Shopping

Cartagena City

Cartagena or Carthage was Hannibal’s capital city in Roman times and a strategic port for the Romans.

Like many Spanish towns the approach to Cartagena is not very appealing, but once past the industrial area and by the port and harbour, this town is really worth a visit. The old town with its' superbly restored Colonial buildings, cobbled streets, shops, cafes and restaurants is charming and it's easy to spend quite a few hours here browsing around.

Cartagena makes for a lovely day out; whether shopping or sightseeing. There is a maritime museum, churches, city tours, as well as harbour tours, Roman villa, amphitheatre and also a submarine dating back from 1888. Shops close for lunch about 1pm until 5pm but then stay open until 8.30 pm normally, so if shopping or sightseeing it's nice to stay on the evening and have a meal in one of the many restaurants in town or near the harbour.

Many of the cafes serve “Churros con chocolate” freshly made crispy long doughnuts (you have to try it! Difficult to describe) to dunk into very thick hot chocolate ...

In July, the Mar de Musicas festival presents some of the best in world music and in November the city hosts a nationally famous jazz festival.

Shopping: Cartagena old town has many boutiques and a variety of small shops near the port. In the newer part of the town there is the department store “El Corte Ingles” and many shops including Zara on the Calle Mayor. There is also a large market on Wednesdays.

Directions to Cartagena: from El Valle resort:

Take the Murcia road from El Valle, and take left hand fork where road splits in about a mile signposted Cartagena. Follow dual carriageway to Cartagena and once in the city look for signs for Puerto - park in underground car park in the port area. The Shopping area is across from car park leaving the old walled area on your left and then straight on across the plaza.


Shopping in Murcia City.

The main shopping area in Murcia is in the modern part of the city near the El Corte Inglés department store which sells everything, and also has a supermarket and underground parking. The Gran via has shops on both sides of the road, Mango, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull and Bear and many more. Nearby is the daily market of San Esteban.

Further up the road behind the smaller El Corte Ingles (originally Galerias)
take a left turn you will arrive at the Romea Theatre and onto the Traperia (cloth merchants) and Plateria (silversmiths) area of Murcia where originally the merchants worked and where there are still silversmiths making jewellery.
Pass through the arches to the Plaza Santo Domingo where there are many interesting shops, cafes and restaurants.

Shopping Centres: (outside Murcia City)

There are two modern shopping centres just outside Murcia - if you like shopping these are worth a visit.
Cool and comfortable to shop in, these centres have a variety of restaurants, multi-screen cinemas and free parking. They are open all day from 10am until 9.30pm.

Nueva Condominia: Has the usual Spanish chains, like Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka (affordable fashion) and designer shops as well as shoe shops, handbags, jewellery etc, and Primark! Also a large supermarket (Eroski) and gift shops as well as restaurants and bars

Nearby is The Thader Shopping Centre which is smaller than Nueva Condominia.

Directions from El Valle Golf resort:
How to get to Murcia City and the Shopping Centres from El Valle

From last roundabout on the resort access road, take the road sign-posted Murcia – Cartagena and stay on the right hand side where the road splits in about a mile. Follow dual carriageway. If you are going to the centre of the city – take turn off to CENTRO CIUDAD and follow it to centre. You will now be entering the city with the river on your right (do not go over any bridge) but keep to right hand lane and enter into underground parking which is more or less opposite Aguas de Murcia building.
Come out of car park and any of the alleyways inbetween the government buildings take you into the Cathedral and old part of Murcia.

For the new shopping centres (including Ikea) follow dual carriageway direction Alicante (AP7) past the turn off to the University and take exit 763a (you will see Ikea on your right) follow signs for Centro Comercial and Nueva Condominia which is very near the new football stadium.