Murcia City

Located just a 15-minute drive from the Mosa Trajectum Sports & Golf Resort, Murcia is a vibrant, historical city offering a host of restaurants, shopping, sightseeing and more.

The Location, History and Summary

Small and untouristy, Murcia sits in the centre of a slender green belt in Spain’s arid south-east. With less than 30cm of rain a year, thnis lushness is hard come by. The abundant vineyards and orchards and, indeed, the city itself, only exist thanks to an ingenious system of water wheels, aquaducts and acequias Irrigation channels) installed by the Moors. Little surprise, then, that several of the town’s museums are devoted to the glories of aqua. The City Museum (Plaza Agustinas 7, Tel: 968-274-390, www.murcia-museociudad.org) recounts water’s role in local history from the Moors to present, including the engineered floods used to defend the region against the Austrians in the Spanish War of Succession. The kiddie-friendly Museum of Science & Water (Plaza de la Ciencia 1, Tel: 968-211-998), www.cienciayagua.org, closed weekends in summer) has interactive displays, while the riverside Hydraulic Museum Los Molinos del Rio Segura (C/Los Molinos, Tel: 968-358-600, www.molinosdelrio.org, closed Sun) pays homage to Antonio Molina Cano, a local hydraulics genius.
Past the many fountains of the Glorieta de España lies the imposing baroque façade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria. It was built in the 14th century, on the site of the mosque, by Alfonso X ‘The Wise’, who liberated Murcia from Moorish rule. This is the focal point for Murcia’s famously extravagant and emotional religious festivals. Easter processions last for over a fortnight and still use the 18th-century figures made by Murcian sculptor, Francisco Salzillo. The highlight of this museum (Plaza de San Augustin 3, Tel: 968-291-893, www.museosalzillo.es, closed Mon & Sun afternoon) is a nativity scene with a cast of over 500 carved figures. More unusual religious deference takes place at the end of Murcia’s carnival season and the beginning of lent; a period that is marked by the Burial of the Sardine – a giant mock funeral cortege of bikini-clad dancers, fireworks, floats and a giant papier-mâché sardine that goes up in flames at the end of it all.
Away from the cathedral runs La Traperia – the main thoroughfare of medieval and Renaissance Murcia – famous for its ice-cream parlours and jaw-dropping Casino (No. 18, Tel: 968-215-399, www.casinomurcia.com). Built in the mid 1800s, the Casino is Murcia’s only must-see, boasting a stunning library, beautiful patios inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, an ornate ladies’ powder room, a world championship billiard hall and an elegant Louis XV-style ballroom. After a €1.20 entry fee, pay €1 to blaze up to the hundreds of light bulbs on its magnificent chandeliers; a waltz is then played over the loudspeakers so that you can dance yourself into the 19th-century rapture. La Traperia is also one of the main routes for Murcia’s spectacular September fair when the restful squares come alive with parades, pop concerts, barbeques and bullfights.

Eating & Drinking in Murcia

Rich in vegetables, Murcian cuisine is inspired by the fresh produce of the fertile surrounding area. Both the elegant Figón de Alfaro (C/Alfaro 8, Tel: 968-216-862) and Las Cadenas (C/Apostoles 10, Tel: 968-220-924) offer modern renditions of local favourites such as zarangollo (similar to ratatouille) or machirones (baby broad beans baked with peppers and sausages) washed down with excellent regional wines from nearby Jumilla and Yecla.
Enjoy tapas out on the summer bar terraces of Plaza San Juan and Plaza de la Flores or head to a local institution like La Pequeña Taberna Tipica (C/General Margallo, Tel: 968-219-840) or La Parranda (Plaza de San Juan, Tel: 968-220-675). Here you’ll find lots of seafood supplied by the nearby Mar Menor – the biggest salt water lake in Europe – and the Mediterranean sea. Try king prawns, huevas de mújol (a tyoe of caviar), matrimonies (‘marraiges’ of pickled anchovies with garlic and laurel) or baked octopus. For over-the-top glitz, the Casino restaurant (mentioned abvove) has no substitute. Just ask for 'Tapas Square', as it is locally known.

Getting Around

Obviously a car is essential for getting around and to do your own thing like getting to the beach and driving to sites etc. There are a number of car hire companies, with around 6 at Murcia airport and 12 at Alicante airport. Sol Mar and EuropCar are cheap, as is Aguilla. Global firms such as Avis and Hertz are also located at the airports and in town. But Murcia town itself is designed for walking although there are local buses operated by Latbus (Tel: 968-250-088, www.latbus.com) from C/La Codensa. The long-distance station is at C/Sierra de la Pila (Tel: 968-292-211). You may wish to leave your car at the house and take a taxi (Radio Taxi, Tel: 968-292-700) to town and use buses from there, or maybe drive to town and do some walking, taking in the sites, and maybe get the odd bus. Murcia city centre is a nice walk, so if you do drive in to the city you can park at one of the many car parks sign-posted and start your trekking from there.

In the Area

The Costa Cálida (Warm Coast) lies just a 15-minute drive from Mosa Trajectum, west on the C3319 highway outside the resort. San Javier town is the first town one comes to when driving to the beach, and the adjacent Santiago la Ribera is a small village which hosts a pleasant beach and some nice small restaurants. The beach is actually on the Mar Menor, not the Med. The Mar Menor (Lesser Sea) is a very still lake, or lagoon, to be more exact, as it is open to the Med at the end of La Manga strip, a sandy isthumis extending from a lovely fishing village named Cabo de Balos, where some excellent fayre is available, freshly caught from the Mar Menor and nearby Med. La Manga strip is 10km long and hosts many holiday apartments and restaurants. The strip is full of spas, as the waters of the Mar Menor have recuperative properties, their rich mineral content working magic on tired bones, arthritis and rheumatism. A cleansing volcanic clay is found on the lake’s shores and at the northern end, the San Pedro del Pinatar salt works nature reserve is full of migrating flamingos. Prior to entering the strip itself, the famous La Manga Club is located on the right of the expressway. This change of golf venue is just 30 minutes drive from Mosa Trajectum.
Inland, the Sierra Espuna natural park is 40 minutes’ drive south-west from Murcia. Walkers and climbers enjoy hundreds of square miles of pine-clad highlands and limestone canyons. Look out for the domed, 16th-century snow wells at the northern end. The wells compressed winter snow and ice, supplying the parched towns with water in the summer months.

Day Trips

The Costa Calida is an arid area of the country, boasting minimal rain fall. However, there are many places to visit and enjoy during your stay. Murcia City is just 15 minutes away, and Cartagena is just 25 minutes south. Both provide an excellent day out for both sight seeing and shopping. The closest beach is 15 minutes away at Santiago de la Ribera. Others are up and down the Mar Menor from there, with Los Alcazeras area hosting a few others that are popular.

Murcia has very large department stores as well as smaller boutiques and restaurants to enjoy. There are many squares and piazzas to explore, including the piazza at the English Cathedral which hosts the best chocolate shop you could dream of finding. Warm doughnut strips to dip in hot, melted chocolate. Wonderful.

Cartagena is the Spanish naval town, a bit like Portsmouth in the UK. There is also an array of shops and restaurants to try, with some excellent fish orientated bistros near the harbour. Nightlife

Night Life

Murcia and the Costa Blanca have some very lively nightlife with most places staying open until the early hours of the morning. There are always many bars offering live music and some of the larger hotels put on after dinner dancing. Murcia has plenty of good nightclubs which tend to really kick off after about 12 midnight and continue on till when-ever they feel like. There are some unique Nightclubs, shows, Casinos and Bars & Restaurants around the Costa Blanca, here are some of the interesting ones:

Murcia Palace
Enjoy a night out at the world famous Murcia Palace for a spectacular show and dinner!
A fabulous four course meal with smoked salmon, prawns and fillet steak washed down with fine rioja wines is accompanied by one of the greatest shows on earth.

Desafio Medieval
For a 'slightly' tacky but highly enjoyable night out, you should try Desafio Medieval, set in an old castle near Alfaz they serve up a medieval banquet whilst you enjoy the spectacular fighting and jousting.

Flamenco
Flamenco is a passionate and artistic dance which expresses the sorrows and joys of life. Dancers improvise upon basic movements as they follow feelings and the rhythms of the guitar.

Casinos
There are a few ligitamate gambling casinos in the Costa Blanca which can offer blackjack tables, roulette, chemin de fer and slot machines. Remember to take your passport, you need to be above the age of 18 to get into any of them. Dress code is fairly relaxed but to avoid any trouble make sure you wear at least 'smart casual' clothes. None will let you in if you are wearing shorts and a t-shirt!
The following casinos are situated in the area:
Murcia: Casino Mediterranea
Murcia: Gran Casino Murcia, tel: 96 821 23 08
La Manga: Hyatt Regency Casino