SUMMER COURSE 2026: NEW MILESTONES IN CARTAGENA'S CULTURAL AND MUSEUM HERITAGE: FROM THE CASA PERAL TO THE ROMAN AMPHITHEATER

The Roman Theatre Museum, in collaboration with the UPCT Summer Courses 2026, has organized a course on "New milestones of the Cultural and Museum Heritage of Cartagena: from the Casa Peral to the Roman Amphitheater", which will be held from July 13 to 15 in the Assembly Hall of the Roman Theatre Museum.

Cartagena's exceptional cultural heritage has been enriched in recent years with new challenges and opportunities. The recovery of its historical heritage, which has served as an engine for urban regeneration and a driving force for society and tourism, has been implemented in recent years with landmark projects of great importance, such as the commencement of the restoration of the Roman Theatre's Amphitheater and Portico, and the rehabilitation of the San Leandro Battery and the Birthplace of Isaac Peral. These projects are backed by the effort and commitment of public administrations to the city's heritage, involving leading specialists from multiple and diverse disciplines. For this reason, the course faculty is interdisciplinary, bringing together managers, archaeologists, historians, restorers, museographers, urban planners, and architects, all of whom are involved in the complex processes of heritage enhancement.

The course aims to update knowledge of these buildings and disseminate the latest research on their preservation from archaeological and restoration perspectives, as well as future projects. It will also delve into cultural aspects of these ancient buildings, such as the role of gardens in Roman times and the importance of music and theater in ancient Rome. The program will be complemented by visits to the Theater, Amphitheater, and Birthplace of Isaac Peral.

Course Program:

Monday, July 13

9:00-10:30 a.m.: Cartagena Port of Cultures: 25 Years in Cultural Tourism Management, New Challenges. Cristina Pérez Carrasco, Manager of Cartagena Port of Cultures.

11:00-12:30: Origin and evolution of the San Leandro battery in the context of the Cartagena Bay defensive system. José Antonio Martínez López, Professor of Architecture at UCAM.

12:30-2:00 PM: A New Life for the San Leandro Battery: Project and Construction. Ángel Alcaraz Bernal, Head of Architecture and Rehabilitation for the Cartagena City Council, and José Amorós Martínez, Architect and Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Building Construction of the UPCT (Polytechnic University of Cartagena).

5:00-6:30 p.m.: The Birthplace of Isaac Peral: museography of a universal legacy. Ángel Rocamora Ruíz, Architect and Writer of the Museographic Project, and Mª Teresa Ximénez de Embún.

7:00-8:30 p.m.: Visit to the Birthplace of Isaac Peral.

Tuesday, July 14

9:00-12:00h: Visit to the monumental complex of the theater and portico. Elena Ruiz Valderas and Antonio J. Murcia Muñoz, Roman Theater Museum of Cartagena.

12:30-2:00 pm: Narration, emotion and dramaturgy: music and theater in Ancient Rome. María Isabel Rodríguez López, Professor of Archaeology at the Complutense University of Madrid.

5:00-6:30 p.m.: Pompey the Great versus Lucullus (1st century BC): When gardens enter politics. Lluis Pons Pujol, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Barcelona.

7:00-8:30 p.m.: Investigating an "empty" space: archaeology of gardens in Roman times. Isabel Vinal Tenza, Antiquity and Christianity Research Group, University of Murcia.

Wednesday, July 15

9:00-12:00: Visit to the excavation site of the Roman Amphitheater of Cartagena. Coordinated by María José Madrid Balanza, Archaeological Heritage Unit of the Cartagena City Council and archaeologists from the excavation team.

12:30 - 14:00: From sand to light: news and restoration projects of the Roman Amphitheater of Cartagena. Andrés Cánovas Álcaraz. Architect and Director of the Projects Department of the ETSAM.

5:00-6:30 p.m.: The Cartagena Amphitheater: Archaeology and Conservation of a Monument. Francisco Fernández Matallana, archaeologist and co-director of the interventions at the Roman amphitheater of Cartagena, and Izaskun Martínez Peris, Cultural Heritage Restorer, director of restoration work at the Roman amphitheater.

19:00-20:00h: Round Table: A Thousand Perspectives on Cultural Heritage, the Art of Teamwork.

INFORMATION
Vice-Rectorate for Students and Employment
cursos.verano@upct.es
www.upct.es/unimar
Tel: +34 968 33 88 18
Dates : July 13-15, 2026
Venue : Auditorium of the Roman Theatre Museum of Cartagena.
Schedule : 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Course : 25 hours of instruction
Director : Elena Ruiz Valderas
Code : 53914
Registration link : https://www.upct.es/cursos/curso.php?sistema=VER&cod_curso=53914&curso_acad=2025/26&convocatoria=A&turno=U