Museo Historico Militar de Cartagena, Region of Murcia, Spain

5nnmercman 5:00 PM Oct 26, 2017

Well worth a visit and it’s free!
Entrance is free although a euro3 contribution towards restoration projects is recommended. There’s a handy pamphlet in English which gives brief details and layout then you’re free to wander round at leisure. Most exhibits are indoors which means they’re in good condition - exhibits are over two floors with the top floor housing mainly uniforms, small arms and the largest collection of military models in the world at nearly 3,000 items (certified by the Guinness Book of Records) - the models as a group are some of the best made I’ve seen. The majority of large exhibit information boards have English translations and it was interesting to read for example how German captured Russian guns were sold on to Spain during WW2. There’s also an Enigma coding machine. A wall plaque details how the Colonel in charge of the depot was shot and killed on the stairs towards the end of the Civil War when Cartagena was a Republican stronghold. A prototype modified 88mm gun is on display in the far courtyard. Museum closes at 1330hrs weekdays and there’s rest room facilities at the back of the room next to the Chapel.

4Dave54 5:00 PM Nov 22, 2015

A Not so well advertised place
Stumbled across this place in Cartagena and spent three hours with our own docent; luckily my wife speaks the lingo. The retired guys working inside were eager to share this place with tourists; didn't see any locals that cared about it. Basically an old army barracks manned by volunteers that are trying to build this place up into a real Smithsonian type museum. Hundreds of years of history inside, great display areas, and all kinds of weaponry....Soviet, US, German, you name it. Go inside, it's worth a few hours.