Murcia (city)

Murcia is a sizable city (according to Spanish average) with 450,000 inhabitants in 2018, ranking seventh in Spain. It's in southeastern Spain, inland but not far from the coast.

It’s mainly a services city and an important university town. Murcia is known for its huerta (agricultural zone) and its famous products (fruits and vegetables) exported all over Spain and Europe, its folklore (mainly based around its huerta), its festivals and its several baroque churches.

It's the capital of the Murcia Region, one of the seventeen autonomous communities in which Spain is divided into.

Understand
The city of Murcia was founded in 831 by Abd-Al-Rahman II in the center of the Segura River valley. The remnants of this Moorish rule can be seen in the still-visible city wall, which contrasts strongly with the city's numerous churches, mainly of baroque style, on which cause is known for being "the baroque city in Levante (southeastern Spain)".

Murcia city is typically Spanish but a little cosmopolitan, it is more of a peaceful place to live: lots of safe, pedestrian streets, large green areas, very kind people, and neither too quiet nor too busy. Since it's placed inland, Murcia tends to be calm during the holiday season when people move to the coast, and lively during the school year, especially since it is a university town.

The most famous thing about Murcia used to be its vegetables; neighbours from Cartagena call residents of Murcia "green stomach" (but Murcianos do not like this nickname).

By plane

 * Alicante Airport is an hour away and has a larger choice of domestic and international flights, including many low cost airlines.
 * Alicante Airport is an hour away and has a larger choice of domestic and international flights, including many low cost airlines.

By train
AVE fast trains run every 2-3 hours from Madrid Atocha or Chamartin, taking 3 hr 30 min via Albacete, Villena, Alicante, Elche and Orihuela. A regional train also runs from Alicante every two hours, taking an hour, while another heads south to Lorca Sutullena. However, this line has now closed pending the installation of a new high speed line from Madrid to Almeria, due to open in 2026.

railway station is 1 km south of city centre.

By road
Distances to Murcia: Madrid 405 km, Albacete 145 km, Alicante 80 km, Cartagena 50 km.

is 500 m west of city centre near the Autovia.

See

 * The Palacio del Almudi
 * The Iglesia de San Esteban
 * For a good view of Murcia and the surrounding valley, the best place to go is El Valle or the La Fuensanta Sanctuary, both of them in the mountains behind the city. Directions: Go toward Cartagena, and before the mountains (5 or 10 km away from Murcia), head towards La Alberca and pass straight by. You will see signs for Santuario de la Fuensanta. Try going there for sunset; the view is incredible.
 * Another place that shouldn't be missed is the Moorish castle on top of the Monteagudo mountain that can be seen from almost anywhere in Murcia. It was converted to Christianity by placing an "open arms" image of Christ on the top. Directions: leave Murcia by the old Alicante road and it will take you 5 minutes to reach. The motorway to Alicante will also take you there. Park the car down the mountain and walk to the top. You can touch Jesus's feet and toes (bigger than footballs!) while having a look at Murcia and his huerta.
 * Murcia has a lot of beautiful beaches. Some of them are still virgin territory, like those between Mazarron and Aguilas, whilst others are very busy places in summer, like La Manga, a strip of land that separates the Mediterranean from a small inland "minor sea" (mar menor).

Museums

 * The most famous one is dedicated to the great sculptor Salzillo, who made most of the pasos that are used in the Easter Holy Week (Semana Santa). His polychromed wood bodies of angels, biblical personalities and virgins, with faces and hands carved of wood, are simply alive! Don't miss the Belen de Salzillo, a fine reproduction of the story of the birth of Jesus made of small sculptures. Directions: C/San Andres, at the Plaza de San Agustin. Leave the motorway bypass in the Ronda Norte direction. At the traffic lights take the street at your right (San Anton), and follow it straight along. It becomes C/San Andres without notice and then you reach the Plaza de San Agustin at your left. There is the museum, on your right, clearly indicated.

Do
A walker/cycle friendly hotel in the area with fantastic views of the Barrancos de Gebas and 2 minutes walk and you are in the regional park of the Sierra Espuna is Hotel la Mariposa in Gebas, a renovated farmstead and tobacco outlet converted into a beautiful mountain hotel.


 * Paredes de Leiba Nearby is also one of the best places to practice wall climbing. It is like a big wall of stone, 500 m long and 60-80 m tall, full of routes to climb: some very easy, others only for trained people. Every year people open new routes.
 * Caravaca and Cehegin. An easy half day trip to these Murcian towns. The Iglesia de Mary Magdalena is a medieval church in Cehegin with magnificent views. The Castle of Saint Cruz, the full name of the town is Caravaca de la Cruz, is a grand castle and has a cross with healing powers. You'll need your own car to get around.
 * Mula, 40 km from Murcia, has an excellent Museo de Arte Ibérico El Cigarralejo. The museum has artifacts recovered from a pre-Roman Iberian settlement and is housed in a palatial 17th century home. A 35 minute drive just off autovia RM-15.

Buy
Two of the most famous streets in Murcia are Traperia Street and Plateria Street, both very near the Cathedral. Here, everyone can find the best brands of clothes. Also, Murcia has a long list of shopping and leisure centers: Nueva Condomina, Thader, Myrtea, and El Corte Inglés.

Sleep

 * Arco de San Juan Pl. Ceballos 10. Set in an old colonial style building. 3 Star.

Connect
As of Feb 2023, Murcia and its approach highways have 5G from all Spanish carriers.

Go next

 * Cartagena, the Roman port.