Murcia is both the name of the region and the capital city of this region. The city is located in the south-eastern part of Spain on the Segura River. The city is built near a plane that is known as the market garden of Murcia. The area consists of valleys surrounded by mountains. There is a lot to see and do in this city.

Sights to See in Murcia

The Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia is a landmark in the city. The bulk of the construction was done between 1394 and 1465. The tower was completed in 1792. The Cathedral contains a mixture of architectural styles including Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo.

The Bishop’s palace is located near the Cathedral. This is the home of the local bishop. The palace was constructed in the eighteenth century. The palace is known locally as the Palacia Episcopal.

The Museum of Science and Water is an interactive museum. The attractions all revolve around the theme of water and its importance. There are experiments and demonstrations around this theme. There are also shows and temporary exhibitions around the theme of water. There is a planetarium at the museum that the kids will really enjoy.

As with many areas on the Costa Blanca, the water is a main attraction. There are beautiful beaches and the majority of the days are warm and sunny. The weather is perfect for enjoying the water. The Mar Menor is a small sea separated from the Mediterranean by a small strip of land.

Other water related attractions include the scenery of the salt swamps. This region is known for salt production in addition to tourism. As you drive into Murcia from Alicante, you will see the salt swamps. Salt baths are said to have curative powers for arthritis and skin ailments.

The Glorieta is a landscaped square that is located next to the river. This square is a great place to visit in the center of town. City hall is located in this square. There are many pedestrian areas located throughout the city. These are friendly for walking and taking in the sights. The market square is a great place to shop.

Festivals in Murcia

There are several festivals in Murcia throughout the year. Most have religious significance and coincide with religious holidays. There are festivals, processions and parades around most of the major Catholic holy days, such as Christmas, the Festival of the Three Kings and Easter.

The Holy Week Processions are the most famous in this city. During this procession, large sculptures are taken from the museums and paraded through the city. The sculptures used in the processions portray the life of Christ up until the time of the crucifixion. There are candle light processions at night as well as daytime processions.

Travelling to Murcia

The Murcia/San Javier airport is the most convenient to the city. This airport is located about forty five kilometres from the city of Murcia. This is a relatively small airport, but has been growing in recent years. Most of the major airlines offer flights into this airport from many cities in Europe.

The Alicante airport is also used by tourists visiting this city. While the Alicante airport is further from the city, it is a larger airport. There are more discount airlines and cheaper fares with flights into Alicante. In many cases, the difference in the fare will be worth the additional distance from the airport to the city.

Compare prices with airlines flying into each airport. The internet is a good source for finding flights. Compare schedules and prices from a few different travel websites. Not all the discount airlines will be listed on the travel sites. You will need to call the airline directly to find a flight on many of these.

Peter J. Wilson
Writes for http://www.alicante-spain.com