Region of Murcia

How beautiful you are, Murcia! This was the slogan that we all remember from the famous televised gala from a few years ago. If you visit the Region of Murcia for the first time, you will realise that this phrase is far more than just a slogan, and you will fall in love with this paradisical place.

The Region of Murcia is the small autonomous community, that fits between the touristic powerhouses of Andalucia and Valencia. However, we can find little corners that will impress you without the touristic elements that you usually find in Eastern Spain.

Its enviable climate means that the weather is pleasant at any time of the year. One of the best tourist attractions is its coast, with clean and warm waters. In fact, its coast is known as Costa Cálida (warm coast), where you'll find lots of beaches, from those which are crammed with tourists to small untouched coves.

If you find yourself in the Region of Murcia, don't worry too much about what little trips you can do to points of touristic interest that are close by. I'm going to show you some now:

What is there to see in the Region of Murcia?

Murcia

Murcia is the capital of the Region of Murcia. If you don't particularly like the touristic things such as the sun and beaches, the city offers a wide variety of cultural activities. You cannot miss the opportunity of ordering a "marinera" and a meat filled pastry, accompanied by a refreshing beer in one of its beautiful plazas.

Cartagena

Cartagena is the city with the most history in the Region of Murcia, the old Cartago Nova. Thanks to its strategic location near the Mediterranean Sea, the city was home to a number of cultures, leaving an important legacy in its wake which can still be seen today. You'll be able to find an endless number of museums, but if we have to highlight an emblematic place, this is without a doubt the Roman Amphitheatre, which dates back to the first century A. C.

Lorca

Lorca is popularly known as the City of Sun as is has an abundance of days with a clear sky. Here you'll find important historical buildings, but without a doubt the emblem of the city is its huge walled fortress that you can't miss. The wall can be found in the highest part of the city, on a hill, meaning that the best method of getting there would be by car.

Caravaca

The town of Caravaca is a Holy City, a privilege that it shares with Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liébana.

We can enjoy its old medieval centre, but there's no doubt that where the tourists and the pilgrims come together is in its castle. Inside the castle we find a Sanctuary Basilica of la Vera Cruz, of a Renaissance style on the inside and a Baroque facade. The fortress was constructed in the 18th century and it's home to the famous Caravaca Cross. This is a cross of four arms, which according to legend was brought down from heaven by two angels. To access it you need to climb a small hill. On the interior of this religious temple you can find an heirloom that, according to the story, is a piece of the cross that Jesus Christ was crucified on.

Something else which stands out is the festivals they have such as the Caballos de Vino which was declared to be an Intangible Cultural Heritage or its parade of the Moors and the Christians.

Sierra Espuña

If you like the mountains, you can visit the Regional Park of Sierra Espuña, the natural treasure of the region. It's a necessary place to go for those nature lovers, as there are many paths that that pave your way amongst the vegetation. You cannot miss the Pozos de la Nieve, which are constructions created within rocks which have been used to store ice from the 16th century.

A place that will definitely surprise you is the Barrancos de Gebas. In an area which is very dry, you'll find small turquoise lakes that glisten in the sun, which gives a huge contrast when comparing with the brown colour of the rocky hills that surround them.

The Mediterranean Sea

If you fancy relaxing and enjoying the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Region of Murcia you'll find a wide variety of possibilities. You'll be able to enjoy the fantastic beaches in Águilas, known for its impressive castle; Mazarrón and its several-metre-high indescribable rocky figures which have been eroded by the wind in Bolnuevo, popularly known as Ciudad Encantada (Loved City); or La Manga del Mar Menor, a destination that thousands of tourists look for to spend a few pleasant days on the beach and enjoy the diverse nautical sports on offer.

If you prefer a solitary place where you can take a dip, the best place is the Nature Park of Calbanque, where you'll be able to find various untouched coves covered in fine white sand. You'll be able to enjoy its high cliff faces, clean waters, its fossilised dunes and its typical Mediterranean ecosystem, without finding a single human footprint.

If you're looking for exciting adventures instead of tranquility, don't think twice about submerging yourself into the sea and enjoy the beautiful marine backdrop. The spectacular marine reserve of Cabo de Palos was catalogued in 2015 as the best destination for scuba diving in Europe.

Sierra Minera de la Unión

In the Union mines silver, lead and other metal minerals are extracted and have been since the era of the Carthaginian times, which passed over to the hands of the Romans until the 19th century. Once the mining fever passed, many of the mines were converted so they could be visited. There are some incredible caves inside the mines that have now been turned into a tourist place of interest. You can't miss it!

Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar

The Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar is a protected National Park. It is a greatly important wetland for a huge number of varying species of bird, and also a large diversity of mediterranean flora. The place is filled with a huge number of paths which you can follow on bike or foot.

Here you can have a medicinal mud bath on its coast, which attracts numerous tourists each year.

Salto del Usero

The Salto del Usero is a natural pool covered by limestone rock, a phenomena formed by erosion from the force of the river water over time. You can find it a few kilometres from the town Bullas, in the North East of the region.

Despite not being one of the biggest tourist attractions in Spain, the Region of Murcia conceals numerous places that will amaze you and make you want to return to keep exploring.

Have a good trip!

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