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Located at the South-East
corner of the Iberian Peninsula, between the
regions of, Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha and
Valencia, the region of Murcia was the site of
powerful Carthaginian and roman settlements in
the antiquity, while the long presence of the
Moors determined its history throughout the
Middle Ages. Famous today for its excellent
fruit and vegetables, its coast is another major
Spanish tourist zone.
Its capital, the city of Murcia, was founded by
Abderraman II in 825. In the 19th century
it was an emerging place and Capital City, with
an important court of artists and scientists.
Many buildings, the city’s defensive wall and
the irrigation system in the Huerta have all
been conserved form those times. Murcia was the
capital of the kingdom and the current structure
of the city and the layout of the streets are
the result of her Moorish heritage. From the
second half of the 13th century the city enjoyed
a time of great splendour. The King Alfonso X
the Wise, who spent long periods of time in
Murcia, established the socio- economic bases of
the municipally. It was in the 18th
century that the city became truly splendid and
it is known as the Murcian Golden Age. During
this time, great urban and administrative
changes took place.
In the last decades of the 20th century, the
city, with its solid political and socio-
economic base, saw a spectacular growth and
renovation of its streets.
With such a history this city offers
a huge amount of interesting places to visit.
Certainly amongst the famous visiting points for
any traveller is the Cathedral de Santa Maria.
Finished in the 15th century, the cathedral is
the most impressive monument of Murcia and is
located at the plaza del Cardinal Belluga. Right
outside the Cathedral you will find the city
hall and the Palacia Episcopal, the residency of
the Bishop of Murcia. The variety of museums,
from the archaeological to the museum for water
systems, to the museo de Bellas Artes which
shows art from Ballester and Goya amongst
others, are also worth visiting. The Casino,
part of the city's social life, with its
lovely library, the hidden secrets of the
Ladie´s Powder Room, a magnificent Moorish patio
designed by Manuel Castaños and a splendid
Neobaroque Ballroom, should also be visited |
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