Murcia: a Baroque capital and Europe's orchard

This dynamic university town still shows off the mixture of cultures that marked its history. The Baroque buildings are the main points of interest in Murcia. This is the artistic style of its main historical buildings. Religiousness is another of its main characteristics. A feeling that is reflected in the works of the imager Francisco Salzillo. Besides, the Daily Mail stated that this city, nicknamed 'Europe's orchard', is "worth a visit for the food alone".

Plan your trip to Murcia

There are many places to visit in Murcia from both perspectives monumental and cultural. It also has a very impeccable city centre next to the riverbed. It takes two days to visit the city. The most important spots are the Baroque Cathedral of Santa María, the Salzillo Museum and the Archeological Museum. The Fine Arts Museum and some churches are also worth visiting.

History and heritage lovers who plan to stay longer should take the motorway towards Alicante. We recommend to visit some beautiful villages such as Calpe, Altea or Denia.

Origin of the city

The first human settlements date back to the Iberian times. In spite of that, it was not until the period of Muslim rule when the place reached a greater development. It was a very troubled period of time, therefore the Caliphal army took part. 

The area was dominated by a feudal regime held by Visigoths descents of Murcia and Alicante. Thus the cora or kingdom of Tudmir (713) was created. Furthermore, population was so diverse and was not very Islamized. There were Christians, muladis or converts to Islam and immigrants of Yemeni origin.

Muslim rule

Abd ar-Rahman II founded in 825 or 831 the city of Mursiya, which means ‘the established’. He ordered the construction of a 15 metres height wall and 95 towers. The foundation was followed by a period of peace in which Roman irrigation was extended by the Segura. These systems were perfected by the Arabs. The city thus displaced Orihuela by becoming the political and economic capital of the Cora of Tudmir.

Murcia became independent of the Caliphate in the second half of the 11th century. It was then formed a new kingdom or taifa led by Abu Abd al-Rahman Ibn Tahir. Then it was annexed by the popular king Al-Mutamid from Sevilla. Nevertheless, the management of the city by its vizier Ibn Ammar caused confrontation between the two.

In 1147 Ibn Mardanis, whom because of his cunning was called ‘the woolf king’, became the king of the city of Murcia. He created a prosper kingdom in cultural and economic terms. Moreover, irrigations had even a major development. During 1165, the walls of Murcia preserved the defeated army of the ‘Woolf King’ against their enemies, the Almohads. Despite of the protection, they conquered Murcia again in 1172.

Period of political instability

After the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212), Muslims of the old territory of Murcia were threatened by Castilians. They had conquered the neighbour territory of Albacete. They also had the pressure of the emir of Granada, who was trying to expand his lands to the east of Murcia.

Coinciding with a period of weakness of the Umayyads, Aben Hud rose up and conquered Murcia in 1228. He also attacked the rest of the Muslim territories of Levante and the south of Al-Andalus. Abed Hud was murdered a decade later. Thus began in 1238 a new period of instability motivated by the absence of leadership among the Muslims.

 Expulsion of the Moorish

Finally the Peace of Alcaraz (1243) became the kingdom of Murcia a protectorate of the Castilian king Alfonso X. Shortly after, around 1266 Muslims rose up and king James I of Aragon was obliged to intervene. He repopulated the city with ten thousand of citizens from Aragón and gave it to his son-in-law, the king of Castile. Alfonso X the Wise loved so much that city that he ordered to bury his heart in the major chapel of the cathedral of Murcia.

Murcia supported the Revolt of the Comuneros in 1520. The deportation of the Moorish in Spain was led in 1613 by king Philip III. As a result, one of the most important business of the city, the production of silk, slumped.

To the present day

The years went by until the 18th century when an extraordinary agricultural development took place. It recovered the silk business. Everything culminated in the inauguration of the Real Fábrica de Hilar Sedas a la Piamontesa in 1770. This prosperous economic situation also allowed the development of the arts and urbanism of the city, following the baroque style.

The Segura river that crosses the city is popular because of its rise in level. During Modern Ages took place two specially traumatic overflowings.

On the other hand, governors of Murcia during the Peninsular War opposed from the beginning to the French. In 1810 population was sacked and, two years later, the city was occupied by troops from the neighbour country again. Finally, the city was declared capital of the newly created province of Murcia in 1883. A few years later, in 1873, it joined the secessionist attempts of the Canton of Murcia that would be repressed shortly afterwards.

Best places to go in Murcia

Walking through the capital of the vegetable garden in Europe, or 'Europe's orchard', means getting caught by the light, the vegetation, the heat and the smell of orange blossom. It also means immersing in the diversity of cultures that inhabited the area.

The Segura river that crosses the city is also crossed by several bridges such as the Puente Viejo or Puente de Piedra. This one holds the beautiful Neoclassical altarpiece of the Virgen de los Peligros (19th century) in one of its sides. From the bridge there is a beautiful panoramic view of the city, with the Botanical Garden on the one side and the facades of the City Council and the Episcopal Palace on the other.

This bridge goes directly to the square Martínez Tornell and the Gran Vía Escultor Salzillo, the focal of the city. It divides the city centre into two parts. From this place, there are two possible ways, facing either side of the Gran Via.

Right side

Firstly, take the streets Maestre and Patricio to the square of Cardenal Belluga. This square is surrounded by the cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace and the city council. The northern reddish facade of the Bishop’s Palace (1748-1768) has a churrigueresque courtyard.

Facing the cathedral square is also the modern Edificio Moneo (1998). It is an extension of the city council that has many admirers and detractors who consider that the Baroque square is not the best environment for the location of this building. Next to the modern building is the City Council, with a classic facade. 

Cathedral

The Cathedral of Santa María is the most impressive building in the Cardenal Belluga square. After the conquest of James I of Aragon in 1266, the old great mosque turned into Christian episcopal see. The structure was keep until the 14th century. On the 22th January 1394 Bishop Fernando de la Pedrosa laid the foundation stone of the church.

The structure of the cathedral has three naves with a seven-sided apse and a barely marked transept. The chancel also has an ambulatory and apse chapels, which with the ones attached to the side naves make a total of twenty-three. It is a collection of architectural styles, the most important being Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.

The cathedral has several access doors, among them are the lateral facades of the Apostles and the Chains. But the most interesting thing here is the decorated frontispiece (1736-1754). It is oriented to the square of the Cardenal Belluga, where the Puerta del Perdón is. The facade remain us an outdoors altarpiece with two floors and three streets separated by Corinthian columns. 

Second highest belfry in Spain

Its belfry with twenty seven bells is also important. It is 93 metres high and 98 if we take in account the weathercock, that is the second highest in Spain after the Giralda of Seville. It shows a mixture of architectural styles. The first two bodies are Renaissances, the third one is Baroque and it is formed by four kiosks called conjuntorios. Meanwhile, the fourth is the belfry body. It is built in a rococo style during the 17th-18th centuries. Lastly, the octogonal finial is made by Ventura Rodríguez with Neoclassical forms.

Interior of the Cathedral

The choir, the sacristy, the chancel and the Chapel of Los Vélez make up the Gothic interior of the Cathedral. In the centre of the main nave is the choir which has a richly carved plateresque choir stalls.

The sacristy, that is located behind the tower, has a square plan. It is covered with a Renaissance vault decorated with flowers and leafs. Its origin is undoubtedly italian since it was inspired by that of San Lorenzo of Florence designed by Brunelleschi. It is preceded by an antesacristy. The chancel holds one of the most curious details. Inside there is a glass case with the heart and the bowels of the king Alfonso X the Wise.

As for the Chapel of Los Velez (1507), it is a jewel of Gothic art and the most important of the chapels. The chapel of Los Velez is situated behind the high altar. Construction works began around 1490 and finished 17 years later by his the first Marquis of Los Vélez. It is a polygonal space with a vegetal and figurative decorative explosion. It is crowned with a ten-pointed star vault. Outside, there are chains that embrace the sides of the polygon.

Around the calle de Trapería

In front of the Puerta de las Cadenas is born the pedestrian walkway of Trapería, one of the most emblematic streets. It was made after the reconquest over the Arab souk and there you can see several interesting buildings. Among them it is the Casino with an eclectic facade and an interior with different styles. It has an Arab courtyard inspired by the Royal living rooms of La Alhambra and a Roman-Pompeian courtyard. It also holds a wonderful english library with more than 20,000 books and a Neo-Baroque ballroom, among others.

But there is still so many things to visit in Murcia. At the end of the Trapería street is the Plaza de Santo Domingo. It was built in 1547 and it is the most loved public space. There are several churches. The church of Santo Domingo (18th century) is one of them. It has a chapel of El Rosario decorated with frescos by Mateo Gilarte  in 1655. There is also the Convent Church of Santa Ana, founded in 1490. The best cake shop in Murcia is located there. Nearby is the Casa Cerdá in Neoclassical style.

Another of the buildings it deserves our attention is the Baroque Monastery of Santa Clara La Real. The space is located on the remains of the Islamic houses from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is the first convent in Murcia and it was founded by the Alfonso X the Wise himself. It is not far away the Archeological Museum. Such space exhibits elements of the archeology since Neolithic to Middle Ages. 

Other interesting buildings

If you take the Merced street from the square of Santo Domingo, you will reach the Church of La Merced (16th and renovated in the 18th century). Its churrigueresque facade is complemented with an interesting main altarpiece. Next is the University, that was built on one side of the convent cloister.

When visiting Murcia, we cannot forget the Fine Arts Museum. The museum holds Renaissance collections in the first floor. Meanwhile, in the second floor there are works by painters from Murcia of the 18th century such as Zurbarán, Ribera and Murillo. In the third floor are regional paintings from the 19th century.

Left side

The second proposal to visit Murcia begins in the square Martinez Tornell to the other side of the Gran Via. It starts on the banks of the Segura River, towards the Botanical Garden. The space is protected by the jetty, a retaining wall built in the fifteenth century to stop the floods of the Segura. From here it is good to approach the Church of Verónicas (18th century), turned into a venue for temporary exhibitions, and the bustling market of the same name.

The tour continues along the squares you should visit in Murcia: those of San Pedro, las Flores and Santa Catalina. In the last one, one of the most important, is the Church of Santa Catalina. There is a image of the saint by Salzillo. It is a must see place. There is also the Ramón Goya Museum, that exhibit the works of this famous painter of the 20th century.

Museums

A good choice next is to come back towards the Gran Vía through the Platería street and continue along it until its crossroads with the street Acisclo Díaz. In this one is the Church of San Miguel and the Church and Palace of San Esteban, an old school of the Society of Jesus. Today it the seat of the regional government. The former church, with a Plateresque facade and an interior nave with Gothic vaults, is now an exhibition hall.

Acisclo Díaz extends to the Agustinas square, in the Convent of Angustias with several important Baroque images. Furthermore, there is the Museum of the City, which makes a journey through the history, art and ethnography of Murcia. Taking San Andrés street is the Salzillo Museum, where the most interesting works of the Baroque sculptor are brought together. From here, the ideal thing is to stroll around the area to get to know the churches and squares such as that of San Nicolás or the Plaza Mayor. 

The city of Murcia also has other interesting museums. On the other side of the Segura river, crossing the Puente Viejo, is the Molinos del Río Segura Hydraulics Museum. It has an interesting exhibition of the history and the technique of the water mills since the Middle Ages to the second half of the 20th century. The Science and Water Museum is another important museum in the city. It is an interactive and teaching centre that is pretended to explain the elements and the forces of nature. Lastly, the Museum Confraternity of la Sangre has the sculptural work of famous sculptor from 17th to 20th centuries.

Useful information

USEFUL INFORMATION

GPS coordinates

37° 59′ 10″ N, 1° 7′ 49″ W.

Distances

Alicante 78 km, Albacete 150 km, Valencia 226 km, Almería 223 km, Madrid 401 km.

Parking

Glorieta de España, Jardín La Fama, Plaza de Europa and Plaza de la Universidad.

Elevation

43 m.

Population

438 246 (2013).

FESTIVALS

OTHER EVENTS

HANDICRAFT

The Keys of Calblanque

The Calblanque Regional Park is located between the municipalities of Cartagena and La Union. Specifically, in the eastern sector of the Sierra Minera, just a few kilometers from the Mar Menor and the famous Cabo de Palos. Along its orography, full of dunes, sandbanks, cliffs and salt marshes, there are at least four coves and four beaches that are the main tourist attraction of the enclave. Among them are Parreño beach and Las Cañas cove, hidden from the crowds and ready to welcome nudists. The favorite beach for surfers is Larga beach, while Calblanque beach is the most famous.

Also, in this park it is also possible to find hiking trails or circuits perfect for cycling, with paths enabled for the task. If you are lucky, it is possible that on the way to the viewpoint of the Birds or Punta Negra the visitor may find rabbits. You may even see a fox jumping between the dunes that are scattered throughout the park. Endemic species such as the Cartagena cypress or the Cartagena rockrose make this beautiful place even more unique.

Due to the ecological importance of the area and in order to avoid overcrowding, access by car to Calblanque is practically restricted. This is especially so during the summer months. However, it is possible to enter the park on foot or by bus. It is best to ask at the Las Cobaticas Visitor Center, in the park itself. This is the place to find out where you can leave your car or get a map of the area.

Spots near Calblanque

Just seven kilometers from the park sits the famous Cabo de Palos. This town, in its origin of fishing nature, has turned today fundamentally into a tourist locality. Its rice and fish dish, known as 'caldero' a typical pot from the Mar Menor, is perhaps its most famous specialty. It is not the only one, since it stands out greatly in the gastronomic field. In addition, the Marine Reserve of Cabo de Palos and Hormigas Islands was recently declared one of the best places to dive in Europe. Slightly further away, the punished Manga del Mar Menor can be another option to visit.

As a more urban destination you can go to the municipality of La Union, located southeast of the region, between the beaches of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean. It is strongly linked to mineral extraction, which has been developed for centuries in the area known as Sierra Minera. The church Nuestra Señora del Rosario, the house El Piñón or the Old Public Market are some of the buildings to visit.

An unknown place of great scenic importance

It is well known the environmental disaster that weighs on the Mar Menor of Murcia, one of the most tourist spots in the province. However, Calblanque, very close to this maritime extension, is preserved in good condition. Its extensive length allows from the stroll to the bath in a wasteland still to discover. A small paradise that must be cared for and respected as the treasure it is.

A bit of history of the Salto del Usero

This masterpiece of nature is located in the town of Bullas, to the northwest of the Castellar hill. A spot that forms part of the group of the most beautiful natural places of Murcia. It also has a beautiful neighbour, the river Mula. The turquoise waters of this river form a waterfall with a pool, from which the Salto del Usero waterfall is born.

Thousands of tourists visit it throughout the year because of its impressive panoramic view. Although the time when it registers the most visitors is the most magical night of the year, the night of San Juan. During the characteristic midnight the mythical legend of the "Bajada de la Mora" is celebrated.

The myth tells that two lovers, a Christian prince and a "Moorish" princess, always stayed at the Salto del Usero. It was their love nest, but one day the prince never appeared again. So, perhaps a little dramatically, the lover plunged into the waters of the Mula. She was so flooded with grief that she also disappeared. Thus, year after year, the shortest dawn of the year is recreated in the shortest dawn of the year as the girl looked for her beloved.

The keys of the Salto del Usero

The Salto del Usero is essentially an impressive waterfall of about 4 metres height that falls naturally. It creates a pool or pond on its descent, a place that visitors take advantage of in hot summers to bath and cool off. It is popularly known among the locals as "vaera".

This impressive natural place was formed by the erosion caused by the flow of the river Mula over the rocky and sandy materials of the area. It creates a fascinating mix of geomorphological and sedimentological features, represented among spectacular vegetation in the colour of nature.

Places near Salto del Usero

The Salto del Usero is located in Bullas, on its way through the river Mulas. That is why it has a wide range of landscapes to visit and activities to do. From resting peacefully surrounded by nature and listening to the relaxing sound of the waterfall, to visiting the wine museum. Since the 19th century, this place has been a collection of the wine tradition of the region of Murcia.

Other places of tourist interest near Salto del Usero are the twelve outstanding flour mills of the province. All of them are no longer in use, except for the Molino Felipe, which is still working. The Castellar castle is also a beautiful place to visit, which crowns the hill of the same name.

To get to Bullas, if you are travelling by car, two highways are recommended. The first of them is the one that goes down from the north to the southeast, the A-30. On the other hand, if you are travelling up from the south of the peninsula, such as Andalusia or the east, we recommend you take the A-7.

A paradise in the middle of Murcia, that is why it is our Weekend Getaway

The calm, the landscape, its blue water and its waterfall are just some of the highlights of this natural place born of Mother Nature. Scenery of legends and a place to enjoy away from the noise of the city. A place that has magic, born of the love of Gea and the waters of the river Mula. It is a paradise in the middle of the Murcian community, and that is why it is our Weekend Getaway.

Cartagena, the port of all cultures

Cartagena has important monumental attractions and a wide variety of beaches and active tourism all year round. Are you ready to see everything there is to visit in Cartagena, Murcia?

Plan your stay in Cartagena

Besides what there is to see in Cartagena, you can enjoy the surrounding beaches and trips. Some of the places to visit are La Unión, Calblanque Natural Park and La Manga del Mar Menor. You also find places where you can practice active tourism all year round.Do you want to visit this place?

History of Cartagena

Carthaginians

The Carthaginian general Hasdrubal founded, in 227 B.C., the city of Qart Hadasht on a previous Iberian or Tartessian settlement called Mastia.

Romans

The city was conquered eighteen years later by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio. He named it Carthago Nova. Romans gave it the title of colony in 44 A.D., making it the capital of the province.

During the 2nd and 3rd centuries it was plunged into a deep crisis from which it would not emerge until the Byzantine period in the 6th century. In 461, the Roman Emperor Majorian gathered a fleet for the invasion of the African empire of the Vandals. Finally, the Vandals attacked the city by surprise and defeated it in the Battle of Cartagena.The city was conquered in 555 by the troops of Emperor Justinian and was under Byzantine rule.

In 622, it was destroyed by the Visigoths of Suintila. With the capitulation of the Kurah of Tudmir, in 734, the town passed into the hands of the Arabs. They gave it the name of Qartayannat al-Halfa. Five centuries later, in 1245, it was conquered by Prince Alfonso of Castile, the future Alfonso X the Wise.

Habsburgs

During the Modern Age, Cartagena was under the rule of the Habsburgs. Together with Málaga, it was the only Mediterranean port authorized to trade with the Indies.

Later, in 1726 and at the hands of King Charles III, the city was chosen as the capital of the Maritime Department of the Mediterranean. Impressive fortifications and an arsenal were built for the Navy. As a result of this economic boost, its population increased fivefold in a few years.

Cantonalism

On July 12, 1873, the young medical student Manuel Cárceles proclaimed the canton of Cartagena. In fact, he got the sailors of the garrison to join his proposal for secession from Spain. The troops of the Government of Madrid bombed the city until its surrender on January 11, 1874.

During the last third of the 19th century, the mining mountains of Cartagena-La Unión facilitated the economic development of the city. Many important modernist and eclectic buildings were built and can still be seen.

Spanish Civil War

During the Civil War, Cartagena was a base of operations for the Republican fleet and was heavily bombed by Franco's troops.

This naval base witnessed one of the most spectacular strikes of the final stage of the war. During the night of March 4, 1939, some Republican soldiers sympathetic to Franco's regime rose up against their superiors. They took the fortifications of Cartagena and aimed their cannons at the army of the Republic. The people took refuge in the port of Bizerta.

At present

Nowadays, Cartagena continues being one of the most important cities of Murcia. It is oriented towards the service sector, mainly trade and tourism. This is due to its location in one of the most privileged areas of Murcia's Costa Cálida.

What to See in Cartagena

Cartagena's Port

The Carthaginian port has been the element that has marked the history of the city since its beginnings. It is an ideal place to start our visit of the places to see in Cartagena. The port has recently been renovated according to a modern urban plan. It is an ideal place to take a walk and admire the beautiful bay, enclosed between high mountains.

In the area of the marina you will find one of the most appreciated and significant elements of Cartagena: the first submarine of the Carthaginian Isaac Peral. Launched in 1888, it is the prototype of the modern submarine.

At the dock you can take a tourist boat that will take you through the waters around the Mediterranean, a different perspective from which to see Cartagena.

Also to be seen in Cartagena is the Muralla del Mar, or Wall of the Sea, or of Charles III. It was built when the city became the capital of the Maritime Department of the Mediterranean in the 18th century. If we head west bordering it, we will reach the Memorial to the Heroes of Cavite (1923). This is a very dramatic sculpture set.

Buildings and Museums

Another place to see in Cartagena is the Town Hall Square. This large space is dominated by the Palacio Consistorial, one of the main modernist buildings. It was built by Tomás Rico at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a building with a triangular floor plan and a white marble façade, with the zinc domes standing out on the roof. In addition, it is decorated with the emblems of the city. The imperial stairs, the plenary room and the mayor's office are important.

In addition to the museum, the building joins the site of the Theatre, one of the largest in Spain, from the end of the first century AD. It was discovered in 1988. Both represent the most visited monument and museum space in the region of Murcia and the most special to see in Cartagena.

On the right side of the theatre are the ruins of the Cathedral of Santa María, a building from the end of the 13th century. It was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Behind the stage are the remains of the Byzantine Wall (which has actually turned out to be a wall from Roman times). It is made up of a straight canvas and a semicircular tower made of sandstone blocks.

Nearby there is also a Roman dwelling with decorated floors. Other remains of the Wall, from the Punic period, can be found near Basterreche Square. There is also the Interpretation Centre of its site, which dates from the 3rd century BC.

A walk through its streets

From the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, we can enter the street with most character in Cartagena, the pedestrian Calle Mayor. There are many modernist facades. Among them, the Casa Cervantes, designed by the architect Víctor Beltrí, stands out. It has its viewpoints, modernist ironwork and a pediment decorated with allegories of trade, mining and industry.

Next to the Calle Mayor is the Casino, which although it was originally built in the 18th century, was renovated in 1897 by Beltrí. With modernist taste, he added bas-reliefs and artistic wrought-iron balconies to the façade.

Passing through the gardens of the Plaza de San Francisco, we reach the Augusteum, in Calle Caballero. It consists of a set of remains from the old forum formed by two Roman buildings from 1st and 2nd centuries. There, tools, coins and other elements from Augustus age are exposed.

Nearby there is also the Casa de la Fortuna (1st century B.C.), a must see in Cartagena. This is another Roman building to see in Cartagena, with decoration of mosaics and wall paintings of great chromatism.

Taking Gisbert Street we will arrive at the Roman amphitheatre. If you take the elevator you will reach Torres Park and the remains of the Concepcion Castle. This was built under Arab rule and rebuilt in the time of Henry III of Castile (14th century). The Torre del Homenaje (Homage Tower) is still preserved from the castle and is currently being refurbished as the Centre for the Interpretation of the History of Cartagena.

As for the Amphitheatre (1st century BC), whose remains can be seen from the lift, it must have been of great dimensions. From its construction, which would complete the recreational offer of the Roman Cartagho Nova, only a large canvas of the foundation of the outer wall and some radial walls are preserved.

In relation to the defensive architecture, although a little further away from the historical centre, the castles, forts and batteries are impressive. The Batería de Castillitos, declared a Site of Cultural Interest, is particularly noteworthy. It is located in Cabo Tiñoso, in the municipality of Cartagena. You will enjoy a rugged landscape with cliffs and steep mountains, 250 metres above sea level. Property of the Ministry of Defence, it is abandoned and unused.

Cartagena's variety of cultural activities

Cartagena also stands out for its wide cultural offer, based mainly on the large number of museums it hosts. Among them we especially mention the Ethnographic Museum of the Campo de Cartagena. There you will find vehicles, changing rooms and a long list of items used by our ancestors.

The Regional Museum of Modern Art MURAM is located in the sumptuous Casa Aguirre of the modernist architect Víctor Beltrí. A wide variety of sculptures from the time of French sculptor Auguste Rodin have been exhibited there. The Military Historical Museum is another example to be seen in Cartagena. It provides a historical overview of Spain and explains the origin of artillery and military bodies.

The National Museum of Underwater Archaeology was designed by Guillermo Vázquez-Consuegra and inaugurated at the end of 2008. Its mission is to make Spanish underwater cultural heritage known to the public. Among the pieces on display are a collection of Phoenician, Punic and Roman amphorae and a recreation of a Phoenician ship found in Mazarrón, on the island's beach.

Now that you know the best places to see in Cartagena, you are ready to enjoy them to the fullest. You will love it!

Must see

Useful Information

Useful Information

Coordinates

37° 35′ 56″ N, 0° 59′ 9″ W

Distances

Murcia 48 km, Alicante 104 km, Almería 185 km, Valencia 265 km, Madrid 450 km

Parking

Plaza del Rey, Plaza de España, Alameda de San Antón and Paseo de Alfonso XII.

Elevation

0 – 50 m

Population

217 641 (2013)

FESTIVITIES

OTHER EVENTS

HANDICRAFT

Legend of La Pequeñica

La Pequeñica or La Aparecida and La Mayor or Virgin of Hope

The crown of the Virgin of Hope weighs one and a half kilograms, made of gold and gemstones. The arch is completed with twelve stars that symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel.

Architecture of the Virgen de la Esperanza Shrine

The Nightly Pilgrimage