Cartagena: March 31 2023
The Almanzora Group of Friends are pleased to announce.
A Free Time Day Trip to Cartagena
Friday 31st March 2023
Price 16 Euros Members 21 Euros Non Members
We have organised a day trip to the historic city of Cartagena with many interesting and historic places to visit and enjoy.
Cartagena is a small port city with a big history. Since its founding in 227 BC, the city has been ruled over by Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs and finally the Kingdom of Spain. There are numerous archaeological sites, including the Roman Theatre that was only just discovered in 1988!
Cartagena is also home to a world class naval museum and a charming old town with plenty of modernist architecture to discover.
This small port city is home to 216,000 inhabitants and is in the southeast corner of Spain. Its wide bay is one of the best protected ports in all the Mediterranean. It was for this reason, as well as its close proximity to a silver mine, that the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal the Fair founded the city in 227 BC.
Its original name was Kart hadašt which was Phoenician for “new city.” This is the same name that was given to the original Carthage in modern day Tunisia. After the Carthaginian defeat in the second Punic War, the Romans gained control of the city which was renamed to Carthago Nova.
The Romans fully exploited the mineral reserves of the surrounding mountains and took advantage of Cartagena’s privileged defensive location on the coast. Most of the ancient ruins that can be seen in the city today date back to this time period.
Things to do in the city.
Cartagena’s Roman theatre (6€ entrance fee) is the city’s main tourist attraction and visiting it is at the very top of the main things to do in Cartagena.
Naval Museum. Every city has museums. Sometimes too many in our opinion. Because the reality is that many of them don’t have noteworthy collections. And if the collection isn’t very interesting, then why visit? With that said, you can rest assured that the Naval Museum (free access) The collection is world-class.
The Old Town. Unfortunately, Cartagena was mostly destroyed by bombings during the Cantonal rebellion that took place at the end of the 19th century. However, a big mining boom took place shortly afterwards that created a new local bourgeoisie excited to show off their newly acquired wealth.
The Castillo de la Concepción (4€ entrance fee) is a medieval castle from the 13-14th centuries located on top of one of the five hills that historically protected Cartagena.
The Palacio Consistorial. This is one of the main modernist buildings in the city and also one of the most beautiful ones. It was built between 1900-1907 by Tomás Rico, featuring an eclectic style with French influences.
CIVIL WAR SHELTERS MUSEUM. Cartagena’s civil war museum-shelter (3.5€ entrance fee), you will have the opportunity to learn more about the city’s more recent history.
During the Spanish civil war (1936-39), Cartagena was an important Republican stronghold. It was the last city in Spain to surrender to Franco’s troops.
There will be plenty of time to visit and sample the food in any of the city’s numerous bars and restaurants of your choice.
Included in the price.
Coach travel for the visit.
Trip can be booked in the library from Tuesday 14th February 2023
