Museo Naval

The Museo Naval in Cartagena is a military museum devoted to the history of Spanish shipbuilding and the navy. A branch of the National Naval Museum in Madrid, it houses its exhibits in a historic building on the seafront promenade. Built in the late 18th century by the military architect Mateo Vodopich, the structure previously served a variety of purposes, including as a prison, a garrison, and a training facility for sailors. Under an agreement reached in 2005, the building is shared, with the southern part of the ground floor dedicated to the museum.

The collection spans several themed rooms and corridors and offers a comprehensive look at Spain's maritime history. You can admire models of historic ships such as the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, as well as relics from the age of the caravels. A particular focus is on the development of submarine technology, with a dedicated section on the inventor Isaac Peral that displays personal belongings and models. Other rooms explore the history of the marines, cartography and navigation, and naval diving.

Among the standout exhibits are a copy of the Catalan Atlas of 1450, a replica of Christopher Columbus's letter of 1492, and torpedoes from World War II. The museum also covers the history of the city of Cartagena in the 19th century, including the political unrest and the bombardment of 1873. In this way, the museum combines technical innovation with the social and military history of the region.