GET READY TO PARTY! The annual Punic festival at Cartagena begins on Friday the 19th:

Cartagena Gets Ready

Written by Our Murcia Correspondent (Roundtownnews.co.uk, Spain)

Cartagena Gets Ready for Carthaginians and Romans Festival

An event that is a favourite with many Round Town News readers will soon be under way in Cartagena. This is the colourful Carthaginians and Romans festival which is billed as the biggest fiesta in the Mediterranean.

The festival celebrates, in a loose sort of way, the events of some 2,200 years ago when the Romans took the ancient city from the Carthaginians. Battles are re-enacted, ceremonies held, troops including Amazonians march through the streets, there are spectacles, speeches and even a ceremonial wedding. Hannibal headed for the Alps after gathering his troops in Cartagena, so, naturally, he figures prominently in the action. This year, say the organisers, the whole festival has been renovated and updated with imaginative initiatives taken to make things even more colourful and realistic than ever. A major highlight is the spectacles that feature the troops of the Carthaginians and the legions of the Romans. There will be new elements that make these more impressive than ever. The centre of Cartagena will be the focus of most of the activity, which will make things even easier for spectators. Almost all events are free. A key feature of the festival is the big camp which is open for the duration with each unit competing to outdo the others in splendour and hospitality. This camp is located next to the Cartagena football stadium, or Estadio Cartagonova and it is open each evening. An artisan market will operate next to the camp. The festival starts on Friday, September 19th, with opening speeches and ceremonies. ...

More on past festivals here and here.