Murcia
Murcia () is a city and
municipality on the river
Segura in southeastern
Spain and the
capital of the
Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. Population: 409,810 (2005); 563,272 including the
metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns), ranking as the 12th-largest metropolitan area of Spain. Since 2003 the
mayor has been Miguel Ángel Cámara Botía (
PP).
Murcia is built nearly in the centre of a low-lying fertile plain, known as the
huerta or market garden of Murcia, which includes the valleys of the
Segura and its right-hand tributary the Guadalentín (Wadalentin) or river Sangonera, and is surrounded by mountains. Despite the proximity of the sea, the climate is subject to great variations: the summer heat is severe, while frosts are occasionally experienced in the capital during the winter.
Precipitation in Murcia is scarce, with less than 200 mm (7.9 inches) registered in the recently terminated hydrological year (October 2004 to September 2005).
Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV) is located on the edge of the
Mar Menor close to the towns of San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, 45 km southeast of Murcia, about 30 minutes by car. The airport at
Alicante is frequently used by travellers to Murcia also.
Murcia was founded with the name of
Medinat Mursiya in A.D.
825 by
Abd ar-Rahman II, emir of
Al-Andalus. The Arabs, taking advantage of the course of the river Segura, created a complex network of irrigation channels that made the town prosperous and is the predecessor of the modern irrigation system. The Arab traveller
Muhammad al-Idrisi described it in the 12th century as populous and strongly fortified. After the fall of the
caliphate of Cordova, Murcia passed successively under the rule of
Almería,
Toledo and
Seville. In
1172 it was taken by the
Almohades, and from 1223 to 1243 it became the capital of an independent kingdom.
The
Castilians, led by King
Alfonso X, took it at the end of this period, when large numbers of immigrants from north
Catalonia and
Provence settled in the town;
Catalan names are still not uncommon. In 1296, Murcia and its region were transferred to the
Kingdom of Aragon, but in 1304, in virtue of the Treaty of Torrellas, it was finally incorporated into Castile.
Murcia flourished in the 18th century, mainly due to the boom of the silk industry. Many of its churches and monuments are from this period.
The town and surrounding area suffered badly from floods in 1651, 1879 and 1907, though the construction of a levee did much to keep the Segura within its own channel. A popular walkway, the Malecon, runs along the top of the levee.
Murcia was struck by an
earthquake in
1829. According to contemporary accounts, some 6,000 people died in the province.
Murcia has been the capital of the province of Murcia since
1838, and capital of the autonomous community (which includes only the province) since its creation in
1982.
The
Cathedral of the
Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia was built between 1394 and 1465 in Castilian
Gothic style. Its tower, only completed in 1792, shows a mixture of styles: the first two stories were built in
Renaissance style (1521-1546), the third one is
Baroque, and the bell pavilion has
Rococo and
Neoclassical influences. The main façade (1736-1754) is considered a masterpiece of the
Spanish Baroque style.
Other noteworthy buildings in the square in front of the Cathedral (Plaza Cardenal Belluga) are the colourful Bishops palace (18th century) and a controversial extension to the town hall, by
Rafael Moneo.
The
Glorieta, next to the Segura river, has traditionally been the center of the town. This a pleasant landscaped square, built in the 18th-century. The
Ayuntamiento (
City Hall) is located here.
Pedestrian areas cover most of the old town, centered around
Platería and
Trapería Streets. Trapería goes from the Cathedral to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, the former market square. Located in Trapería is the
Casino, a social club erected in 1847, with a sumptous interior that includes a Moorish-style patio inspired by the
Alhambra royal rooms.
Image:Murcia_Ayto.jpg|The Glorieta, with the Town Hall on the leftImage:Murcia_CathedralSquare1.jpg|Plaza Cardenal Belluga (seen from the Cathedral)Image:Murcia_CathedralSquare.jpg|Cathedral (detail)Image:Murcia-Pza_Sto_Domingo.jpg|Plaza de Santo DomingoThe
Holy Week processions in the city of Murcia are famous throughout Spain. Life-sized sculptures by
Francisco Salzillo (
1707-
1783) are taken out of museums and carried around the city in elegant processions full of flowers and, at night, candles. These finely detailed sculptures portray events leading up to and including the
crucifixion.
Possibly the most colourful celebrations are the week after Holy Week, when Murcians dress in traditional
huertano clothing to celebrate
Bando de la Huerta and, a week later, fill the streets for the
Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) parade
Murcia serves as a major producer of agricultural products; for example, it is common to find tomatoes, lettuce, and, specially,
lemons and
oranges grown in Murcia in European supermarkets.
These days, the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which many people from northern european countries have a second home in sunny Murcia.
Murcia has three universities, the
University of Murcia, founded in 1912, the Polytecnic University of
Cartagena, and the
UCAM, Universidad Católica San Antonio.
Image:Murcia_University.jpg|Old University BuildingImage:Murcia_UniversityCloister.jpg|Old University (cloister)*
Diego de Saavedra Fajardo (1584-1648), a writer and diplomat.
*
Francisco Salzillo (1707-1783), a Baroque sculptor.
*
José Moñino, conde de Floridablanca (1728-1808), a stateman, minister of King
Charles III of Spain.
*
Juan de la Cierva (1895-1936), the inventor of the
autogyro, a forerunner of the helicopter.
*
Francisco Sánchez Bautista (1925-), a poet.
*
Julián Romea (1818-1863), a theater actor.
*
Alejandro Valverde (1980-), a cyclist.
*
Luis León Sánchez Gil (1983-), a cyclist.
*
Nicolás Almagro (1985-), a tennis player.
*
Charo (1951-), a musician, actress and entertainer.
*
Ciudad de Murcia (
Spanish Second Division football (soccer) club)
*
Real Murcia (
Spanish Second Division football (soccer) club)
*
Miami,
USA*
Lecce,
Italy*
Grasse,
France*
Irapuato,
Mexico*
Murcia, Negros Occidental,
Philippines*
Murcia City Guide (from a local citizen)
*
Murcia, my hometown in Spain Marcos Campillo's personal page, with several sections and plenty of pictures
Related subject links
*
La Opinión (local newspaper)
*
La Verdad (local newspaper)
*
University of Murcia (public university)
*
Universidad Católica San Antonio (private university)
* [
1] (Information about tourism in Murcia)
*
Ayuntamiento de Murcia (the Town Hall)
*
Eastern in Murcia*
Murcia Attractions
