CARTAGENA COSTA BLANCA

Cartagena, built around a superb natural harbor, was founded by Hannibal as his Iberian capital and named after North African Carthage. A major  port and administrative centre, its strategic importance continued for centuries, as the numerous surrounding castles and the vast Arsenal testify. Its wealth came from mining, which paid for churches such as Santa Maria de Gracia and La Caridad, as well as the large number of Modernist buildings around the city. Today, the first impression is of a rather rundown industrial city with a naval dockyard and extensive modern suburbs. It's worth persevering, however, as the old city has some of Murcia's best museums, superb architecture, atmospheric streets and old-fashioned shops.

There's a fine view of the harbour and city layout from Parque Torres, from where the road winds back down to the main plaza past the ruined Catedral Vieja, thought to be one of Spain's oldest churches. A palm lined esplanade runs beside the port to Isaac Perel's submarine, a world first, built here in 1888. Down in the old town is the church of Santa Maria, with a wonderful collection of carved wooden figures by Salzillo, used in Cartagena's elaborate Holy Week processions. Look out particularly for the Gran Hotel, the Casa Cervantes and LLagostera, all fine Modernist buildings. Museums well worth visiting are the Museo ArqueolOgico Municipal, which traces the city's history and has a large Roman collection, and the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia Maritima, with many underwater shipwreck finds and a replica of a Roman galley.