Murcia
Murcia is one of the regions with the greatest yearly number of sunny days, with an average temperature of 21º C, and 250 km of shoreline over two seas: the Minor and the Mediterranean. Its environment is noted for being a land of contrasts, with high mountain natural parks, southern basins with steppe landscapes, and wonderful beaches such as those of La Manga, Mazarrón and Calblanque.
Murcia's coastline is rich and diverse, with strips of rough waters and coves with placid and serene beaches. Dunes, salt flats and wetlands. The Murcia Region coastline contains a considerable number of areas of environmental interest, with many of them being Natural Protected Areas. Places where you can still find native flora and fauna species such as the Phoenician juniper (Sabina mora), a native tree variety, and the "fartet" (Aphanius iberus), a minute and highly unusual fish, the only one of its kind.
The city of Murcia is described as one of the most beautiful and historic in Spain. There is a great deal of Moorish influence in the city, not least of all the impressive city walls. After the reconquest, the mosques in the city were turned into churches.
The Cathedral is the most highly regarded building in the Murcia city. The first foundation stone was laid in 1388 by Bishop Pedrosa and took four centuries to complete. There are many different styles and cultures within, including 23 different chapels.
The Holy Week processions in Murcia are an expression of 'fiesta' and deep religious spirit. The life-sized woodcarvings of the Passion by Murcian sculptor Francisco Salzillo date from the 18th century and are carried through the streets on the shoulders of the faithful. A week later, the Spring Festival is a joyful celebration of the Murcian people's origins.
Murcia is a welcoming and friendly city, pleasantly modern while maintaining its traditions, Its climate and the good-natured character of its people make it a warm city, a virtue reflected in the constantly busy streets and plazas of its old quarters, where residents and visitors chat, take walks, savour delicious "tapas", or embark on one of its many cultural routes.