Popular Sightseeing in Murcia, Spain

Murcia is the capital city of the Spain’s Murcia region and, clearly, also the name of the region. The city of Murcia is located on the Segura River in the south-eastern part of Spain. It was built near an area of valleys surrounded by mountains, known as the market garden of Murcia. It shares the coastline with nearby Torrevieja, Spain, another popular tourist destination along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the nearby beaches, there is a lot to see and do while in Murcia such as museums, cathedrals and festivals, for example. The Museum of Science and Water is a hands-on, interactive museum. All of the displays, experiments and demonstrations center around the theme of water. Occasional shows and exhibitions also revolve around this water theme. There is also a planetarium which kids will surely enjoy. Another popular Murcia sight to visit is the Cathedral of the Dioceses of Cartegena-Murcia. This cathedral contains a combination of different architectural styles including Gothic, Renaissance, Rococo and Baroque. The majority of the construction was done between 1394 and 1465 and, ultimately, finished in 1972. The Bishop’s palace, known as the Palacia Episcopal, is located near this cathedral. It was constructed during the eighteenth century and is home to the local bishop. If you enjoy water, you will definitely not want to miss out on the beautiful beaches in the area. The climate is usually warm, sunny and perfect for an afternoon at the beach. The Mar Menor is a small sea separated from the Mediterranean Sea. Next to the river is a landscaped square called The Glorieta. This square is a great place to visit and enjoy a walk. It is also a great shopping area. As with many areas on the Costa Blanca, several festivals are held in Murcia throughout the entire year. Most festivals and celebrations correspond with religious holidays, such as Christmas, the Festival of the Three Kings, Easter and many of the Catholic holy days. The Holy Week Processions are the most famous celebrations in the city of Murcia. Museum sculptures are paraded to represent the life of Christ through to the time of the crucifixion. Candle light processions are also popular at both the daytime and night processions. Fortunately, there is an airport directly in the city providing for more convenient travel. The Murcia-San Javier airport is located approximately twenty-eight miles (45 kilometers) from Murcia. Though it is a smaller airport, most of the major carriers offer flights into Murcia from many European cities. When looking for a light, be sure to compare airfare prices for each carrier. The internet is a good place to search available flights, schedules and prices. It is a good idea to look at a few travel websites, as not all airlines are listed on all travel sites. You may also need to call some discount airlines directly to get the best deal possible. It may take some extra time, but the money saved may be worth it in the end. Robert Carlton pens predominantly for alicante-spain.com , a web publication on Spain , Torrevieja and other themes. You can learn about his contributions on Murcia at alicante-spain.com and many different sources for Murcia information.