The New Student's Reference Work/Cartagena, Spain

Cartagena (kär′tȧ-jē′nȧ), Spain, an important historic town and fine seaport on the Mediterranean, in the province of Murcia, is situated in the southeast of the kingdom, south of Alicante and east of Almeria in Andalusia. Its population in 1910 was 96,983. Its harbor, which is defended by strong fortifications, is one of the best on the coast and was formerly the chief naval arsenal of Spain. In early days it was the great commercial emporium of the Carthaginians, and was founded in 242 B. C. by Hasdrubal. Thirty-two years later, it was captured by Scipio Africanus and in A. D. 550 it was destroyed by the Goths; it has otherwise suffered from invasion and capture at different eras. Today the city, which is an episcopal see, has many interesting ruins, among them the Castillo de la Concepcion, situated on a fine promontory, while notable are many of its churches (especially the cathedral, a Gothic structure which dates from the 13th century). The arsenal, docks, dockyards, barracks and hospitals, besides its foundries, machine shops, glass and smelting works and other industrial establishments, are worthy of a visit. Its exports consist of minerals, including lead, zinc, copper, silver ore, coke and coal; besides machinery, lumber, esparto grass, oranges, lemons.