Castillo de la Concepción and the Panoramic Lift

Three Thousand Years on One Hill

The Castillo de la Concepción crowns the hill of the same name, in the middle of the old town. There was a Roman temple here dedicated to Aesculapius, then the Muslim citadel of the 12th or 13th centuries, when the city was called Qartayannat al-Halfa, and the Christian castle: the Infante Alfonso, the future Alfonso X, took Cartagena for Castile in 1245 and at the end of the 13th century had the keep built with reused Roman stones. In the Civil War, the siren warning of bombings sounded from the top. At the start of the 20th century the hill became a public park, and in 2002 Puerto de Culturas opened the interpretation centre.

What You See at the Top

In the keep is the Centre for the Interpretation of the History of Cartagena, which sums up the city's civilisations, from the Carthaginian foundation of 229 BC to today, with audiovisuals, small sets and interactive pieces. The main room preserves the central pillar that held up the vaults and the corbels with symbols of royal power: an eagle, a fleur-de-lis and perhaps the face of Charlemagne. A spiral staircase climbs to the roof terrace. Separately you can visit the old cisterns, which tell the story of the fortress from the 13th to the 20th century, and rooms on medieval Cartagena. But you climb above all for the view: the city, the Roman theatre and the whole natural harbour.

The Panoramic Lift

It leaves from Calle Gisbert, 10, at the foot of the hill, at the very entrance of the Civil War Shelter Museum, and covers 45 metres of height to Torres Park, beside the castle. It holds eight people, one of them in a wheelchair. It costs only €2, €1 reduced; with the castle ticket, €6 and €4.50.

Tuesday to Sunday, All Year

From 2 November to 14 March they open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:30; from 15 March to 30 June and from 16 September to 1 November, until 19:00; from 1 July to 15 September, every day until 20:00. The last entry to the castle is half an hour before closing. They close on 1 and 6 January and 25 December.

Admission costs €5 and €4 reduced, which applies to under-12s, students up to 25, pensioners, the unemployed, people with disabilities, families of two adults with two children under 12 and groups of 20. Children under 3 do not pay. On Tuesdays, in the last two hours of opening, entry is free if you get the ticket at the ticket office, not online. There is a free guided visit with the ticket, in Spanish and lasting an hour: in low season, at 11:00, 12:00 and 16:00, with free booking on the website. The audioguide costs €2 in five languages.