Murcia is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Murcia – in which our villa is located. A small distance away, Murcia is a bustling city just 45 minutes from the villa, and has thousands of activities and sites to see.
Tripadvisor is full of fantastic activities in the city, alongside having a great list of places to eat and things to do with kids.
Murcia Cathedral
The Cathedral in Murcia is a must-see in this lovely city – with Baroque architecture catching the eye..
Ornate chapels run throughout the building, and the bell tower is the second tallest in Spain at a huge 93m. Taking more than 250 years to complete, this bell tower is a stunning addition to an amazing building.
Santa Clara la Real Convent Museum
This museum is a historic Convent, which is still in full use today. This does mean that you can only see about a quarter of the site, but it is still well worth a visit.
Built in the 1300s this Convent is built in line with the Moorish influences of the time, with the Convent being built on the site of the old Alcazar.
Monteagudo Castle
This limestone mountain is just outside of the Murcian suburbs and stretches to just 149m in height.
The statue of Christ on top of the castle is a striking reminder of the Catholic influences on Spain, the statue itself being created in the 50s.
The castle below, however, has much more historic roots. Built in the 800s, it was used by the Moors to defend Murcia from the Spanish – during the fights for control of the Iberian Peninsula.
Archaeological Museum
This fantastic museum is rarely visited by tourists – but it will certainly satisfy any history lover.
There are more than 2000 historical sites across the Region of Murcia – with Roman and Moorish finds alongside the older Bronze Age and Iron Age cultures on the peninsula.
Almudí Palace and Art Gallery
This building was completed in 1629 and was originally a granary for winter storage.
It can be seen as a representation of the wealth flowing into Murcia – and Spain – during “El Siglo de Oro”, the Spanish Golden Age.
For those with a keen eye, it is possible to spot the Hapsburg coat of arms before entering, a reminder of Spain’s links to the Holy Roman Empire.
Shopping Centres in Murcia
There are various shopping centres in Murcia, such as:
Cartagena – Espacio Mediterraneo
Murcia – Nuevo Condomina
San Javier – Dos Mares
Market Days around the Mar Menor
There are market days nearly every day in the region, and some of the best ones are covered below. The markets only run in the morning.
Tuesday – Los Belones, Los Alcazares, La Union
Wednesday – Santiago de la Ribera
Thursday – San Javier, Los Urritas (Summer Only)
Friday – El Algar
Saturday – La Manga del Mar Menor
Sunday – Cabo de Palos, Los Nietos (Summer only)
Music Festivals
Through January to March it’s possible to listen to Folk music and go wine tasting in Bullas.
There is also an annual Jazz Festival in San Javier which usually takes place in July.
In Cartagena there is also a World Music Festival which takes place in July, known as La Mar de Musicas.
For lovers of Flamenco there is also an annual festival in La Union, which takes place in August. It’s known as the Cante de Las Minas.
Museum of Fine Art in Murcia
MUBAM, as the museum is known, shows a selection of Murcian art produced in the last 300 years. It includes various art forms, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics and glasswork.
Fiestas
La Fiesta is a huge part of Spanish culture, and you don’t want to miss out on the huge variety that Murcia has to offer.
To see a complete list of what is to offer year-round, look here.