| Guide to Murcia | Guide to La Manga |

Costa Cálida

Tourists and homebuyers have been discovering previously unexplored parts of Spain, and one of the most popular new destinations is the Costa Cálida. Popular for its golf courses, expansive beaches and coves, untamed natural beauty, space and authentic Spanish flavour. Although investors have been attracted by the rapid rise in property prices here, homebuyers themselves are drawn by the new horizons and value for money that the region offers.

Uncluttered and free of large urban concentrations, this is a region that appeals to people who enjoy outdoor life, nature and Spanish charm, yet good communications link it conveniently to airports and a host of other modern comforts and amenities. Situated at the point where the Costa Blanca and the Costa Cálida meet is La Manga (the Sleeve), a narrow strip of land with an average width of between 100 and 800 metres that stretches out for 22 kilometres, its beaches washed by the Mediterranean on the one side and the highly saline Mar Menor on the other.

With 73 kilometres of shoreline, the Mar Menor is Europe 's largest saltwater lagoon offering a great variety of scenery and activities, ranging from thousands of flamingos to water sports and historical healing waters.

Set within typically Mediterranean scenery and protected from over-development by environmental laws, the Costa Cálida is an exciting new area that adds greatly to the choice of Spanish property and investment options.

The Mar Menor & Beaches
The Mar Menor is Europe 's largest salt water lake, though the locals prefer to call it a sea. Its name refers to the traditional denominations of the lake (the Little Sea) and the Mediterranean (the Big Sea ).

With more than 170 square kilometres (65 square miles) of shallow, warm water, it is perfect for all kinds of water sports all year round. Its warm waters welcome not only families with small children but also those looking for the soothing effect of its healing mud baths and spas.

Cartagena
This beautiful city dates back to the times of conflict between the Carthaginians and Romans and is an ancient city with a great deal of historical and, as you might expect, archaeological interest.

An easy 15 minute drive from the coast, the ancient city of Cartagena revolves around its port, which is one of the most important in Spain. At every turn, you will find evidence of its 2200 years of history, marked by the imprint of different civilisations, battles, ruins, ancient walls, castles and churches.

You could visit its numerous Roman and Byzantine ruins and its Roman theatre, its archaeological museums, or simply stroll through the city centre and marvel at its modernist architecture.

Shopping in the busy streets of its centre and its recently opened El Corte Inglés department store are a great way to complete your visit.

Murcia the Capital

The city of Murcia is described as one of the most beautiful and historic in the country. The city stands on the banks of 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 re-conquest, 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 many different styles and cultures within, including 23 different chapels.

Murcia is a welcoming and friendly city, pleasantly modern while maintaining its traditions. Its most important monument is the cathedral, which is characterised by the variety of architectural styles that overlapped during its construction (1394-1462).

The Bishop's Palace, the Casino and several churches are also well worth a visit, as are its museums and art galleries. In the town centre, you can stroll down Trapería and Platería streets, named after the cloth merchants or silversmiths who plied their trades in each. Don't miss the Romea theatre and City Hall, built in the 19th century, with pastel-coloured façades and unusual decorative features. 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. On ' Bando de la Huerta ' day, the locals put on splendid traditional costumes and spend the whole day in the streets eating and drinking. Browsing around the city's streets, you will also find good shopping in nice boutiques, as well as pleasant squares in which to relax and enjoy a drink or typical tapas at one of the many cafés, while you experience the special atmosphere of this authentically Spanish city.

Los Alcazares
Los Alcazares is the central town on the Mar Menor which features excellent infrastructure and services including a wide variety of international restaurants, grocery stores, banks, pharmacies and entertainment options.

Los Alcazares' name comes from the Arabic word ´Al Kazar´, which means ´palace´ or ´house of nobles´, buildings that were constructed by the Arabs for their holidays and relaxation. Furthermore, the Moors discovered the excellent properties of the water of the Mar Menor, which they enjoyed in the ancient Roman baths that were located there and which they reused. With the Christian repopulation, Los Alcázares became truly important as a port for fishing and trade, given its excellent strategic position.

Torre del Rame An Arab fortress which was a vigilance post on the Mar Menor coast and during the Castilian resettlement period it was redesigned to keep pirates out, who made incursions from the Mediterranean coast Except for the battlements, the fortress has hardly suffered modifications, hence maintaining the thickness of its walls and its height of 9 metres.

Hotel Balneario La Encarnacion This hotel, built in 1904, is located on the shores of the Mar Menor and has remained as the silent witness of the expansion of this municipality. The hotel features historic and famous thermal spa baths with renowned curative properties. A wonderful gourmet restaurant is also on site and is highly recommended.

Monument to the Pescador On the Espejo beach, next to the church of Asuncion, this monumental collection, cast in bronze, pays homage to the efforts made for many years and the main support of the economy of this municipality i.e.: fishery and the fisherman. The monument represents a fisherman who, on his hard day's labour, drags an empty fishnet. Behind him are the two seas which embrace Murcian coastline; the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean sea .

Sea Promenade Los Alcazares benefits from over 7 kilometres of coastline and has a lovely promenade up and down the length. Enjoy restaurants and beach chirinquitos throughout the sunny days and warm balmy nights.

Regional Park of San Pedro The salt flats of the Regional Park of San Pedro are heavily populated with flamingos, herons, storks and other migratory birds. This is one of only a few places in the world where Flamingos can get the combination of particular minerals and algae which gives them their colour.

As you walk along the block paving you will see wooden steps or walkways which lead down to the water. People use these to get to the mineral rich mud and spread it over themselves. The properties of these minerals are beneficial to the skin and help many disorders such as eczema. For those who enjoy an easy stroll, looking at different species of wild life or relaxing with a drink and a bite to eat this is a place for you to visit. The promenade, pictured left, eventually leads to a beach and the opening to the Mar Menor opposite from La Manga. With the lagoon on the one side and the salt flats on the other it is truly atmospheric.

Mazarron Mazarron has a lot of small bays, interspersed with rocky coves and small sandy beaches. The beaches and water are very clean. Beaches like Reya, Bahia, Nares or el Castellar are ideal for practising all kinds of water sports such as sailing or windsurfing. There are also unspoilt coves, like Cala Amarilla (Yellow cove) and Playa de la Grua (Crane beach). The rocky seabed with its underwater colonies makes Mazarron a special place for diving and marine pot-holing.

Calblanque Calblanque is a nature reserve that is protected by UNESCO, but which also has four beautiful sandy beaches. Because it is protected, there are particularly good facilities for bird-watching enthusiasts and hikers. There are some excellent picnic spots in the area.

Murcia Inland The inland area of Murcia is one of Spain's best kept secrets. South from Murcia the motorway takes you past the town of Alhama de Murcia with it's Moorish castle, Roman spas and beautiful church. Continue south to Totana which again has a beautiful church and an enormous market every Wednesday. Both of these small towns are on the edge of the stunning Sierra Espuna Regional Park. This area is a paradise for walkers with dedicated trails cris-crossing the mountain area which is covered in pine trees. On the southern edge of the Sierra Espuna about 7km out of Totana is the sleepy medieval village of Aledo with it's Moorish tower and church on a rocky promontory. Between Aledo and Totana is the La Santa monastery which has been restored and turned into a hotel. The church here is stunning with almost every inch painted with scenes from the bible and the gardens are a fantastic place just to relax. Further south on the motorway we arrive at Lorca.

Lorca This is a large town with a lot of history. It has been fought over several times in the wars between the Christians and the Moors. It has an excellent shopping area but is most famous for it's large fortress which dominates the town Returning to Murcia and taking the motorways inland (Westward) we discover the Ricote Valley.

Ricote Valley. This region is famous for it's unspoilt scenery with apricot and plum orchards, vineyards, olives, cereal crops and even rice growing in the fields between the mountains. This is a great area to explore all of the small villages and towns. From Murcia city westward we first arrive at Archena

Archena This is a beautiful small town with large church on the central hill. However it is most famous for it's hot springs which have been in use since Roman times.

The small town of Mula with its narrow streets is nestled beneath the castle and has some beautiful churches. The villages of Bullas and Jumilla are famous for the excellent wine from this region and contain some lovely old buildings. Further west we come to Calasparra which is famous throughout Spain for the rice that is produced nearby (reputed to be the best in Spain). The narrow streets in this small town have been pedestrianised and there are several cafes and restaurants to while away the hours. During September there is a fiesta here where the bulls are run through the streets (as at Pamplona). On the edge of Calasparra is the Sanctuary, (Santuario de Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza) which is a church and monastery built into the cliff above the Rio Segura.

Typical of this area, this beautiful spot is not on the 'tourist trail', neither is the nearby Cenajo lake where mountains drop into a lake of vivid turquoise colour (comparable to the Canadian Rockies). Westward still, we come across the typical village of Cehegin with it's beautiful church dominating the houses below. Close by and almost on the border is the town of Caravacca de la Cruz.

Caravacca de la Cruz This is one of the World's 5 holy cities (this includes locations such as Jerusalem and Rome). It is dominated by a fortress on a hill which now guards the large church at its centre. In 1232 a Christian prisoner here, converted the reigning Moorish sultan following the appearance of angels bearing a cross. The cross was lost during the recent civil war and has been replaced by one from Rome, which has inside it a remnant of the original wooden cross. This town therefore is a site of pilgrimage. It is also famous for it's week long wine horse fiesta held in May with events culminating in the racing of horses, with magnificent jewelled mantles, from the fortress to the streets below, an amazing spectacle.

Costa Calida Gastronomy
The gastronomy of the area is renowned for its simple recipes, as well as for its richness and myriad of ingredients. The typical dish of excellence is the Caldero, originally seafarer's dish, made with an assortment of fish, and whose fish stock is used to prepare a wonderful rice dish. Succulent fish such as gilthead, mullet and of course, the Mar Menor prawns. Additional salted fish serve as wonderful appetizers including roe, tuna loin and bacalao.

Known as the Huerta de Europe (market garden of Europe), the area's vegetables and fruit are famous for their rich flavour and colour. Various types of plump tomatoes, peppers, olives, lemons, almonds, artichokes and saffron are grown all year round in sunny valleys and on fertile coastal plains. Add fresh fish, seafood and meat, season generously with Roman and Moorish influence and the result is simply scrumptious.