Local Places
The Region of Murcia is a beautiful area of Spain, located between the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, it has many unspoilt beaches along the Costa Calida (warm coast). The region boasts 320 days of sunshine per year and average temperatures of 17 degrees in the winter and 27 degrees in the summer months.
The region is also rich with towns and cities with historic buildings, some dating back to the Romans and before. Modern shops, street markets and leisure facilities can also be found in abundance. The Spanish culture of cuisine, fiestas and siestas remains unchanged as the tourist trade in this area is largely made up of Spanish visitors.
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 has a wealth of beaches.
Towns and Cities
As well its superb coastline, the Murcia Region has many interesting towns and cities including Aledo, Cartegena, Calasparra, Caravaca de la Cruz, Lorca, Mula, Murcia and Totana. Aledo is famous for its connection with the “El Cid” legend, as portrayed in the movie starring Charlton Heston. Mula, dominated by the castle of “Marques de Los Velez” is the site of a thermal spring where you can bathe in the medicinal waters. One of the oldest cities in the area is Cartegena, dating from around 200 BC, a combination of ancient and modern architecture it became an important naval base in the 1700’s; Second World War gun emplacements built in the style of a medieval fort once guarded the base from their positions on the other side of the bay. Murcia provides excellent shopping opportunities including the English style department store “El Corte de Ingles”.
Caravaca de la Cruz is of both historical and religious importance and is only the fifth town in the world to be granted Jubilee status by the Pope. Calasparra is famous for its rice production, beautiful scenery and the sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza (pictured above) which is carved into the hill side. Totana is mainly agricultural (grapes, squash and almonds) and has a thriving pottery industry which exports its products all over the world.
Close by is the Sierra Espuna Natural Park, an area of pine forest inhabited by wild boar, squirrels, foxes, birds of pray and other wild birds. Lorca is steeped in history and featured in many battles between the Christians and the Moors, its castle has a living history tour is very well presented and definitely worth a visit. There are many other towns such as Puerto Lumbreras, Bullas, Cieza, Yecla, Fortuna, Pliego and Jumilla that are worth exploring; the list is endless.
For the Kids and Adults
Aqua Natura Murcia
The water park, known as Zanzibar, covers a total area of 30,000 m2 and aims to recreate the Indian Ocean archipelago of the same name. It offers a really refreshing oasis of relaxation just a short distance from the centre of Murcia
There are two main swimming pools for children and adults, a lazy river and a selection of water chutes with and without floats.
Terra Natura Murcia
This is a new generation wildlife park where you can discover the ‘’Zooimmersion’’ experience, a new concept in habitat design which will enable you to come into contact with the animals as if they were no barriers between you – at least, no visible ones
The 165,445 m2 of the Murcia park is divided into two themed areas the African Savannah and the Iberian Peninsula
At Terra Natura Murcia you can see more than three hundred animals from fifty different species, three of which are in serious danger of extinction, plus over five hundred examples of more than fifty species of trees, shrubs and ground cover plants from the Murcia region.