Days out

These are places both within and outside the Region of Murcia that can be visited on a day trip, centered on Lorca in the southwest of the Region.

 

Click a place name to see it in Google Maps, where you can get directions. No claims for completeness or accuracy. Check opening hours on other sites or in a tourist office.

 

See the menu on the right for museums, holidays, etc.

Abanilla The valley formed by Rio Chicamo is said to be reminiscent of Palestine, with palms and desert.

 

Águilas Resort and fishing port. Named Aquilae by the Romans and Al-Aquila by the Arabs, Eagles has been inhabited since the Neolithic. The current town was founded in the 18th C to export fruit and vegetables, then minerals in the 19th C. Monuments include the lone foundry chimney inland, the pier opposite Isla de Fraile, and railway engine by the harbor, built in Glasgow in 1889. Glorieta gardens and neo-Mudejar town hall in Plaza de España. The restored castle on the main headland was finished in 1579. Carnival every February (see the costume museum) is celebrated by the 2.5 meter high statue of Icarus near the harbor, made in 2006 by Mariano Gonzáles Beltrán from Murcia, who also made the famous human rights statue in Strasbourg. Fairs and concerts in summer. La Isla de Fraile, off the eastern headland, has a long history going back to ancient Greece, and is now home to one of the biggest colonies of gulls in the Mediterranean. Hotel Don Juan has a complete health spa on the beach.

 

Almería city Rambla de Belén is a long thin park between the opposite carriageways of a main artery. Shops around Plaza de las Flores running south to the port. Good views from the hefty 10th C Alcazaba. The 16th C cathedral was fortified against pirate raids from North Africa (see the carved stone sun, Sol de Portocarrero, on the east end). 10-day feria in late August.

 

Barrancos de Gebas 1,900 hectare nature zone of sedimentary rock badlands carved by water into trenches and ravines. Fauna: bee-eater, roller, rook, whitethroat, little owl, sheep. Flora: brush, albardín grass, rosemary, esparto grass, caper, garbancillo. Embalse de Algeciras is a lake in the badlands.

 

Cabezo de la Jara y Rambla de Nogalte Nature zone on the border between Murcia and Andalucía. The shortest walk to the top is medium difficulty (up and down in 5 hours, 8 km, absolute rise 400 m), starting from Casa Amarillo. See Excursiones Por Puerto Lumbreras ISBN 84-932242-1-9.

 

Cabo de Gata-Nijar natural park Driest place in Europe. Beaches between volcanic cliffs and capes. Greater flamingos and other migrating birds use the Salinas (salt-extraction lagoons) from spring to autumn. By late August there can be 1,000 flamingos. There are hides 3 km south of San Miguel de Cabo de Gata. You may get closer to them where the Rambla de Morales meets the beach 2 km northwest of the village.

 

Calnegre y Cabo Cope natural park 3,000 hectares with 17 km of deserted sand and rock beaches and small enclaves of dry agriculture. The Torre de Cope, built to defend against African pirates, was recently restored. Good for walking, fishing and diving. Fauna: tortoise mora, eslizón ibérico, perdicera eagle, eagle owl, peregrine falcon, trumpeter finch. Flora: juniper, cornical, campion, albardín grass, almarjo, salicorina, lavender, esparraguera blanca. The 35 beaches in the 28 km of Águilas coastline have great and unpredictable variety, from white sand to lava. Some of the more accessible suffer from litter.

 

Caravaca de la Cruz The town holds a Lignum Crucis, a fragment of wood believed to be from the true cross. Imposing Santuario de la Vera Cruz. Medieval quarter of narrow winding streets. Interesting buildings on Calle de las Monjas. Try las yemas, sweets made from egg yolk. Las Fuentes del Marqués park contains four springs. Fiestas in May include Moors and Christians, and Caballos del Vino, running horses wearing elaborate embroidery. Main fiesta on May 3 dates from 1232. The Sierra del Galiván nature zone is nearby, also rice fields around Moratalla (famous for marzipan) and vineyards around Bullas and Cehegín, where there is the imposing church of Santa Maria Magdelena. La Encarnación, 8 km south, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Murcia, and contains Neanderthal, Roman and medieval remains.

 

Cartagena Navy base and port that takes its name from the Carthaginians, who founded it (then named Qart-Hadast) in 223 BC. La Muralla Púnica interpretation center tells the story of the defense of the city in the Punic Wars. For the Roman period see the treasures of the Augusteum; the murals and mosaics in Casa de la Fortuna; Decumano, a city street; and the Roman theater uncovered in 1987. Good views from Parque Torres containing the ruins of a cathedral, one of the few reminders in the Region of the Civil War, along with Refugio Museo de la Guerra Civil, a museum in an air raid shelter. Near the pretty Plaza del Ayuntamiento is a submarine invented in the city in 1888. Catamaran trips around the bay.

 

Casa de la Ermita Winery producing Jumilla using the Monastrell grape variety, in the middle of the Sierra de El Carche natural park at 1,370 meters above sea level. Guided tours available.

 

Castillo de Monteagurdo The ruins of the summer residence of Alfonso X that was built by Ibn Mardanix (King Wolf) in 12th C. The hill contains traces of an Argar settlement and an Iberian necropolis.

 

Castillo de Pliego Partially restored 13th C castle from the times of the Kingdom of Murcia.

 

Ceuti The streets, squares and walls contain a number of sculptures and pictures.

 

Cuatro Calas 173 hectare nature zone of strangely shaped volcanic rocks, with cave houses and many marine fossils. Fauna: crested marsh lark, stone curlew, peregrine falcon, roller, black wheatear, sand lizard. Flora: tamarisk, cornical, salicornia, almaro, rush, milkwort.

 

Cueva de los Letreros A rock shelter with 7,000-year-old rock paintings. You will need to prearrange a time with the Centro de Visitantes in Vélez Blanco to open it.

 

El Valle y Carrascoy natural park Murcia city's main park, running from south of the city to south of Librilla, has 10,800 hectares of pine with small enclaves of almond and olive farming. For a panorama of the sierras and the city, there is an easy walk up El Cerro de las Columnas (10 km round trip). Complicated geology with rock formations and cliffs of gypsum. Fauna: booted eagle, eagle owl, perdicera eagle, leprosa turtle. Flora: aleppo pine, oaks including kermes and dwarf evergreen, lentisco, espino hawthorn, esparto grass, rosemary.

 

Elche / Elx World heritage site. By far the biggest palm groves in Europe, with more than 100,000 trees, first planted by the Phoenicians. Jardin Huerto del Cura is a 13 hectare garden with over 500 species of flowers beneath 700 palm trees. Eat traditional rice and other dishes at Restaurant del Parque Municipal, surrounded by 100-year-old palms.

 

Embalse de Puentes The reservoir is the main source of water for Lorca. The current dam is functional rather than picturesque. Beyond it are the remains of the original dam, first built in 1795 when it was the largest in Europe until it burst in April 1802. The disaster swept away 608 lives, 809 houses and 41,000 trees. Explosions were heard before the collapse, but whether these were the result of sabotage or a failure brought on by the unusually heavy rainfall in March is still debated. One of the few rural mosques found from the Al-Ándalus period is near Casa del Centeno, where the Vélez meets the Embalse. The floor and columns of the oratory and minaret, which are all that remain, were excavated in 2000.

 

Gigante y Lomas del Pericay 3,600 hectare nature zone on the border between Murcia and Andalucía with many flowers in spring, crossed by a few chalk roads (four-wheel drive is best for the narrow ones), containing an abrupt, steep-sided massif. Food at the albergue. Medium difficulty walk (up and down in 4 hours, 5 km, absolute rise 450 m, starting from Cortijo de la Esperilla - see Caminos Hacia El Interior Región de Murcia ISBN 84-605-9682-6. Go through the tunnel at the Embalse de Valdeinfierno for the Lomas, an arid mountain area with sheer rock faces.

 

Granada City of stunning sights: the Alhambra palace and Generalife gardens (your ticket will indicate when you can enter each of them, and there may be a long wait at weekends and anytime in summer); Albayzin al-Andalus quarter; Capilla Real burial place; and the Sierra Nevada on the horizon. The mountain range includes Mulhacén at 3,478 m, covered in snow almost all year. Sierra weather can change rapidly at any time and walkers can die without proper protection.

 

Guadix Biggest concentration of cave-dwellings (they remain at 18ºC all year round) in Andalucía, with around 3,000 people living in them. View of the main cave quarter, the Barriada de las Cuevas, from the Alcazaba, a 15th C al-Andalus castle, and at the mirador. Sandstone cathedral.

 

Huéscar Woodland, springs and desert, including the Embalse de Santo Clemente.

 

Jumilla Town in the center of the second largest wine making area in Spain. Free 2 hr guided tour of the sights on the last Sunday of each month (arrange with the tourist office). The large monastery of Santa Ana, recently fully restored, is 7 km south. At Yecla, 22 km northeast, a large al-Andalus site, known by the Moors as Yakka, has been uncovered, including a fortress, medina and cemetery, near Ermita del Castillo.

 

La Ñora Village with a recently restored high-level aqueduct, dating from the 15th C, and 10-meter diameter working water wheel (rueda).

 

Lorca One of the most important historic and artistic centers in the southeast, with a history going back 5,000 years to the Paleolithic. The 12th C Fortress of the Sun, with views over the Guadalentin valley, marked the border between the Christian and Moorish kingdoms. There are regular re-enactments of medieval times and it contains a permanent archaeological exhibition of ongoing work. Many fine baroque buildings: Convento de la Merced (housing the visitor center) near the renovated rambla; Palacio de Guevara (guided tours); the town hall, palace and San Patrício (started 1536) in Plaza de España; also on or close to Calle Lope Gisbert from Plaza de Colón, past the tourist office in the Casa de los Guevara. Cafés and shops in the pedestrian precinct. Spectacular chariot races and floats in the main street on Good Friday evening. Espirelia music festival, mainly jazz, latin and flamenco, June to August.

 

Los Vélez The district contains the Sierra de Maria y Los Vélez natural park, Maria, Vélez Blanco (16th C Castillo de los Fajardo, although the marble patio is now at MoMA in New York) and Vélez Rubio (Plaza de la Constitución and baroque Iglesia de la Encarnación).

 

Mar Menor The Little Sea is a salt-water lagoon of 135 square kilometers containing five volcanic islands, enclosed by a natural sand bar (manga), on which there is a road running almost the full length. There are two inlets from the Mediterranean. Mar Menor is protected by international (not just EU) treaties and contains several nature zones, but is highly vulnerable to increasing tourism. Pleasing walk, the Paseo de Las Palmas, in Los Alcazares. The resort of La Manga has some interesting modern architecture (look for small houses on stilts) and exclusive golf courses. The San Pedro del Pinatar park covering the northern peninsula is home to pink flamingos from Africa during summer, along with several other species. You can also see flamingos, along with storks, in the Calblanque park covering the southern peninsula.

 

Mazarrón Las Erosiones de Bolnuevo, on the coast due south of the town, are yellow sandstone rocks shaped by erosion. On the road to Bolnuevo is Cabezo del Plomo, inhabited around 3000 BC. Factoría Romana de Salazones shows how the Romans salted fish.

 

Murcia city Founded in 825 AD by Abderramán II, most of the old city of Mursiya is gone except for the layout of the old quarter and some street names. A walk might start at the cathedral, an interesting mixture of Gothic, renaissance and baroque styles. There are good restaurants in the alleys nearby. Then north to the Casino with its sumptuous ballroom, and Plaza Santo Domingo, laid-out in 1547. Then east to the University with its cloister of La Merced, then south to the rambla, where the jacaranda trees are covered in purple blossom in spring, and back to the cathedral. See also here. Spring Festival week (starting Easter Sunday) includes Burial of the Sardine, a fancy dress parade with fireworks marking the end of Lent, on the Saturday at 22:30 around Puente Viejo. Several festivals in summer, including classical music and jazz.

 

Nueva Condomina Large out-of-town shopping mall. The site contains a stadium, and is named after Real Murcia's old La Condomina ground. See here for opening hours on holidays.

 

Puerto Lumbreras The name is from the Roman and means mountain pass of brilliant light. The 12th C castle was built by the Moors to control the route between the kingdoms of Murcia and Andalucía. The historian Ibn Al-Jatib stayed there in 1347. Legend has it that the Moors signaled outposts using bonfires. The cave houses, starting with Guevara el Chico, grew up around the castle, but it wasn't until the 16th C that the town began to extend beyond the hill.

 

Rio Safari Themed safari zoo amongst 4,000 palm trees with narrow gauge railway and shows including seals.

 

Saladares del Guadalentín 2,700 hectare nature zone with pasture and cereals. Fauna: little bustard, grouse, stone curlew, montague harrier, stilt, common crested lark. Flora: almarjo, salicornia, tamarisk, giant reed, milkwort.

 

Salinas de Santa Pola‎ natural park 2570 hectares of dunes and salt lagoons. You cannot enter without a guide but can see a wide variety of protected birds from the parking area near the Tower of Tamarit, including flamencos all year.

 

San Javier Top jazz festival all through July.

 

Santuario de la Fuensanta 18th century sanctuary, dedicated to the patron saint of Murcia, on the edge of El Valle y Carrascoy natural park.

 

Santuario de Santa Eulalia de Mérida Beautiful 18th C building surrounded by orchards and a 279 hectare estate, which houses religious art, a bar, restaurant and hotel. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Totana and is known locally just as La Santa. Main festival is la Vispera del Día de La Virgen on the night of 14th August. Via Crucis del Corazon de Jesús is a short road 600 meters away going past religious statues up a hill to El Balcón (the balcony) where there is the 9-meter high Jesus' Sacred Heart, made by Nicolás Martínez in 1957.

 

Sierra de Espuña natural park 17,800 hectare forest with upland Mediterranean vegetation rising to 1,500 m with views over the Guadalentin valley. Fauna: imperial eagle, eagle owl, goshawk, sparrow hawk, eagle perdicera, booted eagle, peregrine falcon, tawny owl, Espuña squirrel, wild boar, arruí. Flora: aleppo pine, pino negral, pino laricio, kermes oak, dwarf evergreen oak, juniper, durillo, elm, hawthorn. Several wilderness walks start from the visitor centre - see Caminos Hacia El Interior Región de Murcia ISBN 84-605-9682-6. Climbers enjoy the 1 km long wall of the Leyva valley.

 

Sierras de Cazorla natural park The biggest protected area (2,143 square kilometers) in Spain. Rugged, beautiful mountain ranges divided by high plains, forests, lakes, deep river valleys and springs which are the source of the Guadalquivir. Game includes ibex, mouflon, wild boar and extensive red and fallow deer herds. 140 species of birds including 2 meter plus wingspan bearded vulture, which is being reintroduced after disappearing in 1987. 2,300 species of plants, including 24 that are unique, best seen in spring (for the flowers) and autumn (for the leaves). Cazorla town is attractive with an imposing castle and narrow streets but can get crowded. Impressive views on the road to the parador.

 

Tabernas desert Europe's only true desert, with rainfall that rarely exceeds 200 mm, best visited between March and May for the spring flowers. Most of the desert is designated to protect the habitat of birds including Bonelli's eagle, eagle owl, alpine swift and pallid swift. Mini Hollywood is a studio where more than 100 spaghetti westerns were made. Mock shootout at midday, 17:00 and (in summer) 20:00. Follow the track to the pay booth. There is a zoo on the same site with 100 species including lions and elephants. Western Leone is another spaghetti western town. You can buy very low acidity (0.1%) desert olive oil from trees in the nearby groves at Castillo de Tabernas, a gray warehouse set amongst olive groves a few kilometers to the east.

 

Torre Pacheco The town has 14 windmills, some for flour and some for water. Ten are partial ruins but four have been restored to full working order. There are guided tours, some for children with an actor dressed as a miller. La Sima de las Palamos on Cabezo Gordo is a Neanderthal and pre-Neanderthal site. Lo Ferro, a small village 9 km northwest, hosts one of the most important festivals of flamenco singing every August.

 

Valle de Ricote A valley with a running river that was, until 1614, the last haven for the Moors in the Levant. There are a number of brightly painted old houses. Good for walks, fishing (mainly catfish and carp), white-water rafting and kayaking. Ten treadmills, mainly around Abarán and Archena, have been fully restored, including the largest in Europe that still works. In Ulea, the Iglesia de San Bartolomé, dating from 1505, has been fully restored. The Medina Siyása archaeological site in Cieza is an 11th C village. The Museo de Siyása contains a full-size reproduction of two Arabic houses with original decorations.

 

Virgen del Saliente Biggest monastery in Eastern Andalucía, which still belongs to the Church, containing a restaurant and hotel with views over an arid valley. Sight of a pilgrimage to the Virgin of the Abandoned every 8th September. Flamenco in winter and certain days in summer.