Capital of Murcia Province and autonomous region, on the Segura River. The surrounding plain, the huerta, is a fertile, irrigated area that produces oranges and other citrus fruits, cereals, olives, peppers, and truck-farm produce. The city is a centre for transportation, trade, and tin mining. Its industries include food processing, distilling, and the manufacture of textiles, chemicals, apparel, furniture, and building materials the silk industry dates from the Middle Ages.
Narrow, twisting streets are found in the old city north of the river, the banks of which are lined with promenades. The baroque 17th-century Ermita de Jesъs houses a museum of the art of the city's native sculptor Francisco Salzillo. The Cathedral of Santa Marнa dates from the 14th century and was restored in the 18th century. There is an annual Holy Week procession. The city also has a university (1915) and a provincial museum. By tradition founded by the Moors in the 9th century, Murcia was the capital of an intermittently independent or vassal Moorish kingdom until it was taken over by Castile in 1243. Population (1998 estimate) 349,040.
The importance of the city over the years can be seen in its churches, palaces and other public buildings. To see Murcian Baroque at its best, visit the churches of La Merced, San Juan de Dios, San Nicolas or San Miguel and buildings such as the Bishop 5 Palace or the Palacio Fontes.
This beautiful area of south east Spain is the ideal area for a retirement home, the countryside surrounding the towns of Murcia, Lorca & Totana abound with fincas (farm houses) ideal for modernizing, detached houses on the edges of the towns, giving the necessary amenities close by, but retaining the tranquillity so many of us desire after a life of working.
The Sierra de Espuña A beautiful natural mountainous region, with many gorges, mountains, craggy rock formations and a variety of fauna. Two rivers meander through the area, the Pliego and Guadalentin. It covers and area in excess of 25,000 hectares including the regions of Alhama, Aledo, Totana, Mula y Pliego. In 1978 the Parque Natural of 10.000 hectares was declared and in addition in 1973 a further re-classification of more than 14.000 hectares, the nature reserve, Reserva Natural de Caza.
There are signposted walking and cycling trails, hang gliding in "La Muela"
The ice cellars, the walls of Leyva, the north face of the sierra, the nature centre in Huerta Espuña, and excursions into the ravines of Gebas (ask for Bernardo in El Mirador restaurant in Gebas).
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Countryside Properties Spain
6, Calle Baleares, San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante. 03193, España
Tel/Fax: +34 965 720 771
E-mail: enquiries@countryside-properties-spain.com
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