The “Plaza Mayor de Cartagena” project is set to be one of the fundamental pieces in the renovation of the Cartagena waterfront and of ensuring a close and mutually beneficial port-city relationship. The Port Authority (APC) aims to make Cartagena more accessible to the sea, with the epicenter located at the Plaza Mayor, where the port waterfront takes center stage in the life of Cartagena.
The Board of Directors of the APC accepted bids for projects to initiate the conversion of the seafront into a community space, with the launch of the tender “Study of the development of uses and landscape integration on the seafront of Cartagena”. The aim is the creation of vibrant spaces for the integration of the historical and cultural heritage of the port city. The project will determine how Cartagena-Plaza Mayor Seafront will serve the community from the perspective of preserving the cultural and historical authenticity of the port and the city.
The “Ventana del Puerto” (Port Window) project is the winner of the Plaza Mayor community ideas competition centred on the enhancement of the cultural and historical heritage and care for the environment. Port Window proposes to convert the Port into a public focal point of attraction, creating new museum spaces and improving existing ones such as the Urban Museum of the Navy and Navigation, an exhibition space in the Old Regatta Club, and period moorings in the Boat Dock.
It further proposes the creation of the ‘Cartagenas del Mundo’ square, a large versatile space with mobile pergolas, hanging plants and social energy lighting, with children’s playgrounds, sports areas and areas for organising large and small events. A space for research, conservation and experimentation of marine fauna and flora will also be created, with an aquarium and the integration of the Carlos III wall into the complex. In addition, the seafaring tradition will be maintained in the surroundings of the El Batel Auditorium and the Arqua Museum.