Within the province of Murcia, in the region of Alto Guadalentín is a municipality called Lorca. It is the third most important and holds a great treasure chest of baroque style architecture that is well worth the visit.
It is a place that thrives off agriculture and stockbreeding, although in the last few years tourism has bloomed thanks to the rich patrimony it has accumulated. Furthermore, Eliocroca, which is what the Roman’s called the city, has a population of over 97,000 habitants. The habitants are spread throughout 39 towns, the most inhabited one being Sutullena, with more than 4,000 habitants.
What happened in Lorca? One of its most recent historical moments that is also one of the darkest is the earthquake that hit the city and left some dead and did some grave damage to the city with 80% of the buildings having been damaged. However, the good news is that the city has since been rebuilt bit by bit and nowadays is the perfect destination to enjoy some tourism.
What is there for you to see? If you’re thinking about getting to know this municipality, you’ll be able to discover a new bit of history with every step you take in this enchanting city. Whether you’re planning on spending a few days here or you’re only coming for the day, we’re going to highlight all of the must-see attractions, so you don’t miss out on a single thing.
The old town has been declared a Collection of Artistic Historical Interest, which in Spain is a legal declaration, so that gives you an idea of how worthwhile it is coming for a visit and going to see the beautiful scenery provided by the castle which is located on a large hill that holds a Jewish quarter and a synagogue inside.
Another few points of special interest are the Plaza de España, the most important part of the town where the town council building lies that was built in the 17th century, and the collegiate church of San Patricio, which is one of the town’s religious emblems and is a declared artistic historical monument.
What is there to see for free? Just by simply taking a stroll through the streets you’ll be able to enjoy all of the mesmerising architecture and scenery without having to pay a thing. The good thing about this town is that its bursting with lots of civil architecture as well as religious architecture, a few examples being the Columna Miliaria, the old medieval fortress and the two palaces: Guevara and Salazar-Rosso.
In terms of the religious patrimony, we can find the convent of Mercedarias, from the 16th century, the convent of Merced, which is now the visitors centre, the Santo Domingo monument and several churches including: San Francisco, del Carmen, de San Diego amongst a few others.
If you’re now asking yourself what else there is to see in this corner of Murcia, the list is long and extends beyond the centre, where you’ll find references to Roman times in the Roman village of La Quintilla, or to the Muslim era in the Alquería del Cortijo del Centeno.
If you would like to enjoy the gastronomy and you want some recommendations on where to eat, the best thing to do is head towards the centre, where you’ll have lots of opportunities to try the traditional dishes with a taste of Lorca.
And if you’re staying a few days, we would highly recommend you enjoy the coast, Lorca has a lovely beach called Calnegre where you can take some time to relax and disconnect. To recharge your battery, there’s nothing like ending the day in a nice comfortable accommodation in the area.
If you’re travelling in summer, you can find traditional holiday cottages in Lorca with a pool and if you’re travelling out of peak season, there are lots of cheap ones that offer weekend getaways for you to take some time for yourself to relax.
