The city of Murcia was founded around 831 AD by the Moors in the centre of the river Segura Valley. The importance of the city over the years can be seen by the many beautiful cathedrals, palaces and other public buildings scattered around its many narrow streets. Anxious to preserve its historical treasures as well as allowing visitors to marvel at their splendour, a variety of museums and exhibition centres exist all over the city. Walking towards the river, the visitor will encounter the 'Glorieta de Espana' always brimming with life and the City Hall that lies at its centre with its colourful façade. Near to the cathedral the pedestrian street begins, hundreds of shops (from traditional Spanish to well known brand names) are located here. Murcia will surprise you and you will not be the first who felt in love with this city.
There are plenty of beautiful golfcourses in the area.
Click on the map for details.
The Costa Calida (warm coast) and Costa Blanca (white coast) offers very clear water, sandy, well kept and still quiet beaches. Mass tourism did not yet discover this part of the Mediterranean Sea. The average water temperature is 18 C (in August 24 C). The shallow waters of Mar Menor are even warmer (in wintertime 18 C) and due to the lack of waves perfectly suited for swimming. Due to its high mineral content there are also several mud baths for healing purposes. The Mediterranean coastline offers very clear water, many long and sandy beaches, but also small bays.
Within an hour drive of Murcia you will find the following amusement parks / zoos where you can spend a whole day.
| Terra Mitica Large Paramount amusement park with shows for all ages. Theme-park based on the life of Romans, Moors, Iberians, Greeks, and Phoeniciens. Benidorm (75 min. drive) Open: April – October + weekends during March/November/December website: website: www.terramiticapark.com |
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| Aquopolis Large aquapark with many pools, chutes, rapids etc. Situation: Torrevieja (30 min. drive). Open: June – September website: www.aquopolis.es |
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| Rio Safari Elche Safari park with among others lions, hippos, panthers, monkeys, giraffes, crocodiles. Further a show with seals. The day can be completed with a visit at the open air pool with large chutes. Between Santa Pola and Elche (40 min drive). All year round open. |
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| Aqualandia Large aquapark with among others the longest and steepest chutes from Europe. Benidorm (75 min. drive) Open: May - October website: www.aqualandia.net |
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Mundomar Large park with many animals from the sea (among others dolphins, seals, sea lions, penguins) and exotic animals (among others parrots, flamingos, tropical birds). Further various shows, a dolphinarium and large children's playground. Certainly worth visiting. Benidorm (75 min. drive) All year round open website: www.mundomar.es |
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Many facilities are available and in combination with the marvellous climate all kind of waterspouts (swimming, sailing, jet ski, power boat trips) can be enjoyed. In Cabo de Palos, just along the coast, is also one of the most beautiful diving spots in Spain, drawing divers from all over the world.
About 2,5 hours away by car are the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and its ski resorts. On the higher slopes there is enough snow to ski even in the spring or autumn.
The rich history of the Murcia province with its many influences (Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors) has an abundance of ruins and historical sites, which are definitely worth a visit.
The main pleasure of Spanish people in life is good food, preferably enjoyed by as large a group as possible. It seems that the entire population of Murcia occupies the city centre in the evening, filling the pavements cafes, tapas bars, bodegas and restaurants with enjoyable hustle and bustle. There is a great variety in the number and kind of restaurants. The Spanish cuisine has its individual character that is expressed by a range of pleasantly surprising delicacies. Tapas, calderos, pastel del carne, jamon de serrano, chorizo, gazpacho, conejo and raja de melon dessert. Together with the various local specialties and the numerous distinctive local fish and shellfish dishes you will absolutely not forget this part of Spain.
Even today there are various wine area (Yecla, Jumilla) lying between Murcia and Alicante that are just waiting to be discovered. These wines are based on the Monastrell, Garnacha and Tempranillo grape variety. At many of the wine cooperatives you can taste and purchase the wine of your choice at very reasonable prices.
There are health spa's at Fortuna and Archena, however the Romans and Moors have beaten you to it. Lying on the banks of the river Segura River between the palm trees and the tropical plants is the town of Balneario de Archena. An ideal destination for your health and relaxation where the mineral rich springs break the surface with the water at a temperature of 52ºC. Balneario de Fortuna with its salt rich spring, 53ºC, is to the north of Murcia and offers modern facilities for the treatment of asthma, rheumatism, common colds to all sorts of allergies.
Nature
The nature and mountains around Murcia offering a great variety of flora. There are also many olive, orange and lemon plantations together with the palm tree cultivations which all add up to give a very natural and beautiful environment. The Mosa Golf complex borders on a protected nature reserve, which gives the perfect environment for walking, cycling and horse riding which are all favourite activities of the area.
Calblanque park, situated south, consists of a beautiful coast with high dunes, great flora and fauna, long golden sandy beaches and a deepblue sea. Calblanque can be visited on foot, on bicycle or on horse-back.
To the east is the regional park “Salinas y Arenales” , the most important wetland of the province Murcia. Each summer many flamingos gather here to fly together to the north of Africa. Only a part is open for public. This part consists of pine trees, dunes, beautiful sandy beaches and cristalclear water.
Nature park “Sierra Espuña”
This beautiful park is located just behind Alhama de Murcia and is very special because here still live wild goats and lynxes. In wintertime the tops of the mountains are covered with snow.
After the sun goes down you can try your luck at the casino in Murcia or watch a flamenco show or even go to the disco, of which there are many on the outskirts of town. You can of course just enjoy the evening by visiting one of the many excellent restaurants or terraces in the centre of town.
With 10 minutes of the complex there is the excellent Academic Hospital of Murcia. On a 20 min distance are the international airports of Murcia/San Javier and 40 min. of Alicante El Altet.