The Region of Murcia
ANCIENT AND MYSTERIOUS, the history of Murcia in Spain tells a story of
Carthaginian trading posts. Moorish caliphates and waxing and waning empires.
However, this dramatic history is not readily apparent in the lush hills,
colourful fruits and glistening beaches of the region, which bask in more hours
of sunlight per year than anywhere else in Europe. Yet somehow Murcia, which is
just a short drive south of Alicante, has remained relatively undiscovered by
tourists. And what tourism does exist has done none of the damage to the Spanish
landscape that other regions have unfortunately suffered.
The Region of Murcia has miles of sandy beaches – the Costa Calida (Warm Coast)
- rugged mountains and lakes - fertile plains capable of growing pretty much
anything from salad vegetables to cotton and rice, oranges and lemons to grapes
and apricots. Murcia has all of this as well as the healthiest climate in Europe
(according to the World Health Organisation) with more than 320 days of sunshine
per year.
What makes the region of Murcia so special? –
How long have you got!
The fabulous fiestas, wonderful food, fabulous
scenery, excellent beaches and warmth of the local people all go together to
make this an exceptional region of Spain.
We “found” the Region of Murcia 5 years ago and have been exploring it ever
since. We were amazed by the general lack of tourist information on the region
(even in Spanish) and it is only recently that the region’s possibilities for
tourism are being promoted. The more we found out, the more we wanted to find
out. The Region of Murcia is a fabulous area to explore.
A little recent history…
For years the region of Murcia did not have the easy access of the other
regions. However, in recent years the Region of Murcia has gained grants from
the EU which have been wisely spent on a system of new roads. Also in the past
few years Murcia airport (San Javier) has become increasingly popular with low
cost airlines from the UK. Murcia has looked at the Costa del Sol to the South
and the southern Costa Blanca to the North and has learned much from the
overbuilding in those areas. Murcia therefore, has very strict planning laws
that are aimed at protecting the beauty of the region and it has established
several natural parks.
Yes there is development here, but the majority of this is on World class golf
resorts and also beachfront property on the La Manga Strip. Apart from the La
Manga Strip, No High-Rise properties are allowed and parks and green areas have
to be left within developments. Murcia is a region that is growing – fast, but
remains a challenge to explore. Come and see for yourself.
Cities, towns...
The Cities, Towns and Villages in the Region of Murcia are like a box of
chocolates they may look similar from the out side but in the centre each one
has something different to offer. We have visited all the places listed and each
one is very special, in general their charm is not always obvious to the new
visitor (that is why we decided to make this website), it is only when you
venture into a restaurant which may look like a transport café and point to the
Menu del Dia (Menu of the day) that you begin to taste the real Spain. A meal
that Gordon Ramsey would be proud of, washed down with some local wine, for much
the same price as a sandwich and coke in the UK, makes you realise why the
Spanish way of life is so enviable. We hope that you have fun discovering the
Real Spain
Beaches...
With over 200km of sandy beaches stretching from
the warm crystal clear waters of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean beaches of
the La Manga Strip, across the craggy cliffs and coves of the Calblanque
Natuaral Park and down to the sweeping bays of the Mediterranean resort of
Aguilas, the Costa Calida ( warm coast ) has a wealth of beaches. Listed below
is a little more information on the beaches of the Costa Calida in the region of
Murcia.
Rural Murcia...
Much is written about the Spanish Costas and we
are all familiar with the beautiful beaches, marinas and crystal clear seas, but
very little is written in English about the beautiful countyside in Spain and in
particular the Region of Murcia.
The Region of Murcia has everything to offer the inquisitive visitor, on our
journeys into rural Murcia we felt like intrepid travellers, going where no one
had been before. Indeed many travellers have been before, but there seems to be
very little in the way of Tourist Information about the area. Here are a few of
our favourite places that we ‘discovered’.
Murcia Spain with its about 300 000 habitants lies about 75 km south of Alicante
about 30 km west of Torrevieja.
The city of Murcia can be reached via the national road E15 from Alicante or
using the C415 from the Madrid direction. You can also use the bus or train, but
do not look for a Murcia airport, you might not find one.
The mild climate with very little precipitation year round and the diversified
ecological landscape draws you into an incredible state of well-being. Its
coast, with over 200 beaches, shares two different bodies of water: the
Mediterranean and the Menor Sea, which has an outstretched piece of land called
La Manga. Murcia is the capital of the province and got its own University.
The Mediterranean bathed region of Murcia, is not only known for its beautiful
beaches, but also for a great number of natural beauties still to be discovered.
It is precisely its natural charms and contrasts that makes Murcia outstanding
from other regions.Natural open spaces that look like the most desolate deserts
share common ground with lush fertile green lands like the valley of Segura and
the valley of Guadaletin: modern residential neighbourhoods reaching out to
connect with small medieval towns.
What’s to Sunshine in Murcia
Embedded in between parts of the mountains of the
Sierra de Orihuela and the Cresta de Gallo lies Murcia, the city which is due to
the large and sophisticated watering system, very famous for vegetables. La
Manga has become one of the most important resort areas of what is called the
‘Costa Calida’ or the Warm Coast together with Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca.
The Murcia region was first populated by the ancient Iberian tribes which
started intense commercial relationships with the Phoenicians and Greeks,
founding commercial factories on the coastal area. It is maybe thanks to this
that its history has always been connected to seafaring activities and
agriculture. It was a Carthaginian colony and then taken over by the Moors who
graced this part of Spain with an advanced system of irrigation which has made
Murcia’s crops famous world wide, even nowadays.
This aspect has helped its gastronomy become very popular with a rich balanced
Mediterranean diet in elaborating stews, salads, baked meat and rice dishes. But
you must not forget that its closeness to the sea also gives it its rich
culinary seafood delicacies. And what would be a Spanish meal without a good
wine. As mentioned before, its fertile land is producing better wines every year
and Murcia is becoming a strong competitor in this market.
Tourist attractions
From a tourist point of view, Spain and Murcia
itself offer you a huge amount of interesting places to visit as the history of
the city goes back to the years 800 where it was originally founded as part of
Cordoba. Certainly amongst the famous visiting points for any traveler is the
Cathedral de Santa Maria. Finished in the 15th century the cathedral is the most
impressive monument of Murcia. The city is divided by the Segura River and is
known for its beautiful Baroque Cathedral, Almudi Palace and the castle of
Monteagudo ( where the Arab influence can be well appreciated ), a fortress from
the 11th c., the Market de Veronicas, the Malecon Garden, the University of
Murcia and the Museum Ramon Gaya. The Museum Ramon Gaya, dedicated to the artist
with this same name and native of Murcia, is found in Casa Palarea in the
Catalina Square. It was inaugurated in 1990 when the artist was 82 years old and
also includes other works of art from other artists. Ramon Gaya was influenced
by famous artists such as Vazquez and Rembrandt, so you have an idea of the
intense precision of his work.
Cathedral de Santa Maria
If you ever come to Murcia, please spend some
time and discover the beauties of this fantastic building. The cathedral which
is located at the plaza del Cardinal Belluga, got different entrance doors. All
of them on their own a treasure. The main entrance, called puerta del perdon,
the north door, portada de las cadenas and the portada de los apostoles lead you
into the impressive capilla mayor decorated with lots of gold. When you took
your tour around the cathedral of Murcia, make sure you visit the museum inside
the cathedral, where many more details are explained.
Right outside the Cathedral you will find the city hall and the Palacia
Episcopal, the residency of the Bishop of Murcia. When I first visited the city
I was overwhelmed by the amount of nice places along the streets. The variety of
museums, from the archeological to the museum for water systems, to the museo de
bellas Artes which shows art from Ballester and Gaya amongst others.
When visiting the Murcia region, I would recommend a visit to the capital of
the region, Carthagena and Caravaca de la Cruz.
Carthagena is a very historical city with an impressive Archaeological Museum
which opens your eyes to the Iberian city of Mastia, which was the host home to
different civilisations before it was converted into Cartago Nova, the
settlement of the Romans and Carthaginians.
Caravaca de la Cruz has a splendorous history, folklore and architecture which
can be seen by just walking around the town and in more detail in the different
museums which wrap up the essence of this land: all for the price of one. Since
1998, Caravaca shares a permanent Jubilee Year with Rome, Jeruselem, Santiago de
Compostela and Santo Toribio of Liebana. The Municipal Archaeological Museum is
found in what used to be the Church of Our Lady of Solitude with its arched
columns embracing you from every side.
Furthermore you should consider having a stop at the many bars and restaurants
around the city, especially in summer when Murcia weather conditions can be
demanding to any tourist. In case you look for a golf course or Murcia golf club
around, please look at our golf course list here.
And to be well rested during your stay in Murcia, I personally would recommend
the Hotel Nelva, which is located near the historic centre and was built in 2005
and has all the services available for a casual visit or for business. To arrive
there with no problem when coming from Madrid on the N-301 or from Alicante and
the Costa Blanca area, take the exit marked “ Avenida Juan de Borbon / Ronda
Levante”. Go along this Avenue for about 4 kilometres and turn left when you see
the sign for Ronda Levante and about 500 metres ahead is the hotel and a good
start for your Murcia tour.
Tips on your next Murcia trip
If you plan to spend your holidays in or around
Murcia, make sure you rent a car. Local transport by bus or train is available,
but if you want to see something of the beautiful places around the Costa Blanca
and Spain you really want to have a car. Murcia car hire companies offer car
pick up and drop at Murcia airport which you would like to have. It is not
advisable to come to Murcia during the summer period, without a car reservation
in hand.
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