In a country with such a developed tourist industry, Murcia is a relatively hidden gem. It may not match the party atmosphere of Seville, the chic of Barcelona or the splendour of Granada, but then it doesn’t try to: Murcia is picturesque, laid back, and quite simply, a very nice place to visit.
Things to see and do:
- Plaza Santa Domingo – Murcia’s main square is a good place to catch Murcianos in their natural habitat – tapas bars and cafes will keep you entertained day and night, and the area is also popular with the many students who attend the city’s university.
- Cathedral – Murcia’s 14th century cathedral is definitely worth a visit, and has one of the tallest towers in Spain.
- Fiesta season – Easter is fiesta time in Murcia, highlights of which include the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ ceremony, and the parade of Salzillo sculptures in Holy Week.
- City wall remains – Murcia was founded in the 9th century by Muslim ruler Abd-Al-Rahman II, and parts of the city walls are still standing, dotted around what is now the central part of the city.
Getting there:
‘Murcia’ airport is actually 45km away from the city of Murcia (it’s named after the region rather than its namesake first city), near the town of San Javier. There’s no bus or train service from here, so taxi, car hire or pre-booked minibus are the only options. Non-driving and/or budget travellers should consider flying to a better-connected airport such as Alicante and getting to Murcia itself by train or bus.
Location and weather:
Murcia is just inland from Spain’s south-east coast, just over 80km south of Alicante, and around 250km from Valencia. The region enjoys year-round sunshine, but being inland Murcia is very hot – the temperature can get into the 40s in summer.
Top tip:
The coast of the Murcia region is long, sandy and unspoilt. Aguilas and La Manga are just two of the day-trip beach destinations worth a try. |
