What to see in Cartagena: 20 plans for the city and its surroundings
Founded by the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal the Fair in 227 BC and one of the most important cities of the Roman Carthago Nova , Cartagena is one of the must-see destinations in the Region of Murcia . Although the city has a somewhat run-down appearance, there is still plenty to see in Cartagena .
Well-preserved ruins from the Roman era with fascinating museums, one of the most beautiful town halls in Spain , imposing fortresses , a large port and much more await you in this historic city . We have prepared a complete guide and a logical itinerary with 20 must-sees in Cartagena and its surroundings.
What to see in Cartagena – The essentials
1. Town Hall Square
The best place to start your tour of the city is the Plaza del Ayuntamiento . The first thing that will catch your eye in this stately square is the spectacular modernist building of the Palacio Consistorial , the seat of Cartagena’s City Hall. The white marble façade and the imposing zinc domes on the corners of the roof left us speechless. If you can, go inside to admire the beautiful marble staircase or the plenary hall with its enormous crystal chandeliers.
2. Roman Theatre and its museum
In the Plaza del Ayuntamiento itself you will find the entrance to the Roman Theatre Museum , the main monument to visit in Cartagena. The Roman theatre was built in the 1st century BC and in its heyday it had a capacity for 7,000 people . For almost 2,000 years it remained completely buried under the houses that were built on it and was only discovered in 1988.
The museum is entered through the Riquelme Palace and after walking through an underground passage where the exhibits are , you will reach the fascinating Roman Theatre . If you wish, you can buy a ticket to the Roman Theatre Museum here .
3. Take a free tour in Cartagena
For us, the best way to get a first contact with the city is to take this free tour of Cartagena’s must-sees . On a fun guided tour you will get to know the most emblematic spots in the city.
4. Old Cathedral of Cartagena
One of the saddest episodes of the Spanish Civil War , regarding the destruction of our country’s historical heritage , was the destruction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Mayor . The city’s cathedral was a Gothic church that was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century. Today you can see its ruins near the Roman Theatre and you can imagine its magnitude. We hope that in the near future some kind of recovery of these rather abandoned ruins will take place.
5. Port of Cartagena
At this point of the visit we recommend leaving the historic centre and taking a walk along the Paseo de Alfonso XII bordering the Port of Cartagena . It is a large civil and military port where you can see all kinds of boats from fishing boats and small pleasure boats to large cruise ships and Navy ships . In the port you will also find interesting museums such as the Naval Museum and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQUA). If you have time, you can also continue your walk along the Sendero Azul to Cala Cortina , a beautiful cove that we will talk about later.
The Naval Museum (free entrance) is one of the most important museums to see in Cartagena. In one of its two buildings you can see its main attraction: the original Peral Submarine , designed by Isaac Peral . In addition to seeing this construction that was revolutionary in its time, you can see models of submarines , other types of ships and torpedoes in this building. The other building of the Naval Museum houses a collection of military ship models , old navigation devices and an exhibition on diving in the Navy .
7. National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQUA)
The other interesting museum in the area is the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática , which focuses on Spain’s underwater cultural heritage . The museum’s biggest attraction is the ” Treasure of the Odyssey “, a spectacular collection of over 570,000 gold and silver coins . These coins have been recovered from the frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes which sank in 1804.
8. Castle of the Conception
After returning to the area of the Roman Theatre, passing through the Carnisa Park, which offers great views of the ruins, you can climb up to the Castillo de la Concepción . This medieval fortress from the 13th-14th century, built on the ruins of a Muslim citadel, stands on one of the five hills that once protected the city. You can reach the castle on foot or use the panoramic lift .
From the top you can enjoy panoramic views of the Roman Theatre, the port and the rest of the city. Inside the fortress you can also visit the Cartagena History Interpretation Centre , which offers a journey through 3,000 years of history.
9. Civil War Museum
Very close to the panoramic elevator is the Civil War Museum-Shelter . Cartagena was one of the main bastions of the Republican side and the last city in the country to surrender to Franco’s army. The city suffered numerous bombings (one of which completely destroyed the Cathedral) and the museum itself is located in one of the air shelters used by the local population during the war. In the museum you can learn about the details of this horrendous period through an audiovisual exhibition .
10. House of Fortune
The Roman Theatre is not the only important archaeological site preserved from the Roman period . You should also visit the Casa della Fortuna , the ruins of a small Roman villa from the 1st century BC , which is located in the basement of a modern building. Inside the house you can see wall paintings , mosaics with motifs such as flowers or a swan, and original objects from the period such as personal ornaments or tableware. During the visit you will visit the bedrooms, the dining room, the reception room and you will be able to get an idea of daily life in those times.
11. Roman Forum and its museum
Another of the most important archaeological finds to see in Cartagena is the Roman Forum . The Roman Forum located at the foot of the Cerro del Molinete preserves remains of the ancient Roman baths , the Sanctuary of Isis , the Atrium building and ancient roads of Carthago Nova . In addition to seeing what remains of the ancient Roman Forum, it is highly recommended that you visit the rooms of the Molinete Roman Forum Museum where a large collection of archaeological pieces is exhibited .
12. Augusteum
Another piece of the city’s history in Roman times is the Augusteum , a temple dedicated to Caesar Augustus , the first Roman emperor. Inside the temple you can learn about the details of the emperor cult . In the museum you can see a recreation of the spectacular theatrical pomp that characterized these events.
13. Modernist architecture in the historic center
The historic centre of Cartagena was devastated by bombings during a cantonal rebellion at the end of the 19th century . However, thanks to the mining boom in the area, the new local bourgeoisie was responsible for rebuilding the city with beautiful buildings inspired by Catalan modernism . The streets Honda and Mayor , Plaza San Francisco and Plaza de la Merced are the main points of the tour that you should take in this area.
The Casa Maestre , for example, is very reminiscent of Casa Calvet (Gaudi’s work), but you will find many other beautiful buildings such as the Palacio de Aguirre (now the headquarters of the Regional Museum of Modern Art), the Gran Hotel , the Casino , the Casa Cervantes and of course the Town Hall that we have already mentioned above.
14. Punic Wall
Not much remains of Qart Hadast , the Carthaginian city founded more than two millennia ago. However, at the Punic Wall Interpretation Centre you can see the remains of the defensive wall that was built in the 3rd century BC. As well as seeing the only vestige of the Carthaginian era in Spain , you will see a very interesting exhibition here about the time of the Punic Wars between the Romans and the Carthaginians.
15. Peral Submarine
If you have visited the Naval Museum, you will have already seen the original Peral Submarine. However, in a roundabout on Paseo de Alfonso XIII you will also find a replica of this submarine propelled by electricity. It is quite curious to find a submarine in a roundabout.
