This picturesque city is the capital of a province of the same name, which lies on the Mediterranean coast between Andalusia and the Community of Valencia.
The city is surrounded by a wide valley with orchard and urban zones, enjoying semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Winters in this area are mild and summers are hot and usually quite dry.
Murcia History
The city was established in the 9th century when this part of the Iberian peninsula was under the Arabian rule (although there had previously existed some minor settlements from the Roman times). Murcia soon gained on importance, having its prosperity supported by a complex network of irrigation channels and agricultural development.
The city was captured by Christians four centuries later. In the 18th century, it became an important center of silk production. The next 19th century, however, turned out to be quite unfortunate to this lovely town. First, it was looted by French troops, then it suffered a major earthquake and repeated floods, ended in a chaos of diseases such as plague and cholera.
Murcia Tourist Information
The city recovered in the 20th century, due to the regulation of Segura river and intensive urban development. Today, Murcia Spain is an important industrial, cultural and touristic center. The development of this municipality is favored by good railway and bus connections, as well as by the presence of Murcia airport “San Javier”.
Historical and architectural heritage of Murcia Spain is really impressive. Its Cathedral is one of the finest examples of the splendor of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque. The impressive main façade is an eye-catching architectural masterpiece, while its tall tower dominates the whole landscape around the city. Other buildings of interest are the Town Hall, the Old University building, the Casino of Murcia and several old churches and convents.
Almost all important monuments are situated just a walk away from each other. You should start your visit crossing one of several bridges over the Segura river. Here, the classical concepts meet with a modern style. You can cross the river either walking over the Old Bridge (Puente Viejo) which leads you into the central avenue Gran Via, or using a nearby futuristic pedestrian white bridge close to the Central Market.
Now, you can either enter Gran Via and do some Murcia shopping, or continue to the charming square full of flowers in front of the Town Hall. There, you can see a monument dedicated to Cardenal Belluga. Passing a short narrow street between the Town Hall and Episcopal Palace, we enter the central square, formed by the impressive Cathedral and several restaurants.
We continue our visit to Murcia Spain walking along a pedestrian street Callede la Trapería, where we find the Casino of Murcia and numerous shops and banks. Finally, we reach a lovely square Plaza Santo Domingo and a promenade Paseo Alfonso X El Sabio. Here you can visit several cultural monuments, such as Santo Domingo and Santa Ana churches, Santa Clara la Real monastery and Romea theatre.
