With one of the world’s great natural harbours and rich mineral mines, Cartagena has been a prized location for millennia. The Carthaginians played a big role in its evolution as an ancient trading hub in the 3rd century BC before it was conquered by the Romans. Cartagena, located on the southern end of Spain’s Costa Blanca, is a captivating mixture. Thousands of years of very exciting history, are embedded in a lively, modern city. Whether you arrive by car, coach or train, your eyes are immediately drawn to the massive walls which encircle a large part of the city. History is beckoning. The Port of Cartagena, Spain is a place you can safely wander on your own to get an authentic slice of Spanish life as it has existed for centuries. In addition to its warm and welcoming people, the city government has also made a considerable investment in luring tourists with new attractions. Below I will provide a brief outline on the highlights of Cartagena that I experienced including accommodations places to eat, and places to visit. ACCOMODATION IN CARTAGENAHOTEL LOS HABANEROS Location: Calle San Diego, 60, 30202 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain Cost: 1 twin or double room starts at $132 per night Hours: 24/7 reception available Website: http://www.hotelhabaneroscartagena.com TOP places to eat IN CARTAGENAIt's no secret that Spain has been considered most famous for their paella and of course, tapas! Although Cartagena is a small town, there is no shortage of places to eat. Keep in mind though, MOST restaurants are closed from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., so you won't be able to find anything during those times besides maybe some ice cream or very overpriced touristy places. Below I will provide a list of some of the top rated eateries in Cartagena:
top things to do in cartagenaRoman Theater beneath the ruins of the Old Cathedral, which had been destroyed during shelling in the Spanish Civil War. About two thirds of the theatre’s building material was still on site, which made possible the very detailed restoration you can see now. In the museum you’ll study the fantastic artefacts discovered during the excavations. Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Cost: €6 per adult / Click here for Website Palacio Consistorial You can enter one of Cartagena’s most impressive modernist wonders, the 100 year-old town hall on Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This triangular palace was also a response to the mining boom in the late-19th century, as Cartagena had outgrown its former town hall. There are English-speaking guided tours, showing you around the marble balustraded stairways and an exhibit of period tapestries. Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Cost: €6 per adult / Click here for Website Marine Archeology Museum ARQUA is a national centre for marine archaeology: A place to can see remarkable historical artefacts from underwater sites, but also a research facility for experts and scholars in the field. Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. / Cost: €3 per adult / Click here for Website Bateria de Castillitos This place was built in the mid-1930s during the rule of Primo de Rivera as part of a series of batteries defending Cartagena’s coast. Whimsical medieval-style turrets blend with the mountainside and look strange next to the menacing, black Vickers-Armstrong guns. Hours: sunrise to sunset / Cost: free / Click here for Website Spanish Civil War Museum This place was built in the mid-1930s during the rule of Primo de Rivera as part of a series of batteries defending Cartagena’s coast. Whimsical medieval-style turrets blend with the mountainside and look strange next to the menacing, black Vickers-Armstrong guns. Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. / Cost: Cost: €10 per adult / Click here for Website
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AuthorWest Coast blogger with a love for traveling and adventure seeking. Archives
July 2018
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