=19 October 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022102348/http://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=&r=AgP-23727-DETALLE_EVENTO |url-status=live}}
• Juan Fernández (1528–1599), mariner and explorer of the Pacific Ocean and Polynesia
• Pepita Inglés (1910–1937) anarcho-syndicalist fighter and member of the Durruti Column during the Spanish Civil War.
• Sebastián Raval (1550–1604), composer
• Antonio de Escaño (1750–1814), army and naval officer
• Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros (1755–1829), naval officer
• Isidoro Máiquez (1768–1820), actor, painted by Francisco de Goya{{Cite web |title=Isidoro Máiquez│Real Academia de la Historia |url=http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/12688/isidoro-maiquez-rabay |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=es |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023081823/http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/12688/isidoro-maiquez-rabay |url-status=live}}
• Isaac Peral (1851–1895), engineer, naval officer and designer of the Peral Submarine
• Marcos Jiménez de la Espada (1831–1898), zoologist, geographer, historian, herpetologist, explorer and writer
• Juan Luis Beigbeder y Atienza (1888–1957), military and political leader
• Luis Calandre (1890–1961), physician{{Cite web |title=Luis Calandre│Real Academia de la Historia |url=http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/9790/luis-calandre-ibanez |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=es |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020193331/http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/9790/luis-calandre-ibanez |url-status=live}}
• Antonio Oliver (1903–1968), poet, poeta pertaining to the Generación del 27
• Carmen Conde (1907–1996), writer{{Cite web |title=Carmen Conde Abellán│Real Academia Española |url=https://www.rae.es/academicos/carmen-conde-abellan |access-date=19 October 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020233140/https://www.rae.es/academicos/carmen-conde-abellan |url-status=live}}
• Alfonso Pérez Sánchez (1935–2010), art historian and director of the Museo del Prado from 1983 to 1991{{Cite web |title=Alfonso Emilio Pérez Sánchez │Real Academia de la Historia |url=http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/9250/alfonso-emilio-perez-sanchez |access-date=19 October 2020 |language=es |archive-date=24 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024044521/http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/9250/alfonso-emilio-perez-sanchez |url-status=live}}
• Joaquín Navarro-Valls (b. 1936), doctor, journalist and writer
• Arturo Pérez-Reverte (b. 1951), novelist and journalist, member of the Real Academia Española
• Dolores Soler-Espiauba (b. 1935), novelist
• Federico Trillo (b. 1952), politician affiliated with the Partido Popular, ex-president of the Congreso de los Diputados and Spanish Ministry of Defence and current ambassador of Spain to the United Kingdom
• José Ortega Cano (b. 1953), bullfighter
• José Antonio Sánchez Baíllo (b. 1953), painter and engraver
• Eduardo Zaplana (b. 1956), politician affiliated with the Partido Popular
• Charris (b. 1962), painter
• José Carlos Martínez (b. 1969), dancer and choreographer
• Robert Sanchez (b. 1997), professional footballer for Chelsea

These are the most known festivals of the municipality:{{Cite web |url=https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/14c.asp?pt_idpag=898 |title=Fiestas y Tradiciones - Cultura- Tu Ciudad - Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |language=es |access-date=15 September 2018 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915122401/https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/14c.asp?pt_idpag=898 |url-status=live}}

• Cartagena's Holy Week processions are solemn religious parades which are unique in Spain for their discipline which reflects the city's naval tradition.{{Cite web |title=Semana Santa de Cartagena - Procesiones - Región de Murcia Digital |url=https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=c,369,m,2693&r=ReP-17383-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |language=es |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727090614/https://www.regmurcia.com/servlet/s.Sl?sit=c,369,m,2693&r=ReP-17383-DETALLE_REPORTAJESPADRE |url-status=live}}
• Carthaginians and Romans, declared an item of National Tourist Interest. The main festivities of the city, a colourful Carthaginian and Roman parade full of events that recall the Punic Wars and the conquest of the city by both Empires. Held over the final ten days of September.{{Cite web |title=Carthaginians and Romans Fiesta. Fiestas in Cartagena {{!}} spain.info in english |url=https://www.spain.info/en/calendar/fiestas-carthaginians-romans/ |access-date=6 December 2020 |website=Spain.info |language=en |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925171223/https://www.spain.info/en/calendar/fiestas-carthaginians-romans/ |url-status=live}}
• Cruces de Mayo: This festivity consists mainly in setting flowered Christian crosses with revere purposes.{{Cite web |title=Fiestas y Tradiciones I Información cultural I Tu Ciudad I Ayuntamiento de Cartagena |url=https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/14c.asp?pt_idpag=898 |language=es |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915122401/https://www.cartagena.es/plantillas/14c.asp?pt_idpag=898 |url-status=live}}

• Patron saint festivities: Different patron saints are venerated and different festivities are held throughout the municipality. There are activities that are more or less frequent in these festivities such as little processions (festive religious parades) and romerías (religious festive acts that consist in a little procession where a statue of the Virgin or Christ is carried and end in a large festive people meeting at an isolated church).

Cartagena is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|ITA}} Terni, Italy{{cite web |title=Vieni a Trovarci |url=https://www.amarantoidea.com/contatti/ |publisher=Amaranto Idea |language=it |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212000412/https://www.amarantoidea.com/contatti/ |url-status=live }}

Cartagena also cooperates with Carthage, Tunisia.{{cite web |title=Twinning Relationship |url=http://www.commune-carthage.gov.tn/en/index.php?srub=275&rub=251 |publisher=Carthage |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-date=12 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212104054/http://www.commune-carthage.gov.tn/en/index.php?srub=275&rub=251 |url-status=live }}

• Campo de Cartagena
• Navantia Spanish Shipbuilding Industry
• Spanish Navy
• Isaac Peral Cartagena inventor of the electric submarineHumble, Richard (1981). Underwater warfare. Chartwell Books, p. 174. {{ISBN|978-0-89009-424-2}}
• List of municipalities in the Region of Murcia

{{reflist}}

{{See also|Timeline of Cartagena, Spain#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Cartagena, Spain}}

• {{Cite journal|pages=251–260|title=Cartagena en el marco de la conquista del "Sarq Al-Andalus"|first=Antonio Vicente|last=Frey Sánchez|journal=Mastia: Revista del Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Cartagena|issn=1579-3303|issue=2|year=2003|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/6076285.pdf|location=Cartagena|publisher=Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Cartagena}}
• {{Cite journal|title=Castilla y el mar Mediterráneo: encuentros y desencuentros en la Baja Edad Media|first=Juan Francisco|last=Jiménez Alcázar|url=https://intushistoria.uai.cl/index.php/intushistoria/article/view/88/79|journal= Intus - Legere Historia|volume=5|issue=2|pages=7–33|year=2015|location=Viña del Mar|publisher=Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez|issn=0718-5456 }}
• {{Cite book|chapter=Cartagena arqueológica: un ejemplo de convivencia histórica|first=Elena|last=Ruiz Valderas|editor-first=Almudena|editor-last=Domínguez Arranz|year=2004|isbn=84-8127-152-7|publisher=Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses|location=Huesca|title=Jornadas de Arqueología en Suelo Urbano. Huesca, 19 y 20 de marzo de 2003}}

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{{EB1911 poster|Cartagena (Spain)|Cartagena}}

• [https://www.murciaturistica.es/en/home/ Official Tourism Site of Murcia, Spain]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070227201153/http://www.ayto-cartagena.es/ Cartagena City Hall] {{in lang|es}}
• [http://www.viva-murcia.com/cartagena_p120.php Viva Murcia] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609122153/http://www.viva-murcia.com/cartagena_p120.php |date=9 June 2021 }} Information and photographs for Cartagena
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090428041723/http://www.espele.net/militar/murcia/castillitos.html Coast batteries of Cenizas and Castillitos]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120210210855/http://www.fotocartagena.com/ Photos of Cartagena] (click on English at the bottom)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160924070408/http://www.balonmanocartagena.es/ Handball Club Cartagena, Spain]

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