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Three Kings Magic THE Three Kings celebration, or ‘Día de Reyes,’ is a big deal in Spain. It celebrates when the Three Kings, also called the Wise Men, arrived to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. In Spain, this day is as important as Christmas, and people celebrate with parades, parties, and family time. On the evening of January 5, towns across the Region of Murcia will hold parades to mark the occasion. The streets fill with colourful floats, dancers, and performers, and the Kings themselves throw sweets and toys into the crowds. Cartagena is known for its spectacular parade, which draws a large crowd, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Images: Cartagena Town Hall
“Join the Kings for some royal fun”
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Celebrating milestones THE mayor of Los Alcazares, Mario Pérez Cervera, and the councillor for the Elderly, María José Benzal, recently paid a surprise visit to two local residents to celebrate some amazing milestones. Josefa celebrated her 100th birthday during the recent festivities, and José Imbernón recently turned 105. Both occasions definitely called for a special celebration. The visits were full of warm moments shared with family, filled with stories and memories. These two incredible people have lived through so much and know a lot about the history of Los Alcazares. Their life experiences offer a unique connection to the town’s past, making the day even more meaningful. It was a lovely reminder of the importance of celebrating our elders and the valuable stories they hold about our community’s history.
Royal celebration begins.
Families also celebrate with the traditional ‘roscon de Reyes’ (King’s Cake), a sweet, round pastry decorated with candied fruit. Inside the cake, you’ll find a small surprise, whoever finds it is said to have good luck for the
year ahead. It’s a fun time for all the family. If you’re in the Region of Murcia, make sure to check your town’s social media pages for details about parade times, starting points, and routes. Every town cele-
brates a little differently, so you don’t want to miss out on your local festivities! So, grab your coat, bring your family, and enjoy this magical holiday full of fun, sweets, and, of course, the Three Kings.
Cartagena’s Golden Year
Honoring centenarians.
Image: Shutterstock/ Sonia Bonet
“Expectations for even more growth in 2025”
TOURISM in Cartagena has hit record highs in 2024, benefiting local hotels, museums, bars, and restaurants, while also giving a significant boost to the city’s conference business. National visitors, particularly from Madrid, Valencia, and Andalucia, continue to be the primary source of tourism, though international visitors, including from the UK, the US, and the Netherlands, are on the rise. From January 1 to December 15, hotel occupancy in Cartagena reached an average of 73 per cent, a 2 per cent increase from the previous year. Despite a dip in hotel bookings in November and December, attributed to the DANA weather emergency
Tourists fill streets.
in Valencia, businesses are optimistic about 2025, anticipating even higher numbers. Cartagena’s cruise port also saw impressive growth,. The city’s museum network, Puerto de Culturas, saw a 7.6 per cent increase in visitors, bringing in an ad-
ditional 40,286 people compared to 2023. This growth has helped reduce the deficit for the museum network by 50 per cent. Additionally, Cartagena’s convention business has increased, with 251 events and over 36,500 participants in 2024, a major
increase from last year. Local leaders, including Mayor Noelia Arroyo, are committed to expanding Cartagena’s tourism infrastructure, including improving transportation links and encouraging yearround hotel openings. With projects like Casa Museo de Peral and ongoing archaeological work, Cartagena is set to remain a top destination for tourists and business events in the years to come.
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Image: Los Alcazares Town Hall
Costa Calida • Issue No. 2061 • 2 - 8 January 2025
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