by Janis / 2 comments - Orginally published:5th March 2024
A melting pot of influences
We’re now heading to the southeast of Spain to the region of Murcia, and we’re continuing our exciting road trip after arriving on a Brittany Ferry to Bilbao 4 days ago.
So far, our chosen route has taken us through the back roads of Spain, and we’ve explored Pamplona, Zaragoza, and Teruel.
I’ve wanted to visit Murcia for some time now, I had heard so many charming comments about the city and that it was perfect for a weekend city break. I couldn’t wait to explore Murcia’s historic streets and stunning architecture.
We have a couple of nights in the beautiful city of Murcia. We then we hit the road again and visit Mojácar, Granada and then heading back north, we’re exploring Toledo, Valladolid, Astorga and Burgos.
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Where is Murcia?
How to get to Murcia
- By Air
Start creating your own Spanish adventure and discover the delightful city of Murcia for yourself.
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Where to stay in Murcia
Sercotel Amistad Murcia
The hotel Sercotel Amistad Murcia is very centrally located, just a 5 minutes’ walk to the historic Old Town and many of the significant sights of Murcia.
The rooms are very comfortable and clean. We chose to stroll out each morning for breakfast as we enjoy eating in local cafés. Sercotel Amistad Murcia has an underground car park; a daily charge is applied.
Alternatively, pop your dates in the Booking.com search box and discover further options for all budgets.
Brief history of Murcia
Strolling in the footsteps of timeThe historic city of Murcia is situated in the southeast of Spain within the Iberian Peninsula and is the capital of the Murcia region.
Murcia is perfectly nestled along the banks of the River Segura and was founded by the Emir of Cordoba Abd ar-Rahman II in 831, who commissioned a walled city. Sections of the ancient wall can still be seen dotted around Murcia.
Veronica’s Wall
Fast forward a few hundred years to the late 12th century, and Murcia was occupied by the North African Almohades, the last Muslim empire to rule Southern Spain. During this time, the Moorish region of Mursiya gained considerable significance; many Moorish architectural buildings still remain in Murcia and remind you of its rich Moorish past. I do love the Moorish influences.
However, Murcia didn’t remain under Muslim rule too long as the Christian King Ferdinand III of Castile gained Murcia within the 13th century, and the Christian population began to increase.
Bronze of Murcia Cathedral
In 1829, Mother Nature inflicted a severe blow on Murcia when it suffered a disastrous earthquake. Then, around a century later, it was hit with significant flooding in 1946 and again in 1948.
Murcia resolutely thrives today and is a stunning city to explore on foot, and with its rich and varied culture, it has become popular with tourists near and far.
Exploring the historic streets of Murcia
The three legendary callesThere’s no better way to explore a town or city than to hit the streets and start walking, and Murcia is no exception. Our hotel was only about a 5–10-minute walk from the heart of the Old Town, so within no time, we were relishing the hustle and bustle of city life.
Calle Trapería
North along Calle Trapería
We wandered into the historic centre of Murcia and strolled down the three legendary streets of Calle Platería (silversmiths), Calle Trapería (cloth merchants), and Calle Vidrieros (glass workers). These streets are named after the guilds which used to trade along these lanes.
Ambling along Calle Trapería with its street-covered sails, offering shade from the shimmering sun, reminded me of the scorching lanes of Seville; I think these canopies are such a creative idea.
Escuela Publica Cierva Penafiel
There are some stunning examples of Spanish architecture through these streets; ensure you keep looking up to admire the ornate wrought-iron balconies. They are like stepping stones climbing higher and higher into the sky.
Casa Cerdá
At the north end of Calle Trapería, standing brazen in Plaza de Santo Domingo, is the striking Casa Cerdá. Casa Cerdá was designed by the architect José Antonio Rodríguez Martínez and built between 1934 and 1936; its façade is stunning. The residential building covers seven floors, is topped off with an eye-catching circular pavilion, and is listed as a Cultural Heritage Site.
There are so many incredible places to discover in Spain and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Eyewitness books, I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Spanish road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
A few of Murcia’s charming plazas
Explore Murcia at your leisureWhen you’re strolling around the historic streets of Murcia you feel like there’s a delightful plaza waiting for you around every corner. Some of the plazas are tiny and some are grand; however, they all offer so much charm and appeal.
Plaza de las Flores
One of my favourite squares was Plaza de las Flores, and as the name would imply, this beautiful plaza has vibrant and fragrant flower stalls. All around Plaza de Las Flores are eye-catching buildings with balconies overflowing with flame-red begonias. Share a pew with “La niña de la Flores”, the bronze sculpture on the edge of the central fountain, and just sit and watch the world pass by.
Adjacent to Plaza de las Flores is Plaza Santa Catalina, another welcoming and charming pedestrian square.
Union and Fénix building
Within Santa Catalina Square is the impressive Union and Fénix building. Sitting high above on the rooftop of the building is the imposing emblem of the company, a person with their arms outstretched on a phoenix
Plaza de Santo Domingo
Another plaza to relax within is the bustling Plaza de Santo Domingo, which I mentioned above, home to Casa Cerdá. Plaza de Santo Domingo is a pretty grand square with cafés and restaurants dotted around for you to enjoy.
However, we just loved sitting on the wooden benches under the shade of the palm trees, soaking up the atmosphere of Murcia with the majestic towers of Santo Domingo Church looking down upon us.
Romea Theatre
A short hop along Calle Arco de Santo Domingo and passing beneath the historic arch of St. Domingo, you’ll arrive in Plaza de Julián Romea. This delightful square is full of life and theatregoers as sitting pride of place is the dusty pink Romea Theatre.
The neoclassical Teatro de Romea opened in 1862 and has undergone a series of restorations due to devasting fires in 1877 and 1899 and continual reconstruction. The magnificent theatre has stood the test of time and frequently holds captivating performances for all ages.
Tempted to?
Discover more of historic Spain and tour its picturesque countryside in the north, or head south to explore the Sierra Nevada National Park just south of Granada.
You can do it all on a road trip; Rental Cars searches multiple well-known car hire brands and discovers the deals that suit you the best.
A stroll by the Segura River
Enjoying the dappled shadeAhh, water. For me, a visit to Murcia wouldn’t be complete without an amble beside the Segura River and the charming gardens. Along this promenade are some striking pieces of architecture and beautiful flower displays.
Puente de los Peligros
The Puente de los Peligros, or Bridge of Dangers, spans the Segura River, an arched stone bridge built in 1742 and Murcia’s oldest bridge. Deep within the river by Puente Viejo is a huge bronze and silica monument, ‘Monumento al Entierro de la Sardina,’ a tribute to the festival ‘Burial of the Sardine’.
Mercado de Abastos de Verónicas
Also nearby the river is the Mercado de Abastos de Verónicas. Gary and I love visiting the local mercados. You get a true understanding of the abundance of fresh food stalls and the types of cuisine the locals enjoy eating. Fish, shellfish and plenty of vegetables and meats were the order of the day.
The Mercado always has a lively and bustling atmosphere and is always an eye-opener into the daily life in a town or a city.
Glorieta Gardens
Strolling east along the Segura River are the beautiful and historic Glorieta Gardens. This picturesque city park was landscaped during the 18th -century and is incredibly well maintained. The vibrant garden is laid symmetrically with colourful flowers, bushy palm trees and a rectangular fountain running through.
Ayuntamiento de Murcia (The Town Hall)
Standing proud of its place in the Plaza de la Glorieta with the striking gardens at its feet is the eye-catching Ayuntamiento de Murcia (Town Hall). This building is stunning.
The Town Hall of Murcia was built in the neoclassical style during the 19th-century by the architect Juan José Belmonte. The salmon-coloured façade and the imposing central columns undoubtedly make a statement.
Episcopal Palace of Murcia
Strolling along Calle Arenal next to the Town Hall, you’ll arrive at Plaza del Cardenal Belluga. This is a splendid town square with Murcia Cathedral at the far end and the striking Episcopal Palace of Murcia.
Plaza del Cardenal Belluga
The Plaza del Cardenal Belluga was a welcoming sight for us, so we stopped and escaped the midday heat. We sat in the shade to enjoy the scenes around us and a chilled beer.
Visiting Murcia Cathedral
A perfect blend of stylesThe construction of the magnificent Cathedral Church of Saint Mary in Murcia begun in 1394 and was completed in 1465, it was built on the site of a former mosque. Renovations and enhancements continued on the cathedral until the 18th century.
Murcia Cathedral
The interior of the cathedral reflects the beautiful Gothic influences and the striking façade was created in the Baroque style from the designs of the Valencian architect Jaime Bort. The intricate detailing is incredible; the cathedral is a true gem of Murcia.
Unfortunately for us, scaffolding was masking the main ornate entrance.
Murcia Cathedral bell tower
Puerta de las Cadenas – Murcia Cathedral
The far-reaching bell tower of Murcia Cathedral stood at 95 meters and took more than two hundred years to build. The eye-catching tower is the second highest in Spain after the Giralda of Seville. Within the tower are twenty-five bells dating from the 17th & 18th centuries and were used for celebrations and to warn the locals of impending floods.
Chapel of los Vélez
Inside the cathedral are many examples of exquisite Gothic architecture, especially in the Chapel of Los Vélez. The intricate craftwork is gorgeous, from the base of the chapel floor to the ten-pointed vaulted domed roof high above.
Interior of Chapel of Los Vélez
Nave in Murcia Cathedral
Within Murcia Cathedral are three vast naves surrounded by twenty-three individual chapels which house the burials of bishops and aristocrats. Not only will you find beautiful Gothic architecture within the cathedral, but there are also incredible examples of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque designs.
Tourist Information
If you’re planning to explore Spain, ensure you check out the Visit Spain official tourism website. It's overflowing with helpful information covering every region of this beautiful country from north, south, east, and west.
There are so many incredible places to discover in Spain and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Guides,
I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more
Exploring Real Casino de Murcia
A jewel in the crownThe Real Casino de Murcia is a must-see in Murcia; this historic building is located in the heart of the Old Town, along Calle Trapería. The façade of the Royal Casino of Murcia is incredibly stunning on its own; however, when you step inside the main entrance, you’ll be astounded.
Real Casino de Murcia
Arabian courtyard
The Casino de Murcia is a social club which was founded in 1847, and although it is a private club the ground floor is open to the public, and now one of the most visited buildings in the region of Murcia. The interior has an exquisite mix of styles including Baroque and Moorish.
Hallway in Casino de Murcia
During the late 20th century, the building began to face decline. Between 2006 and 2009, the Casino de Murcia was entirely renovated to its original décor, of which the lavish designs you can admire today. When the restoration was complete, King Don Juan Carlos I of Spain granted the Casino the title of Real (Royal).
Neo-Nasrid style patio
We visited towards the end of the day and almost had the place to ourselves; it was incredible. Throughout the building, each room was furnished and decorated luxuriously; no expense was spared, particularly in the Arabian courtyard where 20,000 sheets of gold leaf were used.
Library in Casino de Murcia
Within the Real Casino de Murcia, you can explore the peaceful library with ornate wooden bookcases encircling the upper level. Nearby is the neo-Baroque ballroom with glistening chandeliers, a congress meeting room, a ladies’ room, a billiard room and even a Pompeian patio with Italian-style sculptures and 14 white columns symmetrically positioned all around.
Ballroom in the Casino de Murcia
Visiting the Real Casino de Murcia was one of the highlights of our trip to Murcia, and it was only a €5 entrance fee.
Our video of Murcia
We have created a little YouTube video of Murcia. Why not take a look?
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I Like Murcia City very much visited the City with my mother and father some years ago. Murcia has a lovely Cathedral the city is worth visiting We were on holiday in La Manga not far from Murcia.
Yes, we really enjoyed visiting Murcia too, it’s a beautiful city, there were so many charming squares and lanes to discover. The cathedral was lovely along with the Real Casino de Murcia. I would certainly return someday.