Cartagena is a Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, southeastern Spain. As of 2009, it has a population of 211,996, making it the second largest city in the Region, the 6th among the non-province capitals of Spain, and the 24th overall.

The Old Town is limited by five small hills (Molinete, Monte Sacro, Monte de San José, Despeñaperros and Monte de la Concepción) following the example of Rome. In the past there was an inner sea between the hills called the Estero that eventually dried up.
The urban area is delimited or crossed by several watercourses, some of which go deep into the urban network during great part of their courses.