15 essentials: what to see and do in Murcia city in 1 or 2 days

There are cities of Spain whose attractions we have all heard about, and we have also visited them several times, but the truth is that there are others that are largely unknown.

In my case that happened with the Murcia city until my recent getaway to experience the atmosphere of its unique Holy Week processions.

In fact, I will tell you that this lack of knowledge is common even among journalists and bloggers travel.

Luckily, before embarking on the trip to Murcia, my best friend, Bill, who regularly visits this city for work, already told me about some of its attractions.

The aforementioned getaway allowed me to discover its very interesting processions, among which stand those of the Coloraos y the Salzillos, but now I can also talk to you properly about the attractions that you will find when making a getaway to Murcia.

Curiosities of the history of Murcia

At the outset you should know that Murcia It was founded in the year 825 by the Arabs, who decided to establish a settlement next to the river Segura with the construction of a citadel by the army of Abderraman II.

Later, in the 95th century, a walled medina with XNUMX towers was built, until the King Alfonso conquered it and this area of ​​the current Murcia It became a border land during the war between Muslims and Christians.

Finally, during the 16th century the wall began to disappear, of which hardly any remains remain.

Specifically, you can still see a short stretch of wall in the open air in front of the Veronicas market, which is endorsed on the walls of the Veronicas Convent, now dedicated to a exhibition center.

And it should also be noted that the city is located in the so-called region of the Orchard of Murcia, a very fertile area with great agricultural activity that marks the economic boom of the region.

What to see and do when visiting Murcia tourism city

Yes, for you Murcia It is a great unknown, then I am going to give you good reasons to take a tourist getaway to Murcia, with the most notable places to visit.

Contrary to what you may think (and I thought before I met her), Murcia is a very easy city to visit.

Although in the population ranking of Spain it is the seventh city with the most inhabitants, the truth is that the area to visit in its historic center is really contained.

This is explained because the municipality of Murcia It incorporates numerous surrounding towns, so that in practice you find yourself in the countryside, in the middle of an orchard... and you are still in the city of Murcia.

What's more, the area to visit during a tourist getaway is concentrated in the urban core that corresponds to the limits of the old walled city.

Cardenal Belluga Square in Murcia

Thus, your walk will focus on a route that starts next to the river, in the roundabout square, Where is he Town hall, neoclassical building with stuccoed façade.

Passing through the Cardinal Belluga Square, where are the cathedral and archiepiscopal palace. you arrive at the main axis of the pedestrian zone in the center of Murcia, the Traperia Street, in which the Royal Casino.

Plaza de Santo Domingo in Murcia

From there you will reach the Santo Domingo square, the true heart of city life, where the market was historically held during the Middle Ages.

In this central square until a few months ago you could see an impressive ficus planted 120 years ago, which fell after a storm.

There you will be next to the Julian Romea Square where the Rome Theater, inaugurated in 1862, and very close to the Convento de Santa Clara.

In parallel to the Traperia Street you have the Gran Vía, the avenue that once broke the urban configuration that came from the Middle Ages.

Plazas de las Flores and Santa Catalina in Murcia

Near the Gran Vía The restaurant and tapas area extends, its main corners being the flower squares y Santa Catalina and its surroundings.

Likewise, during your walk through the center of Murcia you will be able to see palatial buildings, such as the Almudi palace from the 17th century, compared to the aforementioned Veronicas market.

Also stately homes, such as the current headquarters of the Ramón Gayá museum in ancient Paralea House from the 19th century, which you can see in the aforementioned Santa Catalina square.

Segura River in Murcia

Murcia It is a city that is currently opening up to river Segura.

This is a river that centuries ago had numerous meanders, but its route has had several modifications, so that today it is more rectilinear,

On the other hand, this increased the danger of floods, and in fact, the floods caused by the river have marked a good part of the city's history.

The dirtiness of its waters has also been a characteristic of the passage of the river Segura by Murcia, which historically meant that the city lived behind it.

After a process of water sanitation carried out in recent years, little by little the river is becoming a meeting point, and now you can even row a boat thanks to the new service that is being offered.

Old Bridge in Murcia

In this respect, the most charismatic corner of the Segura en Murcia is old Bridge.

From the 18th century, it replaced an old wooden bridge that was washed away by a flood, which was known as the Bridge of Dangers, precisely because of the risk that crossing it could entail.

As a curiosity, in front of the bridge, on the shore of the Carmen neighborhood, you can see a niche where the image of the Virgin of Dangers, whose protection was usually requested by those who crossed the river.

Murcia Cathedral

If there is a monument that is worth a trip just to see it, weekend to Murcia, that's your great cathedral.

If you arrive at this Levantine city by road, as you approach it you will see from afar its enormous Renaissance tower that was built in several phases.

Located in the center Cardinal Belluga Square, on the site of the great mosque of the original Muslim Murcia, there you can see the impressive baroque facade of the cathedral of Murcia.

For its part, inside what stands out above all is what is known as chapel of the Vélez.

From the time of the Catholic kings, the combination of style will catch your attention flamboyant gothic with the manuelino coming from Portugal, with influence of the Alhambra of Granada in the roof.

Also noteworthy are the 4.000th century Gothic grilles that separate the main altar, and the enormous XNUMXth century choir with XNUMX pipes and four keyboards.

Royal Casino of Murcia

A pleasant surprise that you will get during your walk through the historic center of Murcia It is the building of Royal Casino.

It is a cultural casino (not a gambling one) that began to be built in 1849, and that during the following decades it annexed various buildings whose decoration is a sample of eclectic architecture.

During your visit to the Murcia Casino They will draw your attention especially Arabic courtyard of the entrance, the great Dance room French style, as well as the Great Gallery that connects the various dependencies.

Santa Clara Convent Museum

Another surprising corner in the center of Murcia is the Santa Clara museum located in a cloistered nunnery.

The building has its origins in an old arabic palace from the 12th century, which later became Alcázar of the Christian kings, to finally become a convent of the Poor Clare nuns in 1365, which has remained to this day.

I can tell you that its central patio is a corner of backwater, with a garden and pond in a way that takes you to the Middle Ages.

Now it houses a museum where you can see a sample of sacred art, as well as some pictorial remains from the Arab era, with a curious figurative style.

Salzillo Museum in Murcia

As I have mentioned, one of the most notable processions of the Holy Week in Murcia is known as the Salzillos, which takes place on the morning of the big day which is the Good Friday.

This name is due to the fact that on the occasion of it the famous carvings of imagery that the Murcian baroque artist took to the streets Francisco Salzillo performed in his day for the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno.

The rest of the year you can see these works exhibited in the Salzillo museum, and specifically in the building of the church of jesus.

Where to eat and go for tapas in Murcia

In the middle of the Murcian orchard, also known as orchard of europe, it should not surprise you that the gastronomy occupy a prominent place in a getaway to Murcia.

Veronicas Market in Murcia

A walk through the aforementioned Veronicas market Located next to the river, it will allow you to verify the high quality of the vegetables, among which it is worth highlighting the tomatoes that are advertised as “the real raff“, which I assure you does taste like tomatoes.

During your stay in Murcia, whether in restaurants or tapas bars, you cannot stop eating the delicious Murcian rice, in its rabbit and vegetable varieties.

But you should also try specialties such as the sailor (bread donut with Russian salad and an ancho), the horses (battered and fried peeled ranges), the zarangollo (some scrambled eggs with zucchini, potato and onion) and the meatloaf.

and the places where to eat and go for tapas, I recommend the cathedral area, the adjacent ones flower squares and Santa Catalina, and the squares of Santo Domingo and Julian Romea.

Now if you feel like it discover Murcia?

Map: how to get to Murcia

La Murcia city It is located 80 kilometers from Alicante airport and 400 kilometers southeast of Madrid, from where you can get there in three and a half hours, both by car and by train.