Murcia is a historic city of some 450,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest in Spain. It was founded as long ago as AD 831 by the conquering Arab armies, and has remained an important and strategic place ever since. Its long and sometimes bloody history can still be seen in the way it is split into various quarters, with baroque, Islamic and Christian influences. There is a wealth of things to do here from a cultural tour of some of the famous old buildings and monuments to some of the best shopping in Spain and a huge choice of places to eat and drink. You may want to start at Cardenal Beluga Square which has many of the cultural highlights and is also well located for shops and restaurants. The old cathedral is probably the best known individual site but it really depends what you want to see for yourself. If you choose to make Murcia your new home you will find the infrastructure you would expect from a major city with universities, schools, cinemas, hospitals, theatres, an airport, train stations and bus and tram networks. With a place of this size you need to decide which “barrio” or neighbourhood best suits you, with some being sleepy suburbs and others having a vibrant nightlife and attracting a lot of young people. Most but not all will have their own schools, banks, public transport and so on, and you are unlikely to find yourself far from the essentials. It is also a very Spanish city and you should not expect English to be widely spoken as you would in some more touristic spots - although a number of people will speak the language, which is taught from a young age in Spain. 

The region of Murcia is on the Costa Calida which, appropriately, means “warm coast”, reflecting both the climate and warm waters of the area. It is a popular area for Europeans to live and visit, offering beautiful beaches and mountains for activities ranging from water sports to hiking. Murcia City is a thriving municipality of 400,000 or so people with a wide range of places to eat, drink and shop as well as having the nearby airport. The Costa Calida and Costa Blanca both have a number of golf courses, ranging from international standard to those more suitable for beginners. The area is perfect for families, retirees and younger people starting out to make a new life, offering something for everyone, both inland and on the coast.

The region of Murcia offers some contrasting days out, from coastal resorts and quiet beaches to the regional capital and the historic city of Cartagena.  Cartagena is one of Spain’s most important cities historically and is probably best known for its remarkably well preserved Roman amphitheatre. There are a number of museums, housing everything from ancient artefacts to modern art, many of them free to enter. As you would expect with a Spanish city of this size (over 200,000 people) there are several fiestas and festivals throughout the year, including the Easter Holy Week parades and the February Carnival.  The Murcia region has some of the best and quietest beaches in Spain while La Manga is one of the country’s best known and most vibrant resorts. For nature lovers or those who just want to get away from it all for a while, there are natural parks, mountains and rivers with a wide variety of flora and fauna. If you want to undertake something sporty there are plenty of chances here with golf courses, maritime activities, hiking, skiing and mountain climbing all available, depending on the season.

THE Murcian region has a wide and varied cuisine, reflecting the contrast between the areas green inland and the coastal areas, as well as the Moorish influence. Probably the most popular local dish across the region is rice in its many forms, something dating back to the long occupation by Muslims. The abundant vegetables grown here can feature in rice dishes as well as game such as rabbit and more unusual ingredients like snails. You will see paellas of course, but also watch out for caldero (rice soaked in fish stock more common on the coast) and other rice based meals.

Other typical dishes include “chuletas de cordero al ajo cabañil” (lamb chops with garlic) and “caldo con pelotas” (meatballs in a stew). Game Is eaten a lot inland such as quail, hare, rabbit, deer and partridge, sometimes in pies more reminiscent of a British country pub. As with almost everywhere in Spain local cuisine is based on produce grown and raised nearby - so expect seafood by the coast and more meat and game inland. The one area that does have a unique cuisine is the Mar Menor, with its mix of saltwater lakes and the sea. This is reflected in salt baked or crusted fish, a local stew using the spicy nora peppers and rice with fish and grey mullet, usually simply cooked.

For those with a sweet tooth there is a good variety of local desserts, from “tocino de hielo” (made with egg yolks and syrup), “yemas de Caravaca” (marzipan cake made from egg yolks) “paparajotes”, an Arab pastry of sugar and cinnamon that has been served here for hundreds of years. Often with a Menu del Dia you may be offered just seasonal fruit, plain or sometime with a syrup. Don’t just go straight for the ice cream – freshly harvested seasonal fruit such as peaches or strawberries can be absolutely delicious. Of course, if you go to the tourist areas you can eat pretty much what you want, from paella to fish and chips or numerous Asian restaurants. However, if you want an authentic taste of Murcia try and find a well established restaurant with a local chef, often selling classic dishes for less than the eateries aimed at the tourists and some fussy expatriates.

Almost every municipality in Spain has certain major fiestas in common, the solemn Holy Week (Easter) parades and the family oriented Three Kings on 6 January (the night before the Spanish children receive their presents) are the main two. As a rule, the bigger the town the more spectacular the event but many prefer the atmosphere of the smaller fairs where you can get close to the action and follow the cavalcade around which has floats, live animals and free sweets for the kids.

Murcia is the best places to travel to in the region for major fiestas as the largest city and capital in the region, which has the biggest variety of events with the Feria de Murcia in September held in September, usually at the Plaza de Toros (bullring). It goes on over the month and has a kid’s fun fair, Moors and Christians Festival, bullfighting and bull-running and is often spread out over the city. San Javier has a lively programme of cultural events throughout the year, from February’s Drama Festival to the August Music and Dance Festival to the July Jazz Festival.  Cartagena and Lorca also have a full programme of activities, check with the local tourist board for dates, activities, bad weather alternatives etc.

There aren’t many places across Spain that don’t have an outdoor market of some type, selling a mixture of locally grown farm food (often organic even if not marked as such). Days and times vary and are subject to weather while larger towns and cities have more than one a week with cities having a market most days in different parts of the cities. Just ask at the local tourist information for up to date information. You will also find indoor markets, usually open mornings only, many with a variety of bars as well as fresh produce such as meat, fish and veg with a selection of household goods. These are usually set in ornate old buildings in the town centre and are a good way to pass a morning. Some will let you buy produce from the market and eat it at one of the bars, even cooking it for you for a small premium.