Everything about Cartagena Spain totally explained
Cartagena is a Spanish Mediterranean city and
naval station in the southeast of the
Iberian Peninsula in the autonomous community of
Region of Murcia. Cartagena has been the capital of the
Spanish Navy's Maritime Department of the Mediterranean since the arrival of the
Spanish Bourbons in the
eighteenth century. As far back as the
sixteenth century it was one of the most important naval ports in
Spain, together with
Ferrol in the North.
It is a walled town and has a fine harbour defended by forts. In the time of
Philip II of Spain, it was a major naval seaport of Spain. It is still an important naval seaport, the main military haven of
Spain, and there's a big naval shipyard.
Geography and climate
History
Cartagena was founded about
227 B.C. by
Carthaginian general
Hasdrubal as
Qart Hadast,
Punic for "new city". Hasdrubal extended the newly acquired Carthaginian empire in Iberia by skilful diplomacy, and consolidated it by the foundation of Qart Hadast in an excellent haven as the capital of a new province.
Hannibal got
silver from the
mines there to carry on the war against Rome.
When it was taken by the
Roman general
Scipio Africanus Major in
209 BC it was renamed as
Carthago Nova,
Latin for "New Carthage" (which is somewhat humorous, as "Carthago" is a latinization of "Qart Hadast," thus unknowingly the Romans named the city "New New City"). At the time Carthago Nova was said to be one of the richest cities in the world. The city gave its name (without the 'new') to the newest province in the
Hispaniae diocese, in the form of an adjective:
Carthaginiensis.
In 1873, the garrison arose against the
First Spanish Republic and formed the
independent Cartagena Canton. Since they'd the best part of the
Spanish Navy, they cruised the Spanish Mediterranean trying to bring them to
Cantonalism. The Federalist Spanish government declared them a
pirate fleet, encouraging foreign countries to chase and sink them.
Museums
Next to the Arsenal (Menéndez Pelayo), there's a Naval Museum.
On the opposite side of the harbour to the city is the National Museum for Underwater Archeology, containing a reconstructed Roman galley and exhibits from shipwrecks.
Architecture
Cartagena's sense of self-importance appeared again during the establishment of
Autonomous Communities in Spain. Some
Cartageneros were not happy to be in the same region as inland
Murcianos.
The Autonomy Act struck a compromise by having Murcia as the seat of the regional government and Cartagena as the seat of the regional parliament (Asamblea Regional).
Cartagena has many archaeologic sites. Ruins identified as a temple to
Melqart have been uncovered. Throughout the old centre, there are museums with remains of Roman buildings.
Cartagena was the birthplace of
Isidore of Seville, the Director of the Holy See (Vatican) Press Office
Joaquin Navarro Valls and the Spanish writer
Arturo Pérez Reverte.
Camping Naturista El Portús is a
naturist place in Cartagena.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cartagena Spain'.
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