DIVE INTO THE
HERITAGE OF A
HISTORICAL
PORT
PORT AUTHORITY OF CARTAGENA
CARTAGENA: A
BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE CITY AND THE
PORT
The Port of Cartagena is situated in a
place which, in the ancient times, was a
natural bay opened up towards the south
and flanked on either side by mountains.
At the North of the bay, on a peninsula,
lay the city itself, with several mountains
sheltering the harbour. This priviledged
location led the first settlers to establish
themselves in the city more than 3,000
years ago and they used the bay as a
natural harbour for fishing and for
maritime trading.
Carthago Nova, founded by the Roman
general Publio Cornelio Escipion in the
year 209 B.C. soon emerged as the
capital of one of the provinces of the Roman Hispania, thanks to its geographical location
and its port, which facilitated trade between the Roman colonies and the capital of the
empire, remaining that way until the 5th century A.D. During these 7 centuries, the city
was adorned with Roman baths, a forum, a theatre, an amphitheatre, a port, military
arsenals and even Roman coins were minted there. The port served as an entrance to the
peninsula for the products imported from Rome and the main Mediterranean ports, as well
as an outlet for local produce.
The city's second golden age came when the first fortifications were built in the 16th
century during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. During the reign of the Habsburg
monarchs, Carlos I and Felipe II, Spain was the European bastion against the Islamic
penetration of the continent and Cartagena became the main military base of the kingdom.
In the 17th century, Cartagena was chosen as the base for the Royal Galleys, and works
were carried out to adapt the port in order to hold the Spanish fleet during the winter,
which included the building of fortifications such as the Christmas Battery and Tower.
When the Borbons reached the throne in the 18th century, Cartagena was named Capital of
the Mediterranean Maritime Department, with the successive construction of the Arsenal,
the Artillery Park, the Galeras, Atalaya and Moros castles, the Antiguones quarters, the
Guardias Marinas school, the Royal Hospital, the Tricabotijas, Santa Ana and Podaderas
forts, and the crowning achievement, the sea wall, built under the auspices of Carlos III,
which surrounded the entire city.
At the end of the 19th century in the nearby town of La Union, the mining of natural
resources became very important and led to the establishment of industrial companies in
the city during a time in which there was a great demand for the minerals extracted. These
decades of economic boom are reflected in the old part of the city, where a large number of
buildings, houses and mansions were built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th
century, in a modernist and eclectic style known as Cartagena Modernism, which the
businessmen enriched by the mineral trade had built for them by the most prestigious
architects of those years, in order to settle with their families in the city.
Throughout history, the city and the port have always walked hand in hand in a perfect
symbiosis which has brought them into the 21st century with a valuable historical and
artistic heritage accumulated over thirty centuries which currently attract many visitors and
which are the pride of the local citizens. In the last few decades, the city and the port have
made a great effort to highlight the importance of the rich heritage left by their
predecessors.
CARTAGENA: CAPITAL
ARCHEOLOGY
OF
UNDERWATER
The military importance of Cartagena and its port since the Middle Ages has lead the city
to become a base for the Spanish Navy, with the founding here of the Navy Diving Centre,
where the best professionals in the field have been
trained, and who now watch over the security of the
country. During the training immersions around the
coast of Cartagena, these divers have often found
Roman remains such as amphoras, crockery, coins and
shipwrecks, scattered all over the seabed in the vicinity
of the port.
These findings led to the building in Cartagena in 1980
of the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology,
the only national museum in the Region of Murcia,
near to the Christmas lighthouse in facilities granted by
the Port Authority of Cartagena, so that the museum
could have storerooms, workshops and exhibition
rooms.
In the last few decades, underwater archeology has
been going through a boom period and these facilities became too small to exhibit the large
collections of pieces and remains recovered from the sea. At the same time, the Cartagena
Port Authority was immersed in the full development of the Port-City Integration Plan,
through which large areas property of the port were recovered and devoted to urban
activities. In the year 2008, the new building for the Museum was inaugurated under the
new name of ARQUA at the Alfonso XII Quay, a privileged site in the city, by the sea and
next to the Cruise Terminal and the marinas, on grounds granted by the port to the Ministry
of Culture, continuing in this way the close collaboration for the diffusion of the historical
patrimony related to the sea. The importance of the museum was recently made obvious
with the decision of the Spanish government to place there the treasure of the frigate
Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, an incomparable collection of highly valuable pieces
from the early 19th century. Currently, the Cartagena Port Authority belongs to the
Museum Trust, collaborating together in all kinds of activities, mainly in temporary
exhibitions.
ARQUA: THE INTERIOR AND THE VIEW OF THE SQUARE BETWEEN THE
TWO BUILDINGS
Due to the amount of archaeological remains found on the seabed around the Port of
Cartagena, whenever the Port Authority plans to carry out expansion and infrastructural
works which could affect the seabed, underwater prospecting of an archeological nature is
carried out in order to locate, recover and preserve any shipwrecks which may exist in the
places affected.
Proof of how much care is taken during these investigations came when, in the 90s, the
Port of Cartagena planned the expansion of the docks at Escombreras. The expansion
works began in December 2000 but, previously, underwater works were carried out for the
study and recovery of archeological pieces in the area where the docks would later be built.
These works, commisioned out to a specialist company, resulted in the finding of four
shipwrecks from the 1st century A.D. of the Roman period near the Island of Escombreras,
from which hundreds of specimens were recovered, among which stand out a cargo of
amphoras and Campanian ceramic crockery belonging the crews of the boats.
UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK AT ESCOMBRERAS
After the recovery and cataloguing of these specimens, two public exhibitions were held.
The first, “Metamorphosis: the port of Cartagena before the third millennium”, took place
in a large marquee next to the sea at the Alfonso XII Quay in Cartagena during the year
1999, and received 30,000 visitors in just one month. A few years later, in 2004, these
pieces were again exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Murcia for an extended
period of 3 months during the exhibition “Scombraria: history hidden beneath
benea the sea”. At
the moment, the idea of holding a travelling exhibition in other cities with the same
materials is being studied.
EXHIBITION: “METAMORPHOSIS” - CARTAGENA
CARTAGENA PORT OF CULTURES
The conservation and importance of the archaeological heritage of Cartagena took a great
step forward with the discovery in the year 1990 of the existence of a Roman theatre under
the remains of an old part of the city. The excavation of the theatre was completed
co
between
the years 1996 and 2003, revealing the splendour and importance of this finding.
ROMAN THEATRE IN 2013
In the year 2001, the Cartagena Port of Cultures Consortium was created, with the
participation of the City Council, the Regional Council, business associations, the
University of Cartagena and the Port Authority, in a joint effort to highlight the importance
of and to manage the different archaeological sites, museums and tourist attractions of the
city, which in just a few years has created a first class cultural tourism offer.
Throughout this time, the recovery of patrimonial resources, facilities, signals, access and
transport through archeological, architectural and museum displays have been carried out.
Currently, Cartagena Port of Cultures manages the tourist services of the museums,
Interpreting Centres and archaeological sites of Cartagena through an integral management
of the heritage at a tourist and cultural level.
Furthermore, Cartagena Port of Cultures continues working on the recovery and
enhancement of the importance of the cultural tourism resources of the city.
PUNIC WALL AND ROMAN FORUM SUBURB
CHRISTMAS BATTERY
TOURISTIC BOAT FOR VISITING THE PORT
AUGUSTEUM: MEETING PLACE FOR THE ROMAN CIVIL LEADERS
RESTAURATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE
HISTORICAL-ARTISTIC HERITAGE AROUND
ALFONSO XII QUAY
ALFONSO XII QUAY: 19TH CENTURY AND 2013
In the 19th Century, the Port of Cartagena built its first commercial quay, the Alfonso XII
Quay, on ground gained from the sea at the end of the seawall which protected the city.
Since the end of the 20th century this quay, found right between the city center and the sea,
has been transformed into an urban area through the Port-City Integration Plan. At present,
the transformation is complete and the quay now forms part of the urban landscape and is
the place where the city welcomes visitors who arrive by sea. In this area, diverse
architectural elements which form part of the historical heritage of the city stand out.
THE CARLOS III WALL OR THE SEA WALL
This area is dominated by the Carlos III Wall, or Sea Wall, declared a Cultural Heritage
Site by the Ministry of Culture. The wall dates back to the 18th century and most of it runs
parallel to the Alfonso XII Quay. Until the year 1999, part of the wall lay underground and
the rest was fairly deteriorated, mainly due to the traffic which passes alongside it. The
Port Authority of Cartagena took charge of the restoration work of this monument,
excavating until the foundations, and original stones were discovered and restoring the
lengths of the wall which were revealed. This restoration was completed with the
landscaping of the surroundings, in this way returning this important monument to its
former glory.
THE CARLOS III WALL
CENTRE FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE PORT
The Port of Cartagena has two buildings on the Alfonso XII Quay: the Port Authority
Office Building, which was built in 1926 and where the head office of the Presidency is
located, and the General Management of the port, together with the central offices. The
interior of the building has been refurbished in order to make it a suitable workplace and
has been fitted with areas where the public may be attended to. A majestic staircase inside
the building has been preserved, and the Board Room, where meetings of the Board of
Directors of the Port Authority of Cartagena are held, also stands out for its great beauty.
There is also a year-round public exhibition on the history of the Port of Cartagena from
ancient times to the present day, which includes a display about future projects.
THE PORT AUTHORITY BUILDING AT NIGHT
EXHIBITION OF THE HISTORY OF THE PORT OF CARTAGENA
PORT OF CARTAGENA VISITORS CENTER
Nearby, another extraordinary building lies: the Old Yacht Club. This is a faithful
reconstruction of a building which was constructed in the19th century, which housed the
Royal Yacht Club of Cartagena from its founding until it was moved to its new site at the
end of the 20th century. The original building was destroyed in a fire but, before the ruins
were demolished, casts of the exterior ornaments were made and, using the original plans,
a reconstruction was carried out, respecting the exterior appearance and the original
location. At present, the Centre for Visitors to the Port of Cartagena, as well as Customer
Service, a giant model of the port, meeting halls and display rooms can be found inside this
building, which was inaugurated in 2006.
THE OLD YACHT CLUB: AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF THE 20TH
CENTURY, BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE.
THE NEW BUILDING, INAUGURATED IN 2006
STUDENTS AT THE VISITORS CENTER
THE PORT MODEL EXHIBITED IN THE VISITORS CENTER
The surroundings of the Alfonso XII Quay nowadays constitute a singular and admirable
urbanistic unity, representative of the richness of the historical-artistic heritage of the city
and the port of Cartagena. Dominated by the height and majesty of the Carlos III Wall,
diverse architectural elements are distributed around a vast landscaped square which
stretches down to the sea: buildings which belong to the Port Authority and Customs, the
Town Hall, the Military Government, and the Old Yacht Club. This area, which is kept
permanently available to the city, is frequently chosen for the celebration of all kinds of
public events, and most of the guided tours of the city start and end here.
THE SQUARE AND THE BUILDING OF THE PORT AUTHORITY IN THE
BACKGROUND
THE BUILDING OF THE PORT AUTHORITY AND THE VISITORS CENTER
PUBLIC EVENTS HELD ON ALFONSO XII QUAY
THE HERITAGE OF THE INDUSTRIAL ERA
The modern times has left to the Port of Cartagena a number of remains from the late 19th
century and part of the 20th century. Nowadays, this heritage from the recent history
appeals to the knowledge of those years, predecessors of the era we are living now.
THE SAMSON CRANE: A GIANT AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE
PORT
The Samson crane was built in 1909 at La Union Naval de Levante shipyard in Valencia,
and was operative until the year 1993. This 40-metre-high crane was used during its
working life both for sea rescue tasks, as it could be converted into a floating crane once
installed on top of a pontoon, and for port construction works such as, among other things,
the placing of the breakwater blocks at La Curra and Christmas docks. The crane was also
used for unloading large pieces of building material which arrived by ship during the
construction of the oil refinery at
Escombreras during the 1960s
and, in later years, the
construction of the Tajo-Segura
water diversion canals.
After falling into disuse, the Port
Authority of Cartagena restored
and installed it on a new
roundabout built to control traffic
at the entrance to the Container
Terminal, and it has remained there since the year 2001, dominating the landscape from its
imposing height and serving as a landmark to the entrance to the commercial port.
THE SAMSON CRANE MOVING LARGE PIECES OF MATERIAL
THE SAMSON CRANE NOWDAYS, AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CONTAINER
TERMINAL
THE LIGHTHOUSES: PORT
HERITAGE PAR EXCELLENCE
Lighthouses have formed an inseparable
element of ports and of maritime navigation
since time immemorial. From the bonfires
lit by Phoenicians and Carthaginians on top
of their watchtowers to the modern,
automated lighthouses of today, they have
always served as a reference point to where
the sea ends and land begins, and to where
the ports, in which mariners could take
shelter, lie.
The lighthouses and maritime beacons of
the Region of Murcia are the responsibility
of the Port Authority of Cartagena, which is
in
charge
of
their
management,
conservation and maintenance as the only
port of General Interest in the region. Apart
from their main task of assuring the safety
of coastal navigation, the lighthouses of the Region of Murcia constitute a group of
singular buildings which, united by their strategical locations near to promontories and
cliffs of great beauty, form a patrimonial group in the port which are highly appreciated
both by the local population as well as by visitors to the area. The Port Authority devotes a
lot of both economic and human effort towards maintaining these structures accessible and
open to those who appreciate their beauty and the maritime nature which impregnate each
and every stone of these towers and of each step worn away by the feet of the many
lighthouse keepers who have made sure that their light is never extinguished.
OTHER PIECES OF INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
OLD DRY DOCK
OLD DRY DOCK: DETAIL
FIRE BRIGADE CART - 1925
FIRE BRIGADE CART – DETAIL
SOME BOOKS ISSUED BY THE PORT
WESTERN LIGHTS
CARTAGENA SEA PORT
LIGHTHOUSES OF MURCIA
METAMORFOSIS AND ESCOMBRARIA