CARTAGENA is currently known for being an important stopover for international cruises. Last November local and tourists at the new harbour for cruises admired the impressive Queen Elizabeth 2.However if you have a look to the very end of the Muelle Alfonso XII dock, you will discover some other impressive boats – those of the Spanish navy.Cartagena is one of the headquarters of the Spanish Navy (La Armada) along with Rota and San Fernando near Cádiz, Ferrol in Galicia and Las Palmas on Gran Canaria island.Magnificent historic buildings related to the navy can be seen along Muelle Alfonso XII and also in the historic city centre.The headquarters in Cartagena supports all ships, submarines and navy facilities along the Mediterranean Sea from Almería to Girona near Barcelona and the Balearics.Cartagena’s history has always been related to the army and the navy due to the strategic location of the city.In the past it has been the headquarters of the Carthaginian fleet; an important city for the Roman Empire for trading and military purposes; and archaeological remains show that the Moors built several warships in the city to fight North African tribes.