The Region of Murcia

The Murcia Region thrives around thee major Cities Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca, where along with modern up-to-date establishments, you will find traditional markets selling fresh produce. The area enjoys an excellent infrastructure, with 18 Hospitals, three Universities and four International schools, and an excellent range of cultural and tourist services.

Situated in the south-east of the Iberic peninsula, between the region of Valencia, Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha, the region of Murcia is extended over an area of 11.317 km2 (2,2% of Spains total surface), bordered in north by the province of Albacete; in east by the province of Alicante; in west by the provinces of Granada, Albacete and Almería and in south-south east by the Meditarrenean sea. The region of Murcia is the ninth region in Spain, speaking of size.

The region of Murcia has all the caracteristics of the meditarrenean subtropical semi-arid climate. This means an average temperature of 20ºC over the year, with warm summers (maximum temperature 40 ºC) and mild winters (avarage temperature of 11ºC in december and january). The number of totaly cloudless days varies between 120 y 150 over the year, and the hours of of sunshine exceed 2800 h. The avarage rainfall is scarcely 300-350 mm/year in the whole region. The rainfall is mainly concentrated in two periods; spring (april) and autumn (october), with a dry summer in-between. The maximum average density of rainfall is 600 mm a year.  

The region is geographicly defined by its many contrasts: dry and irrigated land, flat zones and mountains, costal and interior, vineyards and mesetas, as a result of its condition as a zone of transition between the submeseta in north and Andalusia. Morphologically the landscape of the region is emphazised by the mouintain range of Béticas and present a variety in the scenery with mountainous zones and valleys that creates contrasts in heights. The major part of the total area is to be found at heights between 200 and 600 meters (45%). We find 23% of the territory at heights less than 200 meters and the remaining 32% more than 600 meters  

Interesting geographical spots:

• The highest point, situated in macizo de Revolcadores (2.027 meters),
• Mountains siuated in north-west an in the centre: El Carche, Sierra Espuña, La Pila o Ricote, that constitute the principal forrestal zone in the region, with vast extensions of pino carrasco (the most common pine tree in Spain).
• The high plateau (Jumilla and Yecla): an extensive plain inhabited by vineyards that give its own exquisite wine from the region.
• The rivers Guadalentín and Segura, with fertile orchards and kitchen gardens and wide riversides with magnificent agriculture, of wich the greatest are to be found in the fields of Cartagena.  

The region of Murcia is a territory that, today, brings together the 45 municipalities that compose this province, gathered around the provincial capital Murcia. Its principal regions are: Region of Cartagena inhabits the municipals: Cartagena, La Unión, Los Alcázares, San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier, Torre Pacheco, Fuente Álamo and Mazarrón. Region of Lorca consists of the municipals: Lorca -the most extended township in Spain, Águilas and Puerto Lumbreras. Bajo Guadalentín Totana, Aledo, Alhama de Murcia and Librilla. Region of la Vega Media del Río Segura bring together Murcia, Alcantarilla, Beniel, Fortuna, Abanilla and Santomera. Region of la Vega Alta del Segura with Abarán, Blanca, Cieza, Archena, Ojós, Ricote, Ulea, Villanueva del Segura, Alguazas, Ceutí, Lorquí, Molina de Segura and Las Torres de Cotillas; Altiplano with Yecla and Jumilla; Cuenca del Río Mula with the municipals Albudeite, Campos del Río, Mula y Pliego and finally, The north-western regions bring together the municipals of Moratalla, Caravaca, Cehegín, Calasparra and Bullas.  

Murcia was founded in 831 by Abd-Al-Rhaman II in a perfect setting at the centre of the fertile river Segura valley. The wall surrounding it gives a good idea of the importance it achieved during the Arab era and some remains of the wall are still visible today in certain parts of the city. The Christian city has also left a deep mark on Murcia's urbam physiognomy, with its two main arteries, La Plateria and La Traperia. It was only after the sixteenth century, and particularly in the eghteenth century, that Murcia achieved its urban splendour. This was the time when its numerous churches were built, mainly baroque ones, which can be found throughout the city, such as La Merced, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Las Claras, Santo Domingo, Santa Eulalia and San Juan de Dios, whose artistic architecture combines with an important pictorial and sculptural heritage, with works incuding creations by Francisco Salzillo. Murcia, however, is a modern city, with all facilities and infrastructures, with University Complexes and an Auditorium and conference hall. All this in a city that has retained its traditions in terms of festivals, an example being Holy week when, with clear influences from the fertile region of Murcia, sculptures by Salzillo and other important religous imagery are placed on the streets.

Cartagena is a city with over 2500 years of history, that in every one of it's corners streets and squares, offers visitors monuments that bear witness to its magnificent historical past and the civilisation that reached the city through its port. Its archaeological finds and its maritime facet make Cartagena a warm and friendly city for visitors. Today, Cartagena is a modern city with a very good range of services, a University campus and equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to enchant all those who visit the city to discover for themselves the history of this great hub of culture that is the Mediterranean.

Lorca is also known as the Baroque city, or the city of a thousand coats of arms. These names reflect the fact that its old town houses an important architectural heritage. Palaces, mansions and churches speak to us of a time when Lorca was established as a frontier city between Christian and Muslim Spain. Today's Lorca is a dynamic city that is home to significant cultural and tourist potential. Its castle, a symbol of military dominance in times gone by, is nowadays a major thematic venue where visitors can get to know both the distant and the more recent history of the county a little better.