Murcia Cathedral
There are cities in Spain whose attractions we have all heard about, and we will have visited them several times, but the truth is that there are others that are big strangers.
In my case that happened with the Murcia city until my recent getaway to live the environment of their own unique processions of Holy Week.
In fact, I will tell you that ignorance is common even among journalists and bloggers travel.
Luckily, before embarking on the trip to Murcia my best friend, William, who usually visits this city for work, has already advanced some of its attractions.
The aforementioned getaway allowed me to discover its very interesting processions, among which stand those of the Coloraos Y the Salzillos, but now I can also speak with you about the attractions you will find when making a getaway to Murcia.
Curiosities history of Murcia
You should know at the outset Murcia It was founded in 825 by the Arabs, who decided to establish a settlement next to the Segura river with the construction of a citadel by the army of Abderraman II.
Subsequently, in the thirteenth century a walled medina with 95 towers was built, until the king Alfonso X he conquered it and this area of the current Murcia It became a border land during the war between Muslims and Christians.
Arab Patio in the Casino of Murcia
Finally, during the 16th century the wall of which there is hardly any rest left.
Specifically, you can still see a short section of the wall in the open air in front of the Veronica Market, which is endorsed in the walls of Veronica Convent, now dedicated to a exhibition center.
And it should also be noted that the city is located in the so-called region of the Murcia Orchard, a very fertile area with a great agricultural activity that marks the economic boom of the region.
What to see and do in Murcia city
If for you Murcia is a great unknown, then I will give you good reasons to make a trip to Murcia, with the most prominent places to know.
Against what you might think (and I thought before I met her), Murcia It is a very easy city to visit.
Archbishop's Palace of Murcia
Although in the population ranking of Spain it is the seventh city with more inhabitants, the truth is that the area to visit in its historic center is really contained.
This is explained because the municipality of Murcia It incorporates numerous surrounding towns, so that in practice you are in the countryside, in the orchard ... and you are still in the city of Murcia.
Moreover, the area to visit during a tourist getaway is concentrated in the urban bud that corresponds to the limits of the old walled city.
Cardinal Belluga Square
Thus, your walk will focus on a route that starts by the river, in the roundabout square, Where is he town hall, a neoclassical building with stuccoed facade.
Going through the Cardinal Belluga's squarewhere are the Cathedral and the archbishop's palace. you arrive at the main axis of the pedestrian zone of the center of Murcia, the Trapería street, in which the Real Casino.
Murcia City Hall
Santo Domingo Square
From there you will reach the Santo Domingo square, the true heart of city life, where the market was historically held during the Middle Ages.
In this central square until a few months ago you could see an impressive ficus planted 120 years ago, which fell after a storm.
There you will be next to the Julian Romea Square Where is he Romea Theater, opened in 1862, and very close to the Santa Clara convent.
Parallel to the Trapería street you have the Gran Via, the avenue that once broke the urban configuration that came from the Middle Ages.
Romea Theater in Murcia
Plazas de las Flores and Santa Catalina
Near the Gran Via extends the area of restaurants and tapas that has as its main corners the Flower squares Y Santa Catalina and its surroundings.
Also, during your walk through the center of Murcia you can see palatial buildings, such as the Almudi palace 17th century, compared to the aforementionedVeronica Market.
Also stately homes, such as the current headquarters of the Ramón Gayá museum in ancient Paralea House of the nineteenth century, which you can see in the aforementioned Santa Catalina Square.
Segura River in Murcia
Murcia It is a city that is currently opening to Segura river.
Old Bridge over the Segura River in Murcia
It is a river that had numerous meanders centuries ago, but its layout has had several modifications, so that today it is more rectilinear,
In contrast, this increased the danger of floods, and in fact, the floods and floods caused by the river have marked much of the city's history.
The dirt of its waters has also been a characteristic of the passage of Segura river for Murcia, which historically made the city live behind it.
After a process of water sanitation carried out in recent years, the river is gradually becoming a meeting point, and now you can even row a boat thanks to the new service that is being offered.
Old Bridge in Murcia
In this regard, the most charismatic corner of the Safe in Murcia is the old Bridge.
Santo Domingo church in Murcia
From the 18th century, it replaced an old wooden bridge that took a flood, which was known as the bridge of dangers, precisely because of the risk it might entail crossing it.
As a curiosity, in front of the bridge, on the bank of the Carmen neighborhood, you can see a niche where the image of the Virgin of the Dangers, whose protection used to be requested by those who crossed the river.
Murcia Cathedral
If there is a monument that just to get to know it, it is worth doing a getaway from a weekend to Murciathat's his great cathedral.
If you arrive in this Levantine city by road, as you approach it you will see from far away its huge Renaissance tower that rose in several phases.
Renaissance tower of the cathedral of Murcia
Centrally located Cardinal Belluga's square, in the place occupied by the great mosque of the original Muslim Murcia, there you will see the impressive baroque facade of the cathedral of Murcia.
For its part, inside it stands out especially known as chapel of the Vélez.
From the time of Catholic kings, the combination of style will catch your attention flamboyant gothic with the manuelino from Portugal, influenced by the Alhambra of Granada in the roof.
Also noteworthy are the 15th-century Gothic rectory that separates the main altar, and the huge 19th-century choir with 4,000 tubes and four keyboards.
Real Casino de Murcia
A pleasant surprise that you will take during your walk through the historic center of Murcia it is the building of Real Casino.
Central Gallery of the Casino of Murcia
It is a cultural casino (not gaming) that began to be built in 1849, and that during the following decades was annexing various buildings whose decoration is a sample of eclectic architecture.
During your Murcia Casino visit they will call your attention to all the Arab Courtyard of the entrance, the great Dance room French style as well as the Grand Gallery which connects the various dependencies.
Santa Clara Convent Museum
Another surprising corner in the center of Murcia is the Santa Clara museum located in a convent of closing nuns.
The building has its origin in an old arabic palace of the twelfth century, which later became Alcazar of the Christian kings, finally in 1365 become a convent of the Poor Clares nuns, which has remained until today.
Santa Clara Convent Museum in Murcia
I anticipate that its central courtyard is a corner of backwater, with a garden and pond in a way you are transferred to the Middle Ages.
Now it houses a museum where you can see a sample of sacred art, as well as some pictorial remains of the Arab era, with a curious figurative style.
Salzillo Museum
As I said, one of the most outstanding processions of the Holy Week in Murcia It is known as the Salzillos, which takes place on the morning of the big day which is the Holy Friday.
This name is due to the fact that the famous image carvings that the Murcian Baroque artist go out on the street Francisco Salzillo performed in his day for the Brotherhood of Jesus Nazarene.
Procession of the Salzillos in Murcia
The rest of the year you can see these works displayed in the Salzillo museum, and specifically in the building of the jesus church.
Eat and go for tapas in Murcia
In the heart of Murcia, also known as Europe OrchardIt shouldn't surprise you that the gastronomy occupy a prominent place in a getaway to Murcia.
A walk through the aforementioned Veronica Market located next to the river, it will allow you to verify the great quality of the vegetables, among which we can highlight the tomatoes that are advertised as «the real raff«, I assure you if they taste like tomatoes.
In your stay in Murcia, well in restaurants as in tapas bars, you can not stop eating the delicious Murcian rice, in its varieties of rabbit and vegetables.
The Little Tavern restaurant in Murcia
But you should also try specialties such as the sailor (Bread donut with Russian salad and a wide), the little horses (battered and fried peeled ranges), the zarangollo (some scrambled eggs with zucchini, potato and onion) and the meatloaf.
And the places where to eat and go for tapas, I recommend the area of the cathedral, the adjoiningFlower squares and of Santa Catalina, and the squares of Santo Domingo and of Julian Rometo.
What now if you fancy discover Murcia?
How to get to Murcia
The city of Murcia is located 80 kilometers from the Alicante airport and 400 kilometers southeast of Madrid, from where you can reach in three and a half hours, both by car and by train.
