Centro de Interpretación de la Muralla Púnica

About the museum

The Punic city of Qart Hadast, the “new city”, was founded by Hasdrubal in 229 BC on an earlier settlement, possibly Iberian, and became an administrative capital and the operational base of the Carthaginian armies on the peninsula. In 209 BC it was taken by the Roman general Scipio Africanus. The remains of its wall are among the few Carthaginian traces found in Spain.

It is a Hellenistic fortification system of the casemate type, formed by two parallel walls about ten metres high and organised in three levels: two levels of casemates and a walkway. The surviving remains measure about thirty metres in length and in some places retain courses of blocks almost three metres high. Next to the wall the funerary crypt of the San José hermitage appeared, with 110 niches and paintings of the Dances of Death from the early 19th century.

Both finds came to light in 1987, when a car park was built in the courtyard of the former Hogar-Escuela “La Milagrosa”. After years under a temporary roof, the definitive project by the architects José Manuel Chacón and Alberto Ibero, dating from 2003, recreated the dimensions of the wall to make its remains easier to read. The route includes an audiovisual with a 3D reconstruction of the city in the 3rd century BC, an exhibition room, the wall, the crypt and six display cases with Iberian fibulae, a Carthaginian ex-voto, Punic and Roman coins and the grave goods from the crypt.

Highlights

• Section of the Punic wall of Qart Hadast, about 30 metres long
• Crypt of the San José hermitage with paintings of the Dances of Death
• Audiovisual with a 3D reconstruction of the city in the 3rd century BC
• Display cases with Iberian fibulae, a Carthaginian ex-voto and Punic and Roman coins
• School workshops on Punic and Roman Cartagena

Permanent exhibition

• Muralla púnica y cripta de San José – Route with a 3D audiovisual, an exhibition room with panels on the Punic world, the wall, the crypt of the San José hermitage and six display cases with pieces from the excavations.

Operated by

Cartagena Puerto de Culturas

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Tuesday during the last two hours of opening (except Holy Tuesday) and Viernes de Dolores (local holiday)

Free admission for children under 3, official tour guides and members of the Club Cartagena Puerto de Culturas (except for activities). Free entry on Tuesdays applies only to those who arrive at the centre and buy at the ticket office, not to online purchases, and does not entitle the holder to a refund of tickets already bought. Reduced and free rates require buying the ticket at the ticket office with valid documentation. During temporary exhibitions or special activities, prices may change.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The centre has removed architectural barriers with ramps, glass floors and balconies from which the whole site can be seen from the upper floor. It has accessible toilets and an audiovisual with subtitles and Spanish and English voice-over; accredited guide dogs are allowed access.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop of Cartagena Puerto de Culturas.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit