September 20 to 29 Fiestas de Cartagineses y Romanos Cartagena 2024

The celebration of the Carthaginians and Romans in Cartagena is one of the biggest fiestas in the Region of Murcia

This colourful and enjoyable festival is a relatively new addition to the fiestas calendar of the Region of Murcia, having been celebrated only since 1990, but it has rapidly become one of the largest and was awarded International Tourist Interest status in 2017.

The fiestas are rooted in the ancient history of Cartagena and particularly in the foundation of the city of Qart Hadasht by the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal in 227 BC, the departure of Hannibal to Rome and the subsequent conquest of what became Carthago Nova, and then Cartagena, by the Roman general Scipio in 209 BC.

For the duration of this festival the city is filled with the sounds of marching feet, the cries of battle and the tastes and scents of sacred rituals and celebrations.

The event is hugely popular with expats and their visitors, who enjoy watching the parades and activities, visiting the encampment (where groups set up their headquarters for the ten-day duration of the fiestas), the artisan fair and the big fairground which accompany the fiestas, and visiting the rest of Cartagena during the week.

Locations

The fiesta participants are based in an encampment in the car park of the old Eroski supermarket (and, more recently, the mass vaccination centre in Cartagena). Each group builds its own area to socialize, eat, drink and enjoy themselves during the week. Some of the structures are remarkable, colossal statues towering over the encampment, with columns and pillars all over the place: very atmospheric, and a must-visit location for any trip to the Fiestas!

There is also a large fairground with plenty of food and drink available.

Most of the other locations are along the waterfront in the port, between the Cuesta de Batel, past the cruise ship terminal and to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Parking

For events in the city centre it is advisable to park in the two car parks in Calle Real – if there are spaces left!

Those visiting the festival encampment will find plenty of parking in the area around the football stadium.

Program for the Cartagineses y Romanos 2024

Friday September 20

11.00: The opening parade passes through the streets of the city centre.

20.20: The lighting of the sacred flame in the torch at the El Molinete archaeological park. This flame burns throughout the fiestas at the temple of Isis in the old Roman forum district.

21.45: Official opening speech in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

22.00: The opening parade of the fiestas (Route: Town Hall (Plaza Ayuntamiento) - Calle Mayor - Plaza San Sebastián - Calle Puertas de Murcia - Calle Carmen - Plaza de España - Alameda San Antón - Cartagonova Bridge - Festival Encampment).

23.50: Official opening of the encampment and fairground next to the Carthago Nova football stadium.

Saturday September 21

11.00: Bici Romana, a cycle ride departs from the encampment and follows a route through the city centre. Route: Puente Soldado Rosique, Alameda San Antón coger solo el carril derecho en sentido a Plza. España, Menéndez Pelayo, Real, Paseo de Alfonso XII coger solo el carril derecho desde Héroes de Cavite hasta Rotonda de Plza. De la Isla, Cuesta del Batell 

12.00: Opening of the exhiibition "Huellas de la Antigüedad" at the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del Páis in Calle del Aire.

19.45: Children's activities in the Plaza Mayor.

20.30: Re-enactment of The Founding of Qart Hadasht on the stage in Plaza Mayor on the seafront in the port, a recreation of the foundation of the city following an agreement between the Carthaginians and the Mastian tribe by which the Carthaginians took peaceful control of the city and renamed it Qart-Hadasht.

20.30: Live music, "Somos de Aquí", local bands in the Plaza Mayor.

21.45: The Carthaginian flag is raised in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

22.00: A parade takes the Carthaginian and Roman troops from the seafront and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the encampment and fairground. Route: Palacio Consistorial (Plaza del Ayuntamiento) - Calle Mayor - Plaza San Sebastián- Puertas de Murcia - Calle del Carmen - Plaza de España - Alameda San Antón - Puente del Estadio Cartagonova - Campamento Festero.

22.00: Concert with Dani Fernández and others at the Centro Comercial La Rambla. Tickets 14 euros.

Sunday September 22

12.00: Children’s enactment of the Roman Senate in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

12.30: Nasciturus or Dies Lustricus. The youngest and newest members of the fiestas groups are welcomed into their festival families in a symbolic act in front of the Town Hall, each child marking his or her fingerprint onto a certificate.

14.00: Charity caldero at the encampment to raise funds for those still affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

17.30: The first battle takes place, this time in the form of a rugby match in La Asomada.

19.30: The Roman Senate in full session in the Plaza Mayor alongside the port of Cartagena.

20.45: The Destruction of Sagunto on the stage in Plaza Mayor, a re-enactment of when the Carthaginians, under the leadership of Hannibal, committed the unthinkable and crossed the river Ebro to storm the city of Sagunto, breaking the treaty established with Rome for peace. This was the spark which set off the Second Punic wars between Rome and Carthage.

21.45: Centuriate Assembly in the Plaza Mayor.

22.45: The Design of the Gods in the Plaza Mayor, in which Escévola, the commander of Publio Cornelio Escipión consults Marta la Siria so that the seeress can inform him of the Design of the Gods in the upcoming battle.

Monday September 23

21.00: The wedding of Hannibal and Himilce on the stage in Plaza Mayor.

Hannibal is used as a political pawn in an alliance forged with the Iberian tribes who occupied the lands around Jaén and were powerful allies for the Carthaginians. He is betrothed to Princess Himilce, daughter of the great Iberian king named Mucro, in a marriage of convenience, and in this version, although attraction is not immediate, they grow to love each other and celebrate the wedding.

(The generally accepted historical facts are that they met at the wedding and Hannibal promptly hurried off to kill Romans: not quite as romantic, but this version makes for better theatre!)

After the wedding: Parade from the seafront and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the encampment and fairground. There follows the wedding feast celebrating the union of Hannibal and Himilce.

Tuesday September 24

21.00: The oracle of the goddess Tanit at the open-air Auditorio Paco Martín.

This is a melodramatic version of a visit by Himilce to the oracle to ask about the future of her husband’s campaign against the Romans. It was common in Roman society to pay a visit to the oracle, who would see into the future and advise on business enterprises, wars, family undertakings and unions: in this case the oracle forecasts woe, woe and more woe.

Wednesday September 25

11.00: Motorcycle rally through the city of Cartagena, “Centímetros Púnicos” (the second time this event has been included in the fiestas program). The route begins at the Escalera Real on the seafront.

19.00: The historical market opens in the Parque Vallejo Alberola, next to the football stadium.

22.45: Festivities at the encampment.

20.30: Gran Circo Romano at the Custa del Batel. Tickets are required.

Thursday September 26

11.00: Children's parade, route Plaza de los Carros - Calle Carlos III - Calle del Carmen - Puertas de
Murcia - Plaza San Sebastián - Calle Mayor - Palacio Consistorial (Plaza del Ayuntamiento).

12.30: Children's battle and games in the Plaza Mayor and by the Muralla del Mar on Paseo Alfonso XII.

19.15: Disemarkment of the Carthaginian navy at the Juan Sebastián Elcano cruise ship terminal.

20.15: The arrival by boat and hiring of mercenaries is enacted on the seafront stage.

21.30: Hannibal departs for Rome from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Route: Palacio Consistorial (Plaza del Ayuntamiento) - Calle Mayor - Plaza San Sebastián- Puertas de Murcia - Calle del Carmen - Plaza de España - Alameda San Antón - Puente del Estadio Cartagonova - Campamento Festero

Fired up by his successful attack on Sagunto, Hannibal decides to take on the Romans in their own heartland and attack Rome itself. Having contracted his mercenaries Hannibal leads his new army, which is thought to have included over 100,000 infantry, 12,000 horsemen and 37 elephants. It would also have been accompanied by a large entourage of wagons and camp followers: feeding and caring for an army of that size while travelling on foot must have been a logistical nightmare and in the end this was Hannibal’s downfall.

He overestimated his capacity and neglected to defend his home, and although his demise and death was still several years in the future this decision to attack Rome doomed the Carthaginians.

18.00: "Qart-Hadasht: Punic Capital of Iberia", a conference at the Centro de Interpretación de la Muralla Púnica. Admission free of charge.

22.00: DJ music session at the encampment. 

Friday September 27

10.45: Naval battle in the bay of Cartagena. This is enacted aboard rowing boats and usually starts off seriously but ends with lots of splashing and everyone in the water. Non-costumed.

17.00: The naval legions disembark at the Plaza Mayor on the seafront of Cartagena, while land-based legions leave the Plaza de España.

17.30: The military legions reach the main gate of Capitanía General.

18.00: Re-enactment of the grand battle which resulted in Qart Hadasht becoming Carthago Nova.

Hannibal is away with the army, the city is vulnerable and the Romans attack. By the end of the day, they have taken the city, they march in triumph and the city of Qart-Hadasht no longer exists. It is now Carthago Nova, a Roman city, and will remain so for several hundred years to come.

Many visitors say that this is their favourite part of the fiesta. There’s a big mock battle, smoke, fire, writhing bodies and lots of shouting and running around. Every year various innovations and novelties are introduced, and this year there are several major changes to the format of the battle, with more set moves, and betrayal as forces fighting for the Carthaginians desert to join the Romans.

The action takes place on the Cuesta del Batel (the green patch of land running around the base of the city walls), and the best advice is to get there in plenty of time to grab a patch of grass, as it gets very crowded. Anywhere in the middle zone is best as the two armies mass at separate ends of the field and then the battle is in the middle. Tickets are required for admission. 

20.15: The Victory of Rome, enactment on the seafront stage.

20.45: Proclamation of Roman Law and hoisting of their flag in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

21.00: Victory parade starting in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This is a hugely popular and well attended event. Tickets are sold for the seats, although there are plenty of places to stand and watch the parade pass. Route: Palacio Consistorial (Plaza del Ayuntamiento) - Calle Mayor - Plaza San Sebastián- Puertas de Murcia - Calle del Carmen - Plaza de España - Alameda San Antón - Puente del Estadio Cartagonova - Campamento Festero.

22.00: DJ music session at the encampment. 

Saturday September 28

13.00: Homage is paid to those fallen in battle at the Torreciega monument in the outskirts of Cartagena.

19.00: Grand parade of the troops and legions, starting in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and continuing through the city streets. Route: Plaza Héroes de Cavite - Plaza Ayuntamiento - Calle Mayor - Plaza San Sebastián - Puertas de Murcia - Calle del Carmen - Plaza de España - Alameda de San Antón - Soldado Rosique - Puente Cartagonova - Encampment. 

22.00: Somos de Aquí live in concert on the seafront.

Sunday September 29

20.45: "Batalla Cultural", the annual cultural battle takes place at the Encampment. 

21.30: The sacred flame is extinguished at the Encampment.

22.00: The grand final firework display takes place at the Encampment.

Images: https://cartaginesesyromanos.es/ (official website in Spanish)

For more upcoming events in the Costa Cálida visit the What’s On section of Murcia Today.