Where can you sleep?
If you would like to stay in the city and be close to the main tourist attractions, let us tell you a little bit about the capital's historical center, divided into the 10 areas in which the city was separated already in the Middle-Ages, such as San Andrés, San Antolín, or the San Nicolás one. You will find in all of them a very familiar atmosphere, and you will see people won't hesitate to offer their help with a huge smile on their faces.
Amongst the more picturesque towns near the city, we recommend visiting Caravaca de la Cruz, right under the Basílica-Santuario de la Vera Cruz, or Yecla a place of a longtime wine-making tradition, Lorca with some of the most beautiful and impressive monuments in the whole region, the fishing town of Cabo de Palos and its crystal-clear waters, or otros pueblos con encanto de Murcia.
What to do in the area?
When talking about Murcia, one cannot forget to mention its beaches as there is up to 192 of them in the region, 21 out of which are distinguished as Blue Flag beaches. The large sand extensions contrast with the smaller, more intimate bays, which means that you will find here beaches to everyone's liking.
Santa María cathedral is the city's most representative monument. After you visit it, you will discover in its surroundings the historical center, filled with historical monuments and a large number of gardens and parks, amongst which you will find the garden of Floridablanca or the one of la Seda.
Las Sierras de Carche y Espuña, the natural space of Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro, or the national reserve of Cabo Cope y Puntas de Calnegre are some of the spaces of high natural value considered protected regional reserves.
The tourist offer here is complemented with the destinations in the interior of the province, the most popular of which are Caravaca de la Cruz, Lorca and Cartagena, the latter being home to the roman theatre of Cartagena, built between 5 and 1 B.C.
What typical foods are recommended?
Murcia's close proximity to the sea is reflected in its local cuisine that uses fish, specially salted fish, as the main ingredient for most of its dishes. The Menor sea provides with several local fish and seafood varieties, amongst which are the local 'langostino', and the 'mújol' (grey mullet).
Murcia's vegetable produce includes many of the ingredients that are used in the typical 'ensalada murciana' (also known as 'moje'), or in other local dishes such as the 'potaje' or the 'zarandollo' an egg and courgette scramble. One of the most popular local desserts that we recommend is the 'paparajote' elaborated with lemon tree leaves.
You should also know that the regional wines here are of international reputation, with three different PDO designations in the province: Yecla, la de Bullas, y la de Jumilla.
Where are the festivities?
In the 9th of June is held Murcia's regional festivity, which honours the the date the Spanish law recognised and officially accepted the country's division into autonomous communities.
Murcia is proud to hold several festivities considered of International Tourist Interest: the Fiestas de la Santísima y Vera Cruz de Caravaca (celebrated during the first week of May), the religious festivities organized during Easter week in Cartagena, Lorca and Murcia, or the carnival in Águilas, are some of them.
Other local and regional special occasions that we recommend are the local celebration of Barranca, the night of the drums in the city of Mula, and the Roman-themed Fiestas de Carthagineses y Romanos de Cartagena, all of them considered of National Tourist Interest.
