THE ABTA MAGAZINE GUIDE TO
MURCIA
Discover Spain’s best kept secret
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In the guide Nestled between Andalusia and Valencia, the region of Murcia is a relatively undiscovered part of Spain. This is surprising, as it really does have something for everyone – from beaches to dense forests; ancient and modern cities; amazing regional food and wine; wellness facilities; and plenty of kids‘ activities. Now, the secret is out…
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15 ABTA Magazine is created by Waterfront Publishing on behalf of ABTA Waterfront Publishing 12-18 Hoxton Street London N1 6NG waterfront-publishing.com 020 3865 9360
Director Sam Ballard sam@waterfront-publishing.com Director Anthony Pearce anthony@waterfront-publishing.com Head of sales Simon Leeming simon@waterfront-publishing.com 020 3865 9337
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Map A handy guide to what attractions can be found where in the region
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Spain’s best kept secret A guide to the region, which really does have something for everyone
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Back to nature Why Murcia is the ideal destination to nurture mind, body and soul
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Best for family With everything from Roman theatres to robotics workshops, kids will love it
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Cultural calendar From festivals to museum exhibits, there’s always something going on
Media sales executive Bryan Johnson bryan@waterfront-publishing.com 020 3865 9338 Account manager Emily Snipe emily@waterfront-publishing.com 020 3865 4815 Head of design Billy Odell billy@ABTAmag.com Business travel editor Jenny Southan jenny@ABTAmag.com 020 3456 7899 Sub-editors Nathaniel Cramp, Emily Eastman
With thanks to: Heidi Fuller-Love ABTAmag.com info@ABTAmag.com Twitter: @ABTAMagazine Facebook: ABTAMagazine
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1. Murcia
6. Mar Menor
2. Lorca
7. Águilas
3. Cartagena
8. Jumilla DO
4. Archena spa
9. Cañón de Almadenes
5. Sierra Espuña
10. Sierra de la Pila Regional Park
Santa María Cathedral, Real Casino de Murcia Castillo de Lorca, Old Town Roman Theatre, Marine Archaeology Museum Dead Sea floatation pool Pine forest, walking trails
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La Manga spit, salt lagoon Castillo de San Juan, Plaza de Espana Viña Elena winery, Castillo de Jumilla Boat trips, kayaking Hiking trails
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Spain’s best kept secret From cultural sights and sporting activities, to delicious food and a laid-back lifestyle, family-friendly Murcia ticks all the boxes for an authentic Spanish break – without the crowds. By Heidi Fuller-Love
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urcia might be a relatively new arrival on the Spanish tourism scene, but with visitors staying an average 11.9 days, according to recent government statistics, this sun-drenched region is becoming popular with UK holidaymakers. A dizzy blend of Floridastyle resorts and typical
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Spanish villages, Murcia is an easy two hours and 40 minutes flight from the UK’s main airports. Tucked between flamenco-loving Andalusia, Don Quixote’s Castilla-La Mancha and Valencia, home of paella, this vast and varied region encompasses mountains and deep gorges, natural reserves and wine-producing vineyards,
lovely towns and laid-back coastal resorts. Wine, wildlife and hot springs The north is renowned for its Denomination of Origin wines – Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla – produced in tousled vineyards stretched between villages where visitors can stroll narrow streets to sample the local
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ABTA Murcia
vino along with tapas in typical bodegas. This region of Murcia also bubbles with hot mineral springs, which can be enjoyed in towns such as Archena, whose vast thermal bath complex includes a Dead Sea floatation pool. Extensive forests – including the pine-forest-studded regional park of Sierra Espuña – cover much of the region and are a big draw for nature lovers. Hikes take you along a tangle of walking trails to discover strange limestone formations and the pozos de nieve ice houses where, before fridges were invented, ice was stored to be sold during the summer months.
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Salt lagoons, sandy beaches and exhilarating water sports Talking of nature reserves, further south Mar Menor is Murcia’s 170 square km salt lagoon where pretty pink flamingos and other migratory birds come to spend the winter months. Separated from the Mediterranean by a 22km spit of land called La Manga, Europe’s biggest salt water lagoon is also a prized spot for water sports enthusiasts who can enjoy activities ranging from canoeing and windsurfing, to stand-up paddle, scuba diving and sailing. Mar Menor, which translates as ‘the lesser sea’, sits on
Murcia’s Costa Cálida or ‘balmy coast’, whose beaches rival any of the best in Spain. The 250km stretch of Mediterranean coastline, which sweeps in a golden glow of silky sand beaches and secluded coves from Alicante to Almeria, comprises lively urban beaches such as Playa de la Palmas and Playa de Poniente, as well as offthe-beaten-track beach havens like Las Mulas and Calblanque. Cultural sights, cool cities and superb shopping Murcia is renowned for its lush countryside and dense forests, but culture enthusiasts and city slickers will find plenty
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Need to know
Murcia enjoys hot summers and mild winters, with an average annual temperature of 18C.
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to enjoy here, too. Located on the banks of the deep green Segura River and flanked by mighty mountains, Murcia’s eponymous capital, which was founded by the Moors more than a thousand years ago, is a delightful hotchpotch of exuberant Islamic architecture, stunning churches and fascinating museums. They line lively streets packed with cafés and bodegas serving some of the region’s best tapas. Half an hour’s drive further south brings visitors to Cartagena, the legendary
3,000-year-old coastal city centred around its beautifully conserved Roman amphitheatre, picturesque cathedral ruins and striking modernist buildings, including the delightfully eclectic Palacio Consistorial. Last but certainly not least, the cobbled streets of the market town of Lorca, an hour’s drive west of Cartagena, are famed for the fervour of its Semana Santa Holy Week celebrations. Crowned by its 13th-century castle, Lorca’s lovely old town
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ABTA Murcia
lined with beautiful Baroque buildings also offers some fabulous souvenir shopping: this is the place in Murcia to buy traditional colourful jarapa rugs and delicate jarra de la novia wedding pottery. Food, festivals and expansive golf courses Gourmets will enjoy this region famed for its food specialities. Dishes to look out for include white-wine-flavoured rollos de vino pastry rings and a delectable sweet and savoury pie made with grated lemon, eggs and chicken called pastel
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Murcia is known for its lush countryside, but city slickers will find plenty here, too de cierva. Syrupy local drink mantellina from Totana made with wine and honey is well worth sampling, too. Visitors seeking a way to work off those calories can practice their strokes on one of the many world-
class golf courses for which Murcia is rightly famed. From the Nicklaus trail, which incorporates six Jack-Nicklausdesigned 18-hole championship courses, to the world-famous La Manga Club, there are plenty to choose from. Add to that a smorgasbord of exciting events throughout the year, ranging from the San Javier International Jazz Festival in July, to the spectacular Santa Semana processions at Easter, and you’ll understand why marvellous magical Murcia is Spain’s rising star.
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Back to nature With its salt water lagoon, hot springs, forests and high mountains, Murcia is the perfect place to nurture mind, body and soul. By Heidi Fuller-Love
B
lessed with sparkling clear seawater and its unique salt water Mar Menor lagoon, Murcia also boasts dense forests, high mountains, hot water mineral springs, several nature reserves, superb golf facilities and a string of glorious beaches, making it an ideal region for an exciting range of sports, leisure and wellness activities. Healthy hot water and mineral-packed mud Averaging nearly 2,800 hours of sunshine per year, Murcia’s
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climate offers a healthy dose of vitamin D, but there are also a range of natural treatments that will have visitors returning relaxed and restored from their holidays. Popular since the Romans came here to take the waters back in the first century AD, Murcia’s hot springs packed with health-giving minerals feed a series of thermal baths in the villages of Mula, Mazarron, Fortuna and Archena, where state-of-theart facilities – including hotels and indoor and outdoor pools
– make it one of the best spa resorts of Spain. Less hot, but equally renowned for their healing properties, the balmy waters of Mar Menor – said to be good for everything from exhaustion to arthritis – are rich in therapeutic minerals: magnesium, calcium, sodium, bromide and iodine. Just breathing the briny air is said to cure respiratory problems, but there are also a full range of treatments on offer in gleaming modern thalassotherapy
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ABTA Murcia
centres clustered around the lagoon. For a slightly more messy therapeutic experience visitors should head for the pretty fishing town of San Pedro del Pinatar, where mud baths packed with calcium, magnesium and potassium are said to ease bone and joint pains, remedy skin ailments and provide relief from rheumatism and arthritis. Health seekers can slap on the mud for free along the seafront, or get professional supervision in one of the specialised thalassotherapy centres.
Sea, sun and aquatic fun With several hundred kilometres of coastline boasting fine sandy beaches and sheltered coves, and dotted with centres offering worldclass aquatic facilities, magical Murcia is ideal for water babies of all ages and abilities. Mar Menor’s shallow buoyant waters are perfect for young families, but they also attract water sports professionals who come here to train, which means that the facilities for aquatic activities in centres such as Mar Menor Nautical Centre at Cabo de
Palos and Puerto Deportivo Juan Montiel in Águilas are top notch. Adrenalin-sports lovers can learn to sail a catamaran or drive a speed boat here, while more leisurely activities on offer include paddleboarding and kayaking. Europe’s largest salt lagoon is also ideal for scuba divers, who can head out to explore countless shipwrecks, or get up close and friendly with local marine life in the warm and prolific waters of Cabo de Palos-Islas marine reserve. The resorts of Hormigas, La Azohía, Mazarrón and Águilas also have well-equipped diving centres.
Did you know?
Visitors seeking an unusual souvenir to take home with them can buy Mar Menor’s therapeutic mud in one of the thalassotherapy centres near the lagoon. They should also buy San Pedro’s fleur de sel. Extracted from the protected areas of the Salinas, fleur de sel is salt in its purest form.
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Pictured
Previous page: Water sports enthusiasts are drawn to the region’s crystal-clear waters Left: Its mud is said to ease bone and joint pains Above: El Valle is one of Murcia’s many golf resorts
Visitors seeking less strenuous fun in the sun can top up their tans on one of Costa Calida’s superb beaches. Families should make a beeline for childfriendly sand havens such as Calabardina or Playa de Mar de Cristal, while clothes-free sun worshippers will want to laze on the silky sands of naturistfriendly Calblanque.
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Rural delights, wildlife sites and adrenalin activities Visitors seeking to sample Murcia’s most authentic charms should head inland, staying in rural campsites or cottages and enjoying activities such as white water rafting or canyoning in the Cañón de Almadenes, descending the Segura river by inflatable boat or kayak near Calasparra, or going underground to discover prehistoric rock art in caves and gorges close to Isla Plana and Cieza. Hikers and mountain bikers will also have fun in the glorious, pine-rich Sierra Espuña regional park – home to
a host of endangered wildlife including golden and booted eagles and wild cats – where a web of trails lead out to reveal panoramic views and wild scenery. Closer to the coast, the regional park of Las Salinas y Arenales is the perfect destination for twitchers, who come here to spot flamingos and other migratory birds. This palm-tree-lined coast is also a hotspot for golfers, who can play on one of 22 signature golf courses designed by renowned players. These include the world-famous La Manga Club whose facilities include not one, but three 18-hole courses.
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ABTA Caribbean Murcia
Best for family From swimming to muddy quad biking, Roman theatres to robotics workshops, Murcia has no end of activities for all the family
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ith soft sand beaches, shallow, safe waters and a host of activities suitable for kids, Murcia is ideal for families seeking a budget-friendly, fun-packed holiday. Families who want to see the region from the water should hop on one of the boats that cruise out of Cartagena to visit forts and historic buildings along the coast, or join a thrilling dolphin-spotting cruise from Mazarrón led by a marine biologist. Back on dry land they can also meet the local marine life face-to-face in Murcia City’s University Aquarium. Five degrees warmer than the Mediterranean, Mar Menor’s shallow waters are ideal for toddlers, while older kids will love trying their hand at kayaking, windsurfing and other water sports in this buoyant lagoon. Murcia’s endless kilometres of coastline are also
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dotted with family-friendly beaches, including Playa de la Colonia, whose sheltered, sandfringed waters are surrounded by play areas, and Cala del Pino with its delightful picnic areas shaded by dense pine forests. For families who can tear themselves away from Murcia’s sparkling seaside charms, Terra Natura is a conservationfocused animal park where kids can get up close and friendly with monkeys and wolves as well as lions, giraffes and boa constrictors. And when the little ones get hot they can cool down on the slides and rides of Terra Natura’s water park, which is the regions’ largest. There’s no shortage of outdoor activities in Murcia. Those with active kids should head for Casa La Pedrera, a rural centre where they can saddle up for pony trekking, get muddy on a quad bike or get to grips with a bow and arrow at archery.
Most kids start yawning when you mention museums, but Cartagena’s superb Roman theatre – where they can wear special goggles for an enhanced reality tour – is sure to keep them enthralled, as will the mediaeval tournaments and other gripping re-enactments that take place at Lorca’s Fortress of the Sun. Murcia City also has some exciting cultural attractions for the whole family, including the Science and Water Museum where hands-on activities include telescope training and robotics workshops. Older kids will also enjoy the Parque Minero de la Unión mine museum, a 20-minute drive from Cartagena, where they’ll ride on a miniature train and learn all about the thrilling – and sometimes terrifying – history of the region back in the days when the Romans mined gold and silver here.
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Cultural charms Festivals, museums and more – there’s plenty to do year-round in Murcia
C
ulture is spelt with a capital ‘C’ in Murcia, where everyone from the Phoenicians and the Greeks, to the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Arabs have left traces of their passage. With stunning museums, striking buildings and exciting festivals, there’s plenty for culture enthusiasts to enjoy. Marvellous museums Apart from its renowned cathedral and archaeological museums, the region’s capital has several outstanding art venues, including the Salzillo and the Ramón Gaya museums, home to the work of two of Murcia’s best-known artists, and the Santa Clara Museum, which houses an outstanding collection of Islamic art. Coastal Cartagena also has plenty to boast about. The pick of the bunch includes the Museum of the Roman Theatre, considered to be one
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of Spain’s greatest treasures, and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology where thrilling exhibits include the treasure of 19th-century shipwreck Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. Lorca, too, has several mustsee museums including a Holy Week museum with Semana Santa-themed displays and the MuBBla embroidery museum, whose delicate exhibits date back to the 19th century. Awe-inspiring architecture The province of Murcia abounds in architectural gems, many of which can be enjoyed just by wandering through the region’s villages and towns. Murcia City’s outstanding architectural sights include the stunning cathedral built between the 14th and 17th centuries, the 19th-century Real Casino and the ninth century Monteagudo fortress. Cartagena, once Hannibal’s
capital city, has extensive Roman remains and some fine modernist buildings, whilst Lorca’s baroque palaces, convents and military architecture are a feast for the eye. Pilgrims will want to visit Caravaca de la Cruz, whose 17th-century Basilica is home to fragments of the true cross. Fabulous festivals There’s a festival for every month of the year in sunny Murcia, headed by Semana Santa, which starts on Ash Wednesday and continues in a riot of colourful parades until Easter. Fiestas for foodies include the SaborArte Gastronomy Festival in March and Jumilla’s wine festival in August, while music lovers can choose between the Cante de las Minas flamenco fiesta in August, La Mar de Músicas international music festival in July and modern music fest WAM in May.
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