Murcia Travel Forum

Hi! I will be visiting Murcia for one week in April and know nothing about the region apart from what I've just learnt on this website! If anyone has some tips for places of interest I'd be most grateful. The more wierd and wonderful the better!

Thanks!

Please could you say if you plan to tour the Region of Murcia or to base yourself in the City of Murcia.. If the former what transport will you use?

As you have not listed any special interests on your profile page it is a bit difficult to second guess what you would find interesting, wonderful or weird!

Do you plan to stay close to the coast or take off for the sierras?

I'm sorry to ask so many questions but without some clues about what you expect/hope from your visit it's difficult to help you plan it.

I wonder what sightly place would delight you. From Murcia you may go to Carta-
gena (there's beaches there) or to Alicante (there's trains in this city to Barcelona and Valencia). Below a attached some links from Murcia and Cartagena
http://www.carm.es/ctyc/murciaturistica/Portal/iya.menu.menu?idi=2
http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Destinos/TipoII/Datos+Generales/Q/NW/0/Murcia?language=en
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/spain/murcia/getting-there-and-around
http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Destinos/TipoII/Datos+Generales/Q/NW/0/Cartagena?language=en
Cassiovieggore

Yes - I guess I wasn't being very specific! We are staying in the sierra region but I'm not sure of the exact location yet. I enjoy historic ruins, natural wonders, rugged scenary, caves and beautiful, small towns. (Especially ones with markets!) I've noted that there are some prehistoric caves in Granada which excited me, but when I looked them up all I could find was converted caves for sale!

We will have access to a car to explore the region.

Thanks for your time.

Thankyou very much! These have been most helpful!

I have not been around for a couple of days but if you are still looking for ideas after all Cassio's suggestions, maybe the following will be useful.

NORTH of the city of Murcia in the direction of Alicante ( worth a visit for itself - a very attractive waterfront and an "old" part with some good architecture and a large Castle overlooking the harbour) on the way, you will come to Elche.
There you can see the largest plantations of Palms in Europe - over 11,000. part of a vast Public Park and Botanic Garden.

South of the city in the direction of Lorca you will come to the small historical town of Alhama de Murcia from where you can enter the Parque Natural de Sierra Espuna. If you like walking there are well marked trails here and dramatic scenery created by the limestone formations which tower over the pine forests.

If you continue further south other places that might interest you are Garrucha (a very colourful daily fish market) and Mojacar - the old white pueblo up the hill still has hidden spots that can be described as "corners of enchantment".

From here, by travelling inland in a north west direction you reach the only semi-desert in Europe and also the Karst of Sorbas - famous for the deep underground caves from which Gypsum has been mined. The caves can be visited.

Sorbas, an old village of square shaped little houses, looks as though it could fall of the edge of the cliff but it has been there for thousands of years and is well worth a visit. Don't miss the Pottery established in Moorish times and now producing on a grand scale
.
Between Sorbas and Carboneras you can visit a Mini-Hollywood where many spaghetti westerns were made in the 70's - Fistful of Dollars etc.

You can see caves at Agua Amarga ( when we were there they contained much evidence of partying!) but - if you fancy staying in one see this link -

http://www.perfectplaces.com/vacation-rentals/46330.htm

A couple of personal comments about the region -
Until comparatively recently Murcia and Almeria were relatively undeveloped as tourist destinations. The expansion of local airports has made the area more accessible and there has been a rapid increase in tourism and in second home ownership.
We used to drive there every year, usually in Feb/March and the speed of change was staggering. Even in villages up in the Sierras property sales are now directed to Brits and other northern Europeans.

Secondly - it was in this area that "plasticulture" was developed and along much of the coast, and for several miles inland the sight of acres of plastic can be something of a shock.

You can see examples of some of the scenes I have described on my Spanish pages but they are incomplete because all of my pictures were taken before I had a dig camera and have had to be scanned!