We Spent A Day In Cartagena
The Spanish city of Cartagena has more than 3,000 years of history. You do need candles on your birthday cake! In all this time it has witnessed many events and the most important can be enjoyed on a typical tour. Surely a single day seems too little to enjoy the city to the fullest!
The thousand faces of the same city
Cartagena can be defined in many ways. It is Punic, military, Roman, modernist. Also baroque, neoclassical, eclectic and contemporary. It has hundreds of facets to discover!
Located in the Murcia region on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and south of the Campo de Cartagena plain, it is a region whose foundation dates back to 227 BC During the Roman era it had its great heyday and today we can see many vestiges of those times .
The average temperature throughout the year is 20 ° C with maximums reaching 30 ° C in summer and 8 ° C in winter. Really nice to visit in all four seasons!
What to do in Cartagena in one day?
Before starting this tour you have to know that you must arrive very early if you do not want to miss anything. It is worth getting up early! Landscapes mix with architecture and customs . History has a leading role in Cartagena. Let the ride begin!
Castle of the Conception
This castle is located on one of the 5 hills that guard the city. An excellent starting point to learn about the history of Cartagena. The guided tour lasts 1 hour and in that period 3,000 years of history are summarized. Learn about the legacy of ancient civilizations and the most important facts of the region.
Roman theater and forum
They are symbols of the city and demonstrate the passage of this empire through the area. The Roman Theater museum will fascinate you from the first moment. This architectural complex was designed by Rafael Moneo and has spectacular rooms. Although the theater was built in the 1st century BC by order of the Emperor Augustus, it was discovered in 1990. It has been very well preserved!
If you love the stories of the Romans, you cannot miss the forum of the ancient “Carthago Nova”. A site that has been underground for 20 centuries. The atrium building and the thermal complex stand out. If you go with children, do not miss the theatrical visit.
National Museum of Underwater Archeology
In Cartagena there are also many marine treasures that are worth discovering. In this museum you can admire everything found in the Fragata Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. The loot consists of… 570 thousand gold and silver coins! They are from the 18th and 19th century.
If you love ship stories, you can also go to the Naval Museum where you can see Isaac Peral’s submarine, used for more than 80 years and a symbol of the city.
Cala Cortina
A little rest does not hurt after so much walking. Cala Cortina is the most popular beach in Cartagena, urban and visited by hundreds of people every day. To access the arena you have to go through a tunnel. Yes, as if it were a game for children.
On the beaches of Cartagena you can enjoy restaurants, hammocks, games for the little ones and boardwalks. In addition to taking a dip, you can go diving and marvel at the flora and fauna of this coastline in the heart of the Mediterranean.
Cabo de Palos
If you’ve been to Cartagena on a Sunday… it’s market day! You will have to travel about 30 minutes by car from the city center to reach the fishing town of Cabo de Palos, located next to the Manga del Mar Menor. There a colorful market takes place where you can find almost everything.
If you continue between the posts along the Paseo de la Barra you will arrive at the beautiful lighthouse, an old school of lighthouse keepers. Unmissable to enjoy the sunset with whoever you want.
Do not hesitate to organize your day out in Cartagena and combine the old with the modern at every step you take.
