Murcia – Displaying Cultural Richness Away from the Coast
Murcia is a thriving university town that perches over the bank of the River Segura and is surrounded by fertile plains from all sides. Murcia is also the regional capital of Valencia.
The area was founded by the Moors way back in 825 and therefore the area can proudly boast of a truly impressive Moorish heritage and architecture that is quaint Arab style. The crystalline beaches of Costa del Sol and the Benidorm resorts makes Murcia an ideal spot for a day trip where one can sample the cultural richness of Spain away from the coast.
The main attraction of Murcia is its glorious architecture and it would be ideal to start your day here by strolling in the pedestrian streets. This area is surrounded by the main square which dates back to 18th century, the La Glorieta. The neighboring Casino is also an impressive building that is worth consideration.
This casino was founded by the gentleman’s club in the year 1847 and the interior of the building contained a vast ballroom, Moorish patio made of a stained-glass and sumptuous interiors that was decorated using crystal chandeliers. The ceiling of the casino was also adorned with a number of paintings.
The Cathedral of Murcia that was build over the remains of the main mosque in the year 1467 is a unique mismatch of different architectural styles. The two towers that date back to 16th century belong to the Baroque façade and the side chapels have a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. The museum that accompanies is also worth consideration and appreciation. You can find a Roman frieze and Gothic altarpieces on display in the museum.
The Iglesia de Jesus was a church that has been converted into a museum, displays the splendid work of the famous Francisco Salzillo, an 18 century sculptor. The Folk Museum also exhibits the domestic and agricultural detailing that has been practiced in the expanse from past 300 years. The adjoining waterwheel and motion farmhouse also detail a lot about Murcian tradition.
Murcia has a lot of chic design stores that sell sleek furniture of Catalan and Spanish designs. ‘Jarapa’ is the local crafts and the Murcian rugs that are woven using soft tufts of cotton are a must buy items from Murcia.
While in Murcia you can enjoy the great selection of Tapas Bars. Spending a evening in these bars having a serving of “pisto” – tomatoes, olives and aubergines doused in oil can make your evening. The local dessert of Murica is made of “Paparajote” — battered lemon leaves can satisfy the urge of those having a sweet tooth.
You can head to Veronicas Market for some tasty souvenirs where you can stock up on the mouth-watering Queso de Bullas and the Murcian cheese that is exclusively made from goat and cow’s milk.
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