Cartagena is located in the Murcia Region in south-eastern Spain and is a major naval station. As the region’s second largest municipality, it has a recorded population of 213,943 inhabitants, whilst the metropolitan area of Cartagena is home to 409,586 people. Its strategic position means Cartagena’s defensive port has historically significance and remains important today as the main military haven of Spain.
Cartagena is also a popular cruise ship destination, its cultural attributes growing and developing from various cultures who have passed through the Mediterranean. The ‘Cartagena, Port of Cultures’ initiative made the cultural points of the city widely accessible to tourists.
Cartagena City Government collaborated with NAE to produce a ‘Smart City Master Plan’ which aims to unify the different initiatives with an overall focus on optimal efficiency, innovation of public services and economic and environmental sustainability. Some recent projects include: providing additional bike lanes and racks, improving energy efficiency of buildings and public transformation and improving accessibility to people with disabilities.
Check out the city’s full ICC journey
Read about the city’s progress during the Intelligent Cities Challenge (2020-22) through the city’s final deliverable here.