Murcia Tourism
Getting To Murcia
The only international airport in Murcia is the former military air base at
San Javier, now commonly known as Murica airport, south of Murcia city and quite
close to the Mar Menor. There has been considerable development at the airport
in recent years, as befits a place where passenger numbers rose from 88,605 in
1995 to 1,645,886 in 2006.
The airport is now served by bmibaby, Easyjet, Jet2, Monarch and Ryanair –
together flying out of 16 British airports in total.
There are also good rail links to both the city of Murcia and to Cartagena and
Lorca so it is possible to take a train direct to Murcia from Madrid, Valencia
or Alicante.
Murcia, Cartagena and the other major towns of the area are well served by local
buses, most of which are now air-conditioned and very new. Latbus is the main
regional bus service. In addition, in Murcia itself there is an urban tramline,
introduced in 2007, which is useful for tourists.
By road, the development of the coastal motorway has made a significant
difference to the area, linking it much more easily with the north and south
Mediterranean coasts.
Murcia Tourist Destinations
La Manga Resort
For many years, this area has been synonymous with the famous La Manga Club
Resort, a sports and leisure resort and popular destination for many British
professional clubs looking for perfect training facilities or a mid winter
break. The golf courses here are truly spectacular and all the facilities are
constantly being updated to ensure they are ‘top of the range’. Even if you
don’t stay at the La Manga Club complex, it’s well worth a visit and, if you go
for a meal at one of the many fine restaurants in nearby Los Belones, you’re
almost certain to spot at least one celebrity whilst you’re there.
La Manga del Mar Menor
The actual town of La Manga itself is a fascinating, if perhaps
overdeveloped, place. Built on a narrow 22 km ‘sleeve’ of land which separates
the Mar Menor form the Mediterranean, there is one strip of road leading to the
tip of the land at Veneziola. On both sides of the road you’ll find hotels and
restaurants leading directly out to the beaches – one side having beaches on the
Mediterranean; the other on the Mar Menor. The crystal clear water in the Mar
Menor is warm enough to swim in throughout the year and, at 8 metres depth
maximum, it’s a great place to practise water sports. Apparently, the high
iodine and salt content of the water makes it very healthy. With only the one
road going up and down the strip, La Manga is absolutely packed to capacity with
Spanish tourists in the summer, but it’s a fabulous place to go for a break in
spring or autumn when there’s a little more breathing space.
Murcia City
The regional capital, Murcia, is a lovely city in which to spend some time.
Founded in the ninth century by the Moors, its main treasure is a wonderfully
ornate Baroque cathedral, a delightful medieval quarter and good shopping. As a
university town, and with a good number of foreign students on language courses,
there is a lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere to the town, which is small enough
to be able to comfortably see most of its major sites on foot.
Cartagena
Cartagena is one of those Spanish ports, rather like Cádiz, that has
re-invented itself in recent years. For a long time towards the end of the 20th
century, Cartagena had quite a sleazy reputation, with most of its industry in
decline and a rather dangerous port area. The last city in Spain to fall to
Franco, it is now a thriving town. The port area has been thoroughly cleaned up
and made over and now attracts cruise ships and visiting yachts as people come
to see the many Roman ruins available for visitors. There’s also a fascinating
National Marine Archaeology Museum and what they claim to be the world’s oldest
submarine, constructed in 1888 by a local. If you’re driving in to Cartagena
from the Murcia direction, don’t be too put off by the run-down nature of the
industrial sites on your way in; the city itself is now well worth a visit.
Águilas and Puerto de Mazarrón
The region’s two most popular other seaside resorts apart from La Manga are
probably Águilas and Puerto de Mazarrón, to the west of Cartagena and separated
by some fine unspoilt little bays and beaches. Águilas was a Roman fishing port
and has a good fifteenth century castle. Mazarrón is a name you’ll often see on
boxes of tomatoes in British supermarkets but is also a typically Spanish
seaside town.
Lorca & Caravaca de la Cruz
Lorca is an inland town which was a key frontier site during the Reconquest.
It has many beautiful buildings, a terrific castle and has some of the most
spectacular Easter celebrations in the whole of Spain.
Another key religious site – in fact it is claimed to be Christendom’s fifth
most holy site – is Caravaca de la Cruz, directly to the north of Lorca. A
Christian prisoner here, in 1232, converted the local Sultan when a group of
angels appeared carrying a cross. Every seven years there is an especially
sacred year – Annus Sanctus – when the town becomes full of pilgrims. The next
one of these will be in 2010. The Church of Salvador is justifiably claimed to
be the best example of Renaissance architecture in Murcia and the 16th century
Purísma Concepción church contains fascinating mixtures of Moorish and baroque
styles.
Murcia Tourist Activities
The Parque Natural de Sierra Espuña is a good place for walkers and climbers,
and never seems to get too crowded as it’s still relatively ‘unknown’.
Obviously, with such a wonderful coast, water activities abound but special
mention should be given to the small fishing village of La Azohia, near Águilas,
which is a great site for divers. There are, of course, some truly spectacular
golf courses in the region, many designed by some of the most famous names in
the golfing world.
Murcia Festivals
As previously mentioned, the Easter Week celebrations at Lorca are
justifiably well-known. Two ‘rival’ brotherhoods, the Azules and the Blancos,
annually compete with each other to see which group can organize the most
spectacular displays.
The wine growing centre of Jumilla is an interesting place to be when they have
their wine fiesta, Vendimia; its motif is ‘Bebes o te mojo’ – drink or I’ll soak
you!
Calasparra, to the north-west of the region, produces what is thought to be
Spain’s best rice. In September, though, they have Pamplona-style bull runs in
the narrow streets of the town; for the bravest only.
In May in Caravaca de la Cruz there is a week long festival of horses, where
elaborately decorated horses hurtle through the streets in races.
Finally, Cartagena, in September, sees the residents don Roman and
Carthaginian costumes and party the nights away – although, this being Spain,
there’s always a fair share of Elvises as well, for some bizarre reason.
Food and Drink in Murcia
Because of the excellence of rice from Calasparra, visitors really should try
it whilst they are here. It is popular served with chicken, with vegetables,
with rabbit and snails and with beans. Fish soup is another local speciality on
the coast – a wonderfully rich concoction.
There are well-known wine areas around Jumilla, Bullas and Yecla, producing
some especially nice red wines.
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