A Journey into the Phoenician World from Your Home at La Manga Club

Did you know that owning a home at La Manga Club means having a piece of world history right at your fingertips? Just 40 minutes from your residence, in the heart of Cartagena, lies an intriguing public museum that is currently hosting one of the most fascinating exhibitions on Spain’s cultural scene this year: “Phoenicians: Merchants of the Sea.” This temporary exhibition at the ARQVA National Museum of Underwater Archaeology will remain open until May 24th and is a must-see for anyone who appreciates ancient history and the culture surrounding the restless and mercantile Phoenician people.

The exhibition brings together in a single space most of the artifacts recovered from the Bajo de la Campana site, preserved for decades by ARQVA and considered one of the crown jewels of Spanish underwater archaeology. The result is an extraordinary exhibition that offers a firsthand understanding of the scope of the Phoenician world: their trade routes along the Mediterranean coast, their cultural influence on local communities, and the sophistication of a trade network that connected civilizations from one end of the Mare Nostrum to the other.

A Site Unique in the World

More than 2,700 years ago, a Phoenician ship between 15 and 20 meters in length sank off the coast of San Javier, in a treacherous stretch of water near Isla Grosa and very close to what we now know as La Manga del Mar Menor. The wreck remained hidden beneath the waters for centuries until it was discovered in the 1950s, becoming one of the most significant underwater sites in the Mediterranean. It is worth noting that, of the six Phoenician shipwrecks excavated and studied in depth throughout the Mediterranean Sea, three have been found off the Spanish coast, specifically in the Region of Murcia. The one at Bajo de la Campana is the most spectacular of all: it carried a cargo of priceless value for the time, including raw materials such as tin, copper, and no fewer than fifty-five elephant ivory tusks, along with luxury items such as bronze beds, alabaster vessels, Baltic amber, and decorated ostrich eggs intended for the local elites of the Iberian Peninsula.

The exhibition is further enriched by items on loan from the collections of the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Badajoz, the Museum of Cádiz, the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Granada, the Museum of Huelva, and the Archaeological Museum of Ibiza and Formentera. This selection of objects broadens the historical context and transforms the visit into a true journey to the heart of Phoenician civilization. The ARQVA National Museum of Underwater Archaeology is a state-owned museum under the Spanish Ministry of Culture, located in the port of Cartagena. Its permanent collection is in itself a reason to visit: the museum houses exceptional artifacts from shipwrecks and underwater sites throughout Spain, offering a unique perspective on the maritime history of the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.

For those staying at La Manga Club, the ARQVA is the perfect cultural getaway for a morning or afternoon. The drive from the resort to Cartagena takes no more than forty minutes, making the visit a comfortable and hassle-free excursion. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sundays and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission to the permanent collection is three Euros (reduced rate 1.50 Euros), and the exhibition “Phoenicians: Merchants of the Sea” is completely free.

Once in Cartagena, you can easily combine your cultural outing with a stroll through the Roman Theater, the Roman Forum Museum, or the historic district in one of Spain’s most heritage-rich cities. And, of course, enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants in the harbor before returning to the tranquility of our resort. If you don’t yet own a property at La Manga Club, our sales office is the only one that offers new-construction real estate within the complex. We currently have two flagship developments: the exclusive Las Acacias villas, for those seeking privacy, spaciousness, and the ultimate in residential luxury; and the sophisticated Las Orquídeas apartments, a contemporary option ideal for both personal use and investment. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the exhibition and learn about these fascinating Mediterranean peoples who, long before you, sailed the wonderful coasts off what is now the location of La Manga Club.