Diana Petterson European Continent, Spain

Splendid Spain: Carthagena & its Cultural Diversity

Me with views of the Roman Theater in Carthage, Spain. (Aug. 10, 2024)

I was intrigued to know there’s actually a city called Cartagena in Spain. I’ve hung out in Columbia’s Cartagena, and with Spain’s Cartagena being less than an hour’s bus ride from Murcia, I decided it was worth the time and ride for a day trip. And, I’m glad I did.

I only spent a day in the city, but I enjoyed visiting a few of its historical sites and could see myself going back and exploring even more.

Cartagena is a port city and naval base that has been inhabited by many different cultures, which have left their marks on its rich cultural heritage. Founded by the Carthaginians around 220 B.C., the city boomed during the Roman period.

Here’s a brief look at Cartagena, Spain.
Me by the ruins of the Roman Theater of Cartagena, Spain. Built between the years 5 and 1 BCE, it had a capacity of some 6,000 spectators and was used for Roman theatrical performances during ancient Rome. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Walking through Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Approaching the Roman Theater in Cartagena, discovered and excavated literally in the middle of the city’s neighborhood just in recent years has been one of the most surprising discoveries of archeology of the city. (Aug. 10, 2024)
A modern neighborhood mural honoring the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
A modern neighborhood mural honoring the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
A modern neighborhood mural honoring the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
My Spanish speaking guide, Javi with Freetours, pointing to the walkway of photos about the excavation of the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
On one side is this neighborhood and on the other side are the stairs leading to the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
On one side is a neighborhood and on this side are the stairs leading to the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
On one side is a neighborhood and on this side are the stairs leading to the Roman Theater in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Views of the Roman Theater along the staircase in a Cartagena neighborhood. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Views of the Roman Theater along the staircase in a Cartagena neighborhood. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Views of the Roman Theater along the staircase in a Cartagena neighborhood. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The remains of the Santa Maria la Vieja Catedral, which dates from the end of the 13th century, in the archaeological remains of the Roman Theater in Carthagena which was built between the years 5 and 1 BCE. The Cathedral was irreversibly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The remains of the Santa Maria la Vieja Catedral, which dates from the end of the 13th century, in the archaeological remains of the Roman Theater in Carthagena which was built between the years 5 and 1 BCE. The Cathedral was irreversibly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. (Aug. 10, 2024)
In 1988, this Roman Theater in Cartagena was discovered during building works near the old cathedral. It was found that the old cathedral had been built over the upper part of the theater. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Me with views of the Roman Theater in Carthage, Spain. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Walking from the Roman Theater in Cartagena through 4-way street of the Four Saints of Cartagena, San Leandro, San Fulgencio, Santa Florentina and San Isidoro. The four sculptures are on each street corner of this intersection. (Aug. 10, 2024)
San Isidoro sculpture, one of the Four Saints of Cartagena adorning the four corners of the Calle Del 4 Stos. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Walking through the narrow streets of Cartagena and noticing that a number of these buildings are vacant. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Walking through the narrow streets of Cartagena and noticing that a number of these buildings are vacant. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Walking through the narrow streets of Cartagena and noticing that a number of these buildings are vacant. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Love the ornate hanging street lights in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Plaza de San Francisco with its tall Pine and Moreton Bay Fig trees in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The stunning Moreton Bay Fig tree in Cartagena’s Plaza de San Francisco are almost 100 years old. They surround the Monument of Isidoro Marquez, a Spanish actor considered one of the best of his time between the 18th and 19th centuries. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Another beautiful but empty building, the Casa Maestre in the Plaza de San Francisco with its tall Pine and Moreton Bay Fig trees, was built in the 1900s and has been classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The covered part of the Calle Balcones Azules in Cartagena is the archaeological site of the Roman Forum District. The area remained
buried for over 20 centuries until excavations in 2008 and 2009 revealed the ruins an entire block of Roman buildings. Highlights here include a thermal bathing complex, atrium, and the Decumano Calzada Romana, a section of the Roman road that originally joined the harbor and forum. (Aug. 10, 2024)
This covered part of the Calle Balcones Azules in Cartagena is the archaeological site of the Roman Forum District. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Ruins inside the archaeological site of the Roman Forum District in Cartagena reveal an entire block of Roman buildings. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Ruins inside the archaeological site of the Roman Forum District in Cartagena reveal an entire block of Roman buildings. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Ruins inside the archaeological site of the Roman Forum District in Cartagena reveal an entire block of Roman buildings. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Carthagena was built over Roman ruins protected under this glass canopy. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Carthagena was built over Roman ruins protected under this glass canopy. (Oct. 10, 2024)
Leaving the glass canopy of the Roman ruins and walking towards the Art Nouveau Gran Hotel inaugurated in 1916. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Art Nouveau Gran Hotel (left) in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Art Nouveau Gran Hotel in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Cartagena is home to several Art Nouveau buildings from the early 20th century, including the Gran Hotel. Only the facade remains from the original building; the inside was demolished to create an office building. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Casa Consistorial or Palacio Consistorial (to the left), located within the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, is the Art Nouveau building that houses the Town Hall of Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Casa Consistorial or Palacio Consistorial (to the left), located within the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, is the Art Nouveau building that houses the Town Hall of Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Casa Consistorial or Palacio Consistorial (to the left), located within the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, is the Art Nouveau building that houses the Town Hall of Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The park near the waterfront in Cartagena commemorates the Marines, the Héroes de Cavite and Santiago de Cuba, who died in these battles. The monument was erected in remembrance of those who fought and fell in the wars in Cuba and Philippines in 1898. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Monument of the Héroes de Cavite and Santiago de Cuba is in a beautiful small park near the waterfront in Cartagena. It commemorates the Marines who died in the battle of Cavite in the Philippine and those in the battle of Santiago in Cuba, during the Spanish American War. (Aug. 10, 2024)
Much of the historical significance of Cartagena stemmed from its coveted defensive port, one of the most important in the western Mediterranean. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Marina in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Marina in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Naval Museum at the Marina in Cartagena. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Wall of Carlos III in Cartagena was the last defensive wall in ancient times that are still partially preserved. A wall originally existed from the 3rd century BC. It was later re-walled by the Romans. Later, it was re-walled by the Roman people. During Byzantine times another wall was built. Then in 1776, King Charles III ordered the construction of the last wall of Cartagena, due to the city’s military vulnerability. Almost half the original walls were demolished in the 20th century due to urban expansion. (Aug. 10, 2024)
The Wall of Carlos III in Cartagena was the last defensive wall in ancient times that are still partially preserved. (Aug. 10, 2024)