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Murcia

Population: ~ 349.000

Time difference to London - Time zone GMT/UTC: 1 hour (+/- changes due summertime/daylight saving)

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Located at the South-East corner of the Iberian Peninsula, between the regions of, Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha and Valencia, the region of Murcia occupies an area of 11,317 km2 (2.2% of the total surface area of Spain).

It is bordering the province of Albacete in the North, the province of Alicante in the East, the provinces of Granada, Albacete and Almería in the West, and the Mediterranean in the South-East.

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Intense historical tradition

As a result of its intense historical tradition, the reiterative superposition of cultures, its strategic location as a Mediterranean enclave and its transitional character as a border territory mid-way between the Meseta and Andalusia, the Murcia Region retains innumerable vestiges of the past, making it an ideal meeting-point where History and tradition have been instilled with new life and placed at the visitor's disposal.

The abundant remains and archaeological sites include rock-paintings in cave-shelters dating back to the Iberian period, the splendour of Roman antiquity with its urbanistic refinement and penchant for the theatrical, Visigothic cities, Arab medinas, Christian castles, watch-towers, churches and temples, civil and military constructions ...

Any time of the year for a holiday stay ...

Murcia, capital city of the Autonomous Region, on the banks of the Segura, Cartagena, a port fronting on the Mediterranean, Lorca, the town of a Hundred Coats of Arms, and Caravaca, the Holy Town, will furnish all the reasons a visitor needs to choose them any time of the year for a holiday or just a short stay.

FESTIVALS

In Murcia you will find the sea, beach and festivals. Plunge into the sea of Music.

Amongst the most prominent cultural activities of the region are the Las Minas Flamenco song festival in the mining town of La Unión, the “La Mar de Musicas” Festival held during the summer in the harbour town of Cartagena, the International Festival de Mediterranean Folklore which receives groups from all over the world in Murcia and the International Festival of Theatre, Music and Dance in San Javier.

Many events and shows are also programmed as part of the local festivals of the different towns and during the summer.

MUSEUMS

The two most important museums of Murcia are a tribute to its creators. The Ramon Gaya Museum shows the artistic evolution of the prodigy child of the city. The Francisco Salzillo Museum exhibits the religious works of the famous sculptor of the XVIII Century.

The first regional gallery, the Fine Arts Museum exhibits pieces of art of authors like Gaya, Pedro Flores or Ballenter.

Handcraft

The handcraft, closely linked to the past, still fighting to obtain economical support to modernise and develop their maintenance in the economic issue of the Region, contributes to define the character and personality of a people, once its products are symbols that represent a society or a cultural identity.

Among others, we have the traditional Murcian 'Belenes', in their different styles, pottery and ceramic art, embroidering, wood, glass, weavers, foundry... as some of the handmade art of the tradition in the Region of Murcia.

BODEGA EL JUMILLANO

The El Jumillano Restaurant it's not an usual tapas bar. It surprises us with its specialities, its service, and the choice of the ingredients used in dishes and tapas.

El Jumillano is famous in Murcia for its "caballitos", for the butted cod, the spicy buttered mussels and the homemade vegetable pies.

La Bodega El Jumillano has a big terrace surrounded by trees, and it's placed in one of the most charming neighbourhoods of Murcia.

SPRING FEASTS

They begin on Easter Sunday and are lively celebrations in which Murcia makes merry to celebrate of spring and the end of Lent. Street musicians, street theatre, fireworks, the Youth Orchestra Festival, The Festival of 'Tunas' (university musicians), The Murcian Spring Parade with floats decorated with flowers.

However, at this time, the most emblematic feasts of National Tourist Interest are the 'Bando de la Huerta' and the 'Entierro de la Sardine', where people give and receive with generosity and abundance.

Festival of Three Cultures

The International Festival of Murcia: Three Cultures has become one of the biggest national festivals, not only in Spain but also abroad.

It’s characteristic for its artistic performances of all kinds of music and different arts from all over the world.

The programme is very wide and you can enjoy all kind of concerts and artistic activities that will have place on 20 streets and squares of Murcia.

Places that are relied with the city’s history and with the spirit of the festival.

Like other editions before, music, dance and culture will be the main point that will connect ideas and cultures. Again, united under the slogan 'For Tolerance', great figures of music, theatre, literature, intellectuals, dance and photography, among others, will be present during the months of May and June, in the city, an open space where everyone who wishes to, can enjoy it.

SAN JAVIER JAZZ FESTIVAL

The International Jazz Festival of San Javier begun in 1998, a proposal of Alberto Nieto, a jazz fan and General Secretary of ten City Council of San Javier, sponsored by the City Council through its Council of Culture.

From its beginnings, the Festival has been organized by a team integrated by several state employees of the City Council of San Javier, all of them great jazz fans, directed by Alberto Nieto.

In less than one decade, this festival has become one of the most important cultural events of the region of Murcia, with a great national and international acceptance.

The IX edition of the Festival will be during the month of July of 2006 and will have the following programme:

Toquinho, Solomon Burke, Fourplay, Hank Jones Trio, Rebekka Bakken, Billy Cobham - Didier Lockwood String Quartet, J. Teixi Band, Leroy Jones and La Vella Dixieland and Mikel Andueza Quinteto. These are some of the figures that integrate the programme of the Jazz Festival of San Javier of 2006.

Caves - Hidden charm

Nearly all the caves in the Murcia Region are formed by limestone or dolomite, which results in the large number of cavities catalogued.

The longest-stretching cave is the Cueva del Puerto, in Calasparra, in which some 5 kilometres have been mapped.

Some of the caverns are open for guided tours; the rest can be explored by groups of cavers accompanied by guides. As far as vertical drop is concerned, the Region's deepest cave is the Destapada, in Isla Plana (Mazarrón), which goes down 230 m.

Others of note are the Torreta (-175 m), in the Revolcadores massif; the Buitre (-106 m), in the massif of the same name (Caravaca); the Talayón (-152 m), in Lorca; and the Caneja, near Barranda, which is 220 metres long and 99 deep.

Nature

The coast is not only a paradise for lovers of water sports and the traditional sun-and-sea seeking holidaymakers; here the visitor can also find places of special ecological interest like the San Pedro del Pinatar salt lagoons - which border on the province of Alicante - or the Calblanque nature reserve, nestling on the Mediterranean coastline close to La Manga and the seaside town of Cabo de Palos.

Spas and Thalassotherapy - Beneficial waters

Spend a relaxing time, escape from the daily hustle and bustle or take a health bath. These are good enough reasons for leaving the city behind and spending a few days in one of the centres of health and beauty in the Region of Murcia.

If we add to this a climate with temperatures near to 18ºc on average, and nearly 2,800 hours of sun a year, we can understand how these places have become resorts for relaxing at any time of the year.

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