Tag Archives: Cartagena

February 15, 2023 · 5:35 am

Mediterranean Cruise 2022 — Roman Theatre and Mirador Parque Torres

Time to start heading up the hill, but before we get to the vistas there’s one more Roman-connected structure along the way. Whereas the Roman Theater is just west of the hill we are climbing, there is an old bullfighting ring to the east of that same hill. Right about now you’re probably thinking, “The Romans had bullfighting?” No. They did not. But the Spanish sure do. And in those cities that have yet to outlaw this spectacle, bullfights are held in Plazas de Toros (Plazas of Bulls). Cartagena’s was originally called Plaza de Toros de Cartagena, but today it’s Anfiteatro Romano y Plaza de Toros de Cartagena. The reason for the change is because this former bullring was built atop an ancient Roman Amphitheater. The bullring has since been partially dismantled, revealing the structure in which Roman gladiators once met. But before we get that far, here’s an interesting piece and a view above the hill:

Castle of Galers; west of the naval base

Now let’s take a look at that stadium:

*Anfiteatro Romano y Plaza de Toros de Cartagena*

Zooming in on where old Rome meets newer bullring

Making our way farther up the hill we pass Torre Linterna (Lantern Tower):

This hill is home to Parque Torres (Tower Park). On the west side of the park is Mirador Parque Torres (Tower Park Viewpoint). It is here you’ll find these views:

Tower Park Viewpoint (*Mirador Parque Torres*)

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

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Tagged as Anfiteatro Romano y Plaza de Toros de Cartagena, Cartagena, cruise vacation, Mediterranean cruise, Mirador Parque Torres, R. Doug Wicker, Royal Caribbean, Spain, travel, travel photography, vacation, Vision of the Seas

February 13, 2023 · 12:35 am

Mediterranean Cruise 2022 — Plaza Héroes de Cavite and Roman Theatre

This week will end my presentation of our May 2022 cruises aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas, which if you’ll recall started with a transatlantic crossing, and finished up with a back-to-back follow-on that took us to some seldom seen ports in Spain and France. And this week well will finish up with a Fun Food Friday during our second visit to Valencia, where on this visit Ursula and I walked into town for a traditional Valencian paella for lunch. Heading into next week I’ll show you our next destination on this months-long journey as I take you to Germany, and then Utrecht in the Netherlands. It is from Netherlands where we then began a back-to-back-to-back set of voyages that I’m sure you’ll find fascinating the enjoyable.

But first we must finish with Cartagena before we move on to Valencia and beyond, and today we’re still in Plaza Ayuntamiento headed south toward some serious naval memorials. After that, we head onto a hill overlooking Cartagena and which holds a Roman theater, so it’ll be a busy day.

Plaza Ayuntamiento; looking west from the southeast corner of Town Hall

This area of Cartagena abuts a major Spanish naval base — Arsenal de Cartagena. The base dates back to the 18th century (constructed 1732-1782; in continuous use since 1782), and remains today one of Spain’s largest such facilities. So, it seems entirely appropriate that this adjacent piece of real estate would host several monuments and statues dedicated to the Spanish Armada. Let’s begin with this forlorn chap whom Ursula tried to cheer:

This homebound sailor I showed you last Fun Photo Friday:

The main dedication in Plaza Héroes de Cavite is the Monument to the Heroes of Cavite and Santiago de Cuba (Monumento a los Héroes de Cavite y Santiago de Cuba). The monument was opened to the public in two days before Armistice Day 1923, and commemorates the forces that operated under Admirals Pascual Cervera and Patricio Montojo during the Spanish-American War of 1898.

“Honoring the Squadrons of Cervera and Montojo”

After our visit to Plaza Héroes de Cavite we boarded our bus for one last stop before heading back to Vision of the Seas. This was but a few minutes’ ride, and it afforded us the best views that day of Cartagena. But before we completed our hike to the observation point, we were delighted to see Cartagena’s old Roman theater. Built between 5 and 1 B.C., the ruins were only recently discovered, in 1988. Excavation and restoration were completed in 2003.