cycles and public transport, a recognition
that is a source of pride for all of the city’s
residents. It was also awarded the Grand
Europa Nostra Prize for excellence in the
conservation of its heritage as well as the
National Restoration Prize for the Roman
Forum District archaeological site formed
by two buildings owned by a semi-public
corporation; the baths and the atrium buil-
ding for religious banquets.
Cartagena has been reaping success and
growing in all sectors. The city’s mayor ex-
plained that the model was changed and
the city which previously had just one type
of industry to one with a diversified eco-
nomy. This municipal area lives from indus-
try, agriculture and tourism; not sun and
beaches, but linguistic tourism since the
Instituto Cervantes has certified the city’s
Spanish language classes for foreigners.
There is also cultural tourism. The city made
investments to recover its historic heritage
in maximum quality architectural projects
and this is becoming a strong source of re-
venues for the city. There is also tourism as-
sociated with conventions and congresses
and also festivals such as Mar de Música,
a jazz festival, a film festival, and cultural
tourism.
Cartagena has reasons to be proud of
being a city, since few have had the fortu-
ne of having renowned architects such as
Rafael Moneo who refurbished the roman
Theatre; Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra
responsible for the Subaquatic Archaeolo-
gical Museum; Martín Lárraga who refur-
bished the Carlos III Hospital; José María
Torres Nadal who restored the city’s walls;
Selgas and Canos who built the auditorium
and the convention hall and received an
award during the 12th Spanish Architecture
and Urbanism Biennial; or the Madrid archi-
tect firm of Atxu Amann, Andrés Cánovas
and Nicolás Maruri responsible for the roof
of the Molinete Archaeological Park.
The auditorium
is made with a plastic
produced in Cartagena and
polycarbonate is used for
the first time ever in
façades which change
colours throughout
the day
