Cartagena Holidays

City breaks to Cartagena

Cartagena – the Spanish city, not to be confused with its Colombian namesake – is a historical port town set right on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of the biggest names in the Murcia region and a popular boarding spot for local cruises because of its naval back story. In fact, its rich history dates right back to Roman times, and these days, there’s an extra dash of art and culture. A short journey away from the city centre takes you to sandy beaches, which are ripe for sun-soaking and swimming. You can find historical sites and artefacts all across the city, including the Teatro Romano de Cartagena – the hidden Roman Theatre – or the Castillo de la Concepcion medieval castle, which is topped off with colourful gardens. Don’t forget to sample the local tapas – there’s a host of bars and restaurants down by the port that do some of the best dishes in the city.

Discover the Teatro Romano de Cartagena

Despite being built thousands of years ago, the Roman Theatre of Cartagena remained hidden in the city until as recently as 1987, when the buildings on top were demolished, revealing ornate Corinthian columns. Works to excavate the remains only took place in the 1990s, but now you can see them up close – along with a newly added museum – to see the restoration in all its glory.