D.L. MU 74-2025 - ISSN 3045-6703
Costa Cálida I No. 2115 I 15 - 21 January 2026 I FREE Newspaper
CARTAGENA experienced an exciting Sunday this January, filled with community gathering and support, sportsmanship, and personal bests; the eighth edition of the Vista Alegre - Sierra Gorda Mountain Race kicked off the Cartagena City Council’s Carthago Mountain League, a renowned athletic competition that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The Carthago Mountain League, along with the Carthago Running League, are annual events in the municipality wherein participants can gain points in each race. At the end of the events, the participants are classified and the prizes are awarded, sparking the participation of athletes in these difficult, but satisfying challenges. The grand winners of the race were Óscar de Francisco Ortiz and Lorena Ríos Gutiérrez, making their mark as skilled and passionate athletes in this monumental race that has become a tradition in the Cartagena community. The League will run from January to November 2026, and consist of eight races through areas including Vista Alegre, Santa Lucia, Alumbres, Periz, El Portus, and Galifa. Photo Credit: Cartagena Town Hall
MORE than 250 people gathered to experience the traditional pilgrimage of the Virgin of the Light in El Cañar in Cartagena, a day marked by camaraderie, community spirit, and a deep respect for Cartagena culture and tradition. Participants also took part in the characteristic ‘cuadrilleo’, a dance emblematic of the celebration and stemming from centuries of history in Cartagena. The celebration began early in the morning at the Church of San Antonio de Padua in Tallante, and the pilgrimage proceeded through the La Muela, Cabo Tiñoso, and Roldán Natural Park areas of Cartagena, providing not only a rich traditional, cultural, and religious experience, but also one filled with the town’s natural beauty. Traditional stops were made at various homes along the way, where groups of merrymakers offered songs and prayers, until reaching the Virgin’s historic hermitage of El Cañar. Easter songs and dances lit up the day there, with performances by several groups from the Campo de Car-
Photo Credit: Cartagena Town Hall / Facebook
Sacred solidarity Mountain milestone
Pilgrims celebrate tradition, faith and community during Virgin of the Light event.
tagena region, a moment full of participation and community spirit. An open-air mass took place at midday, along with traditional music performances, and afterwards, the pilgrims shared a delicious picnic lunch together, strengthening the community ties of the day and making for a pleasant afternoon. Finally, the event concluded in the afternoon
with the return of the image of the Virgin of the Light to Tallante, closing out a wonderful community day in Cartagena. Those present praised not only the organisational work that was carried out to make the event possible, but also the participation of local residents, who help to maintain this essential tradition that dates back to the 17th century in the municipality
and which forms a crucial part of the area’s cultural and religious heritage. Along Costa Calida, municipalities are closing out the festive season with a bang, putting away their Christmas decorations, and settling into new routines that define 2026 … but some areas, like Cartagena, are still living out their festivities, side by side with their neighbours.
Cartagena launches mountain league.
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