Murcia

Often described as one of the most beautiful & historic cities in the country Murcia owes much of its heritage to the Moors (Arabs), who founded it in 825AD; naming the city Mursiya. The impressive city walls are a fine example of this, as are the 20 (former) mosques within them. Murcia was re-conquered by native Spaniards in 1243 & went on to prosper; enriched by the silk industry & agricultural prosperity. It is this good fortune that funded much of the splendour seen today, from the magnificent baroque cathedral, to urban palaces & churches.

The summers here a re hot & the winters mild. This coupled with the irrigation provided by the rivers Segura, Murdo & Sangonera make for ideal citrus fruit growing conditions. The region exports many tons of oranges & lemons; much of it to the German market. To a lesser extent olives & vines are also grown.

Murcia is a university city, with large numbers of national & foreign students attending. Indeed the building itself is of huge proportions & well worth closer inspection. The student population here does much to add a youthful vibe, & a number of lively bars & restaurants can be found in the vicinity of the university compound. As with many Spanish towns & cities Murcia does come alive at night. Do not be put off by this; there really is something for all ages. It is after all customary for Spanish families to go for a walk after their evening meal, perhaps to have an ice cream, or a drink.

All things considered Murcia is definitely worth a visit, whether by day or by night. It has much to offer its visitors, though equally a good place to have lunch, do some shopping or take a leisurely stroll. Sample a range of ‘tapas’ at the terrace restaurants  or visit the great bars and restaurants to  enjoy the cuisine that is based on fresh produce from the region’s fertile lands.

Ideal parking for the first visit is in the underground car park in front of the Cathedral square which has easy access off the motorway.

It has 4 visitor centres:

1) Museum of Festivities – The story of the Vera Cruz is told in the Uribe Palace. Here you can take a close look at the costumes worn by Moors and Christians, in addition to the Caballeros del Vino wine horses and their magnificent attire.

2) The Archeological Museum which is the old church of La Soledad, which contains relics of ancestors providing insights into their way of life. It includes such pieces as objects from the Calcolitic period, Argar pottery and the oldest remains of the Roman temples to be found in Spain.

3) The Vera Cruz Museum shows the history of the Holy Relic, the liturgical objects and archaeological remains from the fortress. Wooden paintings from 1521 are exhibited, in addition to documents from the 17th and 18th centuries and the chasuble of GinesPerez Chirinos.

4) In the Nature Interpretation Centre you will discover the natural wealth of the north western region of Murcia, Caravaca traditions, the trees and local flora and fauna.

The whole town is laden with fabulous historic buildings culminating with the Sanctuary of Vera Cruz overlooking the city, flanked by fourteen towers and the castle walls that fortified the temple in the 13th century on the site of an old Arabic construction.

Visitors flock to the city during the May Festivals in honour of the Vera Cruz inspired by two events, the struggle between the Moos and the Christians and the famous Caballeros del Vino.

Visitors must buy a Caravaca Cross, attend a handicrafts market (every third Sunday of the month) and try sweets specialities such as yemas de Caravaca.

The town itself offers the visitor some history: the House of La Encomienda, which houses the Municipal Archaeological Museum, the building known as El Molinico ( 16th century) the Baroque church of San Pedro ( 18th century) and the Neo-Mudejar-style Clock Tower. Here you will also find on the way out of town a bull ring.

As you leave Calaspara, in a small grotto excavated out of the rock is the Shrine of La Virgen de la Esperanza. Well worth the short drive from the town via the countryside passing a fantastic view point displaying panoramic views of the whole of the valley below with its fruit trees, rice fields leading on for miles.

The most important examples of the town’s historical heritage include the museum of Iberian Art of El Cigarralejo, the only museum of its kind, the Roman remains of ‘Los Villaricos’ and visitors should not miss the old  quarter of the town, the Plaza mayor and its clock tower (Torre del Reloj), The church of San Miguel (16th century), the Royal Monastery of La Encarnacion and the Church of Santo Domingo (16th century) with its baroque interior and Renaissance façade.

About 3 km moving towards Murcia is a new road that that takes you to the embalse de la Cierva, a reservoir frequented by fishermen in search of trout and the Shrine of El Nino de Mula is a delight to see.
Mula is famous for its wine, pottery and jarapas (rugs made of strips of cloth) and has a handicraft Market, the second Sunday of each month.

Neither should we forget the mention of the Church of La Purisima (18th century), the House Convent of Las Monjas, the Town Hall, the former Roman Baths and archaeological sites featuring Prehistoric, Roman and Moorish remains, such as La Cueva Negra (1st – 3rd century), featuring Latin inscriptions, due to its use as a temple devoted to the nymphs in Ancient times.

The cultural itinerary includes the Church of San Juan Bautista ( 18th century ), the Castle of Don Mario and the Visitor Centre at the Small Palace of El Parque Villa Rias.

Famous also for its traditional sausage meats made in the ame way as they have for years.