Main sights Cartagena, Spain

1 main sights

1.1 archaeological sites
1.2 baroque , neo-classical buildings
1.3 modernist , eclectic buildings
1.4 contemporary sights
1.5 beaches

main sights

cartagena s city hall

thanks strategic position on mediterranean, cartagena has been inhabited many different cultures, have left mark on rich cultural heritage during glorious , turbulent history.

the “cartagena, port of cultures” initiative created allow visitors enjoy wide range of activities , visits, discovering cultural wealth , rich history of city. it’s 1 of several projects energize tourist possibilities of potential major cultural destination, overshadowed mass-tourism due proximity of several holiday resorts, , refinery , industrial development, gave bad reputation city because of pollution, fortunately eradicated.

archaeological sites

the roman theatre of carthago nova , cathedral ruins of cartagena.

although there ruins carthaginian ages, remains of punic rampart (built in 227 bc foundation of city), of oldest monuments date time of roman empire when cartagena flourished. archaeologist blanca roldan studied punic rampart , other punic remains, specially in molinete hill. among numerous roman remains, restored roman theatre of carthago nova prominent , 1 of city landmarks. building works started @ end of 2nd century bc. roman theatre museum officially opened first time. in roman republican times, mines near cartagena provided silver , lead roman empire.

other roman remains can found on several buildings , centres interpretation, including roman colonnade, house of fortune, decumanus , augusteum. torre ciega built romans burials rights; formed part of necropolis.

the roman amphitheatre (1st century ad) lies abandoned bullring built, of surrounding walls , part of rooms under stands still visible.

besides roman heritage, archaeological sights include remains of santa maría la vieja cathedral, irreversibly destroyed during spanish civil war. dates end of 13th century. decorated floor of roman house of 1st century bc can found in crypt.

a byzantine rampart can found, closer roman theatre , cathedral.

the concepción castle (now centre interpretation of history of cartagena) reconstructed in 13th century using large structures amphitheater. apart roman theatre museum, there 2 important archaeological museums: municipal archaeological museum , opened arqua (national museum of maritime archaeology).

baroque , neo-classical buildings

original charles iii rampart

the campus muralla del mar, old military hospital, 1 of first works carried out after transformation of city main spanish naval base in mediterranean, , seat of polytechnic university. in vicinity, there autopsy theater, anatomy classes used given. touristic rehabilitation offers patrimonial interpretation of nearby buildings @ time of construction.

these buildings , several other baroque or neo-classical buildings demonstrate military importance of cartagena. these include charles iii rampart, castillo de san julián, arsenal, midshipman s barracks (academy , naval barracks), naval headquarter palace (built in 1740 , subsequently reformed) , artillery headquarters, houses military museum. among baroque or neo-classical churches in cartagena el carmen, santo domingo , santa maria de gracia.

the austere façade of molina house hides centre of arts , craft.

modernist , eclectic buildings

the gran hotel

cartagena home numerous art nouveau buildings 20th century, when bourgeoisie settled down in city due growth of local mining industry. these buildings include city hall, grand hotel, casino (all of them among city s landmarks).

the railway station has outstanding iron doors , columns on façade, , inside can still seen original ticket office, doorframe, ceiling , lamps. other modernist or eclectic houses include clares house, aguirre palace (which houses regional museum of modern art), cervantes house (relatively big in comparison other modernist buildings), llagostera house, pedreño palace, dorda house, zapata house , urban expansion company house.

several charming lively streets cover area, such calle mayor (the high street), major pedestrian , commercial street of city, full of boutiques , bars typical tapas , carmen street, puertas de murcia street , many more.

the caridad church 1 of important churches in city, since dedicated patron saint of cartagena. interior dominated dome, similar roman pantheon of agrippa. there several outstanding sculptures famous murcian sculptor francisco salzillo , school.

contemporary sights

the peral submarine

the civil war shelter-museum lies on galleries excavated out concepción hill (where castle) serve air-raid shelters during spanish civil war. many naval , military attractions belong route, such naval museum , world-famous peral submarine invented isaac peral (born in cartagena) launched in 1888 1 of first u-boats ever. shown on cartagena s promenade until move naval museum after full restoration.

the monument heroes of santiago de cuba , cavite (1923) war memorial erected in honour of spanish sailors died in combat navy in waters off cavite , santiago off philippine , cuban coasts.

other attractions include lift-gangway near former bullring , concepcion hill, regional assembly (the parliament of region of murcia) façade has architectural influences of renaissance while maintaining modernist air (typical in levant), , carmen conde-antonio moliner museum reconstructs atmosphere in these poets cartagena created part of important works.

beaches

public beach @ el portús.

although city port, within city limits lies part of la manga del mar menor (the other part belonging municipality of san javier) encompasses mar menor. cartagena includes part of murcian mediterranean coast. cartagena holds distinction of being spanish city beaches (10) certified q quality 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 , la gola beach.

el portús beach adjacent naturist camping site, nude bathing practised on beach.