The historic city of Cartagena is well worth a visit on your trip – at just a 25 minute drive from the Villa.
The Roman Theatre
The Roman Theatre of Cartagena is a fantastic historic site which brings back faded memories of the Roman Empire.
Spanish cultural sites from the Romans survive much better than their English counterparts thanks to the sunny weather and lack of rainfall eroding the historic stone – leaving a city packed with history down every street.
Discovered in 1988, this 2000 year old theatre was buried under a Cathedral – only to be discovered during Spain’s restructuring following the Civil War.
The detailed reconstruction is possible thanks to over 65% of the original stone being on site during the discovery, leaving us with an amazing historical site to explore and enjoy.
Enjoy the Modernist Architecture
A walking tour of this fantastic area will lead you to many buildings borne from the mining wealth of the 1800s.
Viewing these modernist developments as you stroll through the buzzing city is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a city feel away from the haste of Madrid – giving you the chance to slowly absorb and enjoy the offerings of Cartagena.
El Palacio Consistoria
This fantastic century-old town hall of Cartagena was built as the booming city outgrew the old town hall.
With English speaking guides available, this is not a site to miss on your travels to Cartagena.
To view the impacts of modern history, it’s interesting to see the bullet marks scarring the town hall. This is one of the many hallmarks of Spain’s past – visible in most monuments and old buildings in the country.
The Spanish Civil War Museum
The Spanish Civil war is a dark and recent part of Spanish history – and in this fantastic museum history can come to life and be explored by the whole family.
Cartagena was a Republican stronghold during the Civil War – well protected by the sea at its back.
This meant that the nationalist forces often aimed to bomb Cartagena – giving the city a fantastic perspective on the war.
Castilios Battery
This fantastic battery resides on the far side of Cartagena, overlooking the sea. The technological advances of WW1 entirely removed any initial benefits for this location, and so the defences of Cartagena became obsolete.
Later, a new defence structure was built around Cartagena, allowing this fantastic building to become a tourist attraction in the area.
Tapas Tour
The Spanish culture of tapas is not something to be missed during your visit to this coastal city. A tapas tour will help you to find the culinary highlights of this vibrant town, enjoying the variety that is on offer.
Walking Tour
Seeing the city by foot is a fantastic opportunity to explore both the architectural styles of the city, and the different museums on offer. It can help you to see the pockets of culture within the region, and to enjoy the metropolitan feel of a bustling city.
Sightseeing Cruise
This sightseeing cruise is a fantastic opportunity to take to the waves and view Cartagena from the ocean. With plenty to see in this ancient town, the view from afar is stunning.
Arqua Museum
The National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena gives you the opportunity to learn about the methods and techniques of underwater research, alongside the descriptions of different underwater finds.
There is also an extensive collection of information on Cartagena’s history, from the Phoencian to the medieval times. With the showcases of archaeological finds and interactive displays, this museum is packed with things to see and do.
Bike Tour
A bike tour in Cartagena is a great way to blend an active day out with plenty of sightseeing. Visiting panoramic views and an extensive amount of the city, it is a perfect way to have a great day out.