The city of Cartagena and its Arsenal became the Naval Base of the Spanish Navy in the Mediterranean during the 18th century. Dozens of fortifications were built to defend them, organizing them into three large systems of defense.
A perimeter of ramparts enclosed the facilities of the shipyard for immediate protection, along with a battery to the port side. The second was a coastal defense system, made up of a series of batteries built at the mouth of the harbor. Finally, the land defense system dealt with the construction of town ramparts and several external forts on the main hills. These fortifications such as Galeras, Atalaya and Los Moros, which were declared Cultural Heritage Assets in 1987, managed to protect the arsenal and the city against possible attacks from outside. The majority have remained in service until the beginning of the 20th century. The city is working on including the rich military architecture and fortifications on the UNESCO’S World Heritage List.