Murcia

Two seas on one coastline - the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean - , impressive cliffs, heavenly beaches of endless white sand, lively ports and wild coves with crystal clear water, more than 3,000 hours of sun a year and mild temperatures - even in winter - with a yearly average of more than 18ºC. This is the Costa Cálida, the ideal place to spend some days relaxing both in winter and summer.

The interior of the Murcia Region is ideal for those in search of relaxation, nature, sport and good food. The mountains here are full of wild game and woodland, and crowned with castles, fortresses, hermitages and convents. Stories and ancient legends enshroud these evocative, welcoming parts, inviting you with their robust, tasty cuisine to enjoy a few days´ relaxation in the fresh country air. Quiet, sleepy towns, such as Moratalla, Mula, Bullas, Cehegín, Caravaca, Jumilla, Yecla, and numerous other localities open their doors to visitors in search of new, tranquil sensations, those who want to lose themselves for a few hours among holms, pines, oaks and junipers, visit archaeological sites, experience traditional lifestyles, and, to get their strength back, sit down to a hearty stew, some migas or a tasty dish of game, accompanied by a fine bottle of local Denominación de Origen wine.

The more adventurous can paddle down river by canoe, go potholing, climbing, hiking, horse riding and cycling. Those who prefer can learn to knead bread, make homemade cakes, distil essences and liqueurs, cut honeycomb or make cheese. It is a question of taste.

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 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.

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.