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Murcia Attractions
Cathedral
Murcia Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary in Murcia to give it its proper name, is one of the city’s outstanding landmarks and can be seen from miles around. Work on the building began in the late 14th century and while it was officially completed in 1467 additions were made until the 18th century and so the cathedral brings together a number of different architectural styles from throughout the ages. The cathedral has a 96-metre tall bell tower with 25 different bells in which have been used to draw attention to floods, wars, festivals and other celebrations over the years.
Bishop’s Palace
Plaza Cardenal Belluga
Murcia
Situated next to the cathedral in Cardenal Belluga Square the Bishop’s Palace has a fascinating design. The palace was built in the 18th century and it is thought that Bishop Mateo wanted a place to live where he could look out at the impressive nearby cathedral. It is also known as the Martillo Palace and has clear parallels with Roman structures of the same period.
Salzillo Museum
Plaza de San Agustin,
Murcia 30005
The museum contains a number of life-size sculptures made by Francisco Salzillo, an 18th century Murcian sculptor. The figures are polychrome and are brought out of the museum each year to be carried through the city’s streets during the Holy Week celebrations as they depict the last days before Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.
Monteagudo Castle
Monteagudo
The Castle is situated five kilometres outside Murcia on a hilltop of calcareous rock overlooking the Huerta valley. The castle, used mainly for fortification purposes in the past, is 149 metres high and covers a diameter of 400 metres and so is a dominating structure. It came out of the period of Muslim rule in the country and has been used for recreational purposes as well as a defence mechanism.
Church of Santa Ana
The church of Santa Ana proves a popular place to visit for tourists. It is home to nuns who bake cakes and sell them to the public but only through a revolving serving hatch so that they might keep their vow by not making contact with the outside world.
Romea Theatre
Julián Romea Square
Named after famous Murcia actor Julian Romea the theatre was opened in 1862 and was known as the princes’ theatre. It became known in its current form when the actor died in 1868; the surrounding square was also named after him too. The building is made up of Neo-classical and modernist inspiration and features busts of the great musicians Beethoven, Mozart and Listz.
The Casino
Francisco Bolarin designed and built the old part of the casino back in 1852 and it has become a structure of much importance in the city. It is well-liked by a number of Murcians and brings together a mixture of architectural styles throughout its various rooms, corridors and halls.
El Bando de la Huerta
El Bando de la Huerta is the joyous and colourful Murcian parade that grips the city on the Tuesday following Easter Sunday. The festival sees a celebration of Murcian custom, food and dress and sparks a period of Spring Fiestas.