17th November, 2017 Visit to Cartagena, Spain
/We have previously visited Cartagena on a couple of other cruises and decided this time to do a small group walking tour through the town and to the historic Roman ruins. The weather contiues to improve and we find our first day of 30 degrees Celsius.
We dock at 12.00 pm following a morning relaxing on board, Ken in the gym and then having coffee, following which we spent the time in our suite. Jeanette has a new form of post cards and they are terrific using your own photos. She is sending several this morning.
We decide to enjoy an early lunch in Waves and take in our progress through the port area. But let me give some hisdtory. Caretagena is a major naval station located in the Region of Murca , by the Mediterranean Coast ,in south eastern Spain. It has a broad history over the 2000 plus years having been founded by Carthaginian Hasdrubal the Fair as Qart Hadasht in 227 BC. The city lived its hey day during the Roman Empire where it was known as the New Carthage. It has a coveted defensive port one of the most important in the western Mediterranean. It has been the home of the Spanish Naval Maritime Department of the Mediterranean since the arrival of the Sanish Bourbons in the 18th Century. It remains a key Naval installation and seaport and is home to a large Naval shipyard.
The ship docks at a wharf right on the edge of the township and we have a park area to cross before we get to the significant fortified walls of this ancient city. It is an easy walk and we are greeted by the guide at the end of the walkway . we have booked this tour via Viator and we expect an enjoyable and excellent tour of this historically fascinating military town with an emphatic ancient history.
We commence with a small party including 3 couples who are visiting but not as passengers on the Cruise ship. We walk to a relatively new tourist museum above Roman ruins and we enjoy a fascinating discussion and walk through the ruins.
From here we walk through the city area to the old ruins of the Roman City Hall and the wealthy living area ruins of the former roman garrison leaders. From here we walk to the Roman Theatre which has been remarkably preserved. to go backwards and discuss its significant role in the history of this city. The confluence of civilisations as well as the important strategic harbour, together with the large local mining industry has manifested by a unique artistic heritage with several landmarks such as the Roam Theatre. The theatre is the second largest on the Iberian Peninsula . There is an abundance of Phoenician, Roman, Moorish and Byzantine artefacts and remains and a plethora of Art Nouveau buildings, a result of the bourgeoisie from the early 20th Century.
Cartagena is now established as a major cruise ship port due to the historical factors, its modern shopping and ease of access. There is plenty to see, the whole township is clean , the retail areas are modern and impressive.
This is embodied by the significant redevelopment of the shopping precinct and the enjoyable walk back to the impressive town Hall building and then return to the ship by an enjoyable short walk of 300 metres. Our guide was very good, well informed, technically strong and prepared to listen and then answer in detail and the walking pace was easy and enjoyable.
An excellent visit. We are back on the ship by 5.30PM and it is a perfect Autumn/ Fall evening. We enjoy a drink with friends upstairs in the lounge overlooking the fortified walls then have dinner in the Grand dining room. The production show is "Lights, Cameras Action and we enjoy it.