The region of Murcia lies to the south of Valencia and is thinly populated except in the areas around the rivers. The mountains reach right down to the sea.

During the summer months the weather can be almost unbearably hot yet the winters are mild. The province of Murcia is irrigated by the Rivers Segura, Murdo and Sangonera which makes ideal conditions for the many orchards of citrus fruit. In contrast the area also has expanses of dry, arid land where olives and vines thrive, then turning to desert-like land covered in cacti and palms.

Worthy of a visit are the towns of Alhama with a splendid castle, Mula with a 15th century castle and Lorca, adorned with historical buildings and a rich history.

The province has 170km of coastline with wonderful beaches at La Manga and Aguilas. The historical city of Cartagena offers a large naval base and thriving industrial area.

The city of Murcia is described as one of the most beautiful and historic in the country. The city stands on the banks if the river and enjoys all year round sunshine. It has the highest temperatures in the region. There is a great deal of Moorish influence in the city, not least of all the impressive city walls. After the reconquest, the 20 mosques in the city were turned into churches. The Cathedral is the most highly prized building in the city. The first foundation stone was laid in 1388 by Bishop Pedrosa. It took four centuries to complete. There are so many different styles and cultures within, including 23 different chapels.

As you wander through the city, there is a monumental building on every corner. Many are in pristine condition and those that aren't are being restored to their former glory. One building worthy of a mention is the casino (pictured below). Here in the 19th century, worthy citizens would sit to be admired like fish in a goldfish bowl. The palatial interior is quite amazing.

Among the other splendid buildings to see is the Bishop's Palace located near the Cathedral. Dated 1748 it has two wonderful facades. The Convent Church of Santa Ana is 18th century and is the third church to be built on this site, the original being1490. Here you can try the freshly baked cakes, made by the nuns and served through a revolving hatch. The Church of San Miguel stands on the site of an earlier church. The 18th century church has wonderful coloured altarpieces. The Almudi dates from 1602 and was formerly the storage place for public corn collected as tithes. It was reconditioned in 1985 and now houses the art centre and city archives.

In all, Murcia has everything to offer the visitor and you can almost certainly guarantee that no matter what time of year you visit, you will be wrapped up in some kind of fiesta or celebration. You will find the people pleasant and friendly towards tourists.

One must remember that Murcia is a university city and as such has a large number of students in the city. The university building is of huge proportions and demands time to examine closely its exterior (see below) . The area around the university has a wealth of lively bars and restaurants that are truly vibrant with life.

We visited Murcia at the end of our 2000 Costa Blanca tour after calling at Elche and Lorca. We found Murcia to be one of the most beautiful cities we had ever seen. So much so that we returned in May 2002 to take a better look at the city and increase our photograph library.

Local crafts include weaving and embroidery. Some of the beautiful hand-made items take up to two weeks each to produce. (see photo left)