During the 1700s and 1800s, Murcia, a city in eastern Spain, experienced a significant economic boom that led to the creation of stunning pieces of baroque art and architecture. To fully appreciate Murcia’s rich culture, you must visit monuments such as the cathedral and the sculptures crafted by Francisco Salzillo.
You can also delve further into the city’s past to discover traces of its Moorish roots that are intricately woven into various buildings throughout Murcia. These fascinating artifacts are on display at the city’s Archaeological Museum.
In the evenings, head to the old city center’s plazas with friends or loved ones for a fun night of sampling stand-up tapas.
The Cathedral of Murcia
The Cathedral of Murcia is a beautiful combination of various architectural styles. However, the stunning baroque additions from the 17th and 18th centuries are what truly capture the attention. The grand baroque facade on Plaza del Cardenal Belluga is awe-inspiring, with bold columns and a beautiful sculpture of the Virgin Mary with an archangel above the main entrance.
Once inside, you’ll pass numerous lavish chapels, but make sure to seek out the tomb of King Alfonso X of Castile. And don’t forget to visit the bell tower, which, at 93 meters, is the second-tallest in Spain (behind Seville’s Giralda) and took over 250 years to complete. When it was finished in 1793, it had a fusion of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles.
Salzillo Museum
Another must-see in Murcia is the Salzillo Museum, particularly during Easter Week. The pasos (floats) carried in the city’s parades were sculpted by the renowned Murcian artist Francisco Salzillo in the 18th century, and his stunning baroque style is on full display in this museum. You’ll see many of the pieces he designed for Semana Santa, and learn about the baroque movement in Murcia during a time when the city was becoming prosperous from the silk trade. The sculpture here reflects a sense of confidence, with opulent, gilded Easter Passion scenes full of drama commissioned by Christian brotherhoods and churches. Don’t miss Salzillo’s impressive nativity scene, which features a large cast of miniature characters.
Real Casino de Murcia
The Real Casino de Murcia is a gentlemen’s club with a very eclectic design. Construction began in the mid-19th century but wasn’t completed for another 60 years. Although it is still a private club, you can book a tour and explore the wonderfully plush interiors. The exterior is grand, but the interiors are even more impressive. The billiard room, for example, has Moorish leanings with a geometric, coffered ceiling, and the courtyard has a two-story gallery modeled on Andalusia’s great palaces. The ballroom is opulently designed in rococo style, with a ceiling fresco portraying Murcia’s most famous cultural figures, like Francisco Salzillo.
Plaza de las Flores
Plaza de las Flores is a lovely square in the city, located a short distance west of the cathedral. The square is named after the florists that still do business here today. The townhouses surrounding the square are from the late-19th and early-20th century, such as the beautiful art nouveau building, Edificio de Tejidos Abad, with its white, square window bays. Drop by in the morning to sit at a café table and read the paper, or in the evening for a beer and tapas at one of the bars.
Santa Clara la Real Convent Museum
Located in the heart of Murcia on Gran Vía Alfonso X el Sabio, this historic convent is still functioning, but a quarter of the complex is open to visitors, providing an insight into the exquisite and captivating surroundings. The convent was erected in the 1300s, replacing Murcia’s Moorish Alcazar (fortress palace), and features numerous Arab embellishments, such as horseshoe arches, integrated into the convent’s design. The museum showcases the convent’s masterfully crafted wood and plaster decorations.
Floridablanca Garden
To escape the extreme summer heat in Murcia, visitors can cross the Puente Viejo to the other side of the Segura River and find refuge in this peaceful haven. Floridablanca Garden is the city’s oldest public park, established in the mid-19th century, transforming what was once a countryside promenade on the river’s right bank. The park has manicured paths, flower beds, and pavilions where visitors can relax and escape the sun. It was one of Spain’s first projects of this kind, and the park’s most extensive trees are the old ficuses, which have buttress roots that dominate the surrounding areas.
Monteagudo Castle
Standing outside the northeastern suburbs of the city is a towering limestone mountain that reaches a height of 149 meters. At the top of the castle walls, you’ll notice a large statue of Christ, which was erected in the 1950s to replace the previous one that was destroyed in the Civil War. The castle itself dates back to the 800s and was used as a strategic defence by the Moorish Taifa of Murcia for 250 years. The granaries within the castle were designed to be cavernous so that the castle could withstand long sieges. After the Moors were defeated, the Castilian King Alfons X used the castle as his residence in Murcia.
Plaza del Cardenal Belluga
Take a moment to appreciate some of Murcia’s finest monuments on this square. As previously mentioned, the cathedral facade is a marvel and is definitely worth a closer look. You’ll also find Murcia’s town hall, a mid-19th-century neoclassical building with a modern annex designed by Rafael Moneo in 1998, which contrasts with the ornate architecture around it. Lastly, there’s the 18th-century rococo Episcopal Palace, built to complement the baroque additions to the cathedral’s exterior.
Murcia Archaeological Museum
While it may not be a top tourist destination, the Murcia Archaeological Museum is a must-see for history enthusiasts. The museum showcases over 2,000 archaeological sites from the Murcian region, including Roman and Moorish heritage, as well as discoveries from the Bronze and Iron Age Iberian cultures. These cultures were influenced by trade with the Phoenicians and Etruscans, which is evident in the bold designs on the ceramics from this time period. One of the most notable exhibits is the León de Coy, a marvelous, almost abstract, lion sculpture found at a 4th-century BC necropolis.
Almudí Palace
Completed in 1629, the Almudí Palace is a stunning grain exchange building located on the site of a previous structure that had burned down. During this era, the silk industry brought great wealth to the local economy, and the palace is a testament to that prosperity. Before entering the building, take a moment to admire the large relief of the Habsburg coat of arms, flanked by two smaller emblems representing the city of Murcia. Inside, you’ll find a beautiful Tuscan-style hall with rows of columns supporting broad arches. This elegant space is used for temporary art exhibitions.
Terra Natura Murcia
This zoo has earned much praise for its humane approach and has several branches across Spain. At Terra Natura, enclosures are designed to resemble the animals’ natural habitats, with over 500 trees and shrubs planted throughout the park. With over 300 animals from 50 different species, the zoo houses endangered creatures like the European lynx, brown bear, and Iberian wolf, as well as exotic animals such as hippos, lions, giraffes, white rhinos, and a variety of birds and reptiles.
Semana Santa and Bando de la Huerta
During Easter time, you can experience a crash course in Murcian culture. The world-famous marches by Christian brotherhoods carrying the Salzillo-designed sculptures are a highlight of the event, earning international tourist interest in Spain. Following the solemnity of Holy Week, the city transforms into a day of fun and levity with Bando de la Huerta, Murcia’s one-day spring festival. Most of the city dresses in Murcian folk costume for the main parade, where horses, donkeys, ox-drawn carts, and large papier-mâché figures (gigantes and cabezudos) depart from the Don Juan Manuel neighborhood and travel through the city center. Food stands provide free sandwiches and Murcian blood sausage to the crowds.
Costa Cálida and Costa Blanca
With the Mediterranean Sea just 50 kilometers away, you can reach a beautiful beach in less than an hour from Murcia. Heading directly east from the city on the RM-1 will take you to the peaceful beach towns on the southern end of the Costa Blanca. Torre de la Horadada offers two sandy Blue Flag beaches, as well as chiringuitos (beach bars) to grab a bite when you get hungry. If you’re looking for more action, the Mar Menor inland lagoon just a few kilometers south is a major destination for water sports, and the mud at Las Charcas on the north shore is said to have medicinal properties.
Carrascoy and El Valle Regional Park
For a breath of fresh air and countryside, Murcians don’t have to go far. A large Natural Park is only six kilometers from the southern outskirts of the city. One of the easiest trips is to the Santuario de la Fuensanta, on a hill in the foothills of the range, which provides a picturesque view of the city. You’ll notice it by its twin white baroque towers. Behind it lies a world of mountain scenery to explore: the park’s trails are lined with wild herbs such as thyme and rosemary, and weave through forests of Aleppo pine and kermes oak.
Mercado de Verónicas
Murcia’s central market is just a short distance from the Almudí Palace. If you’re staying in a holiday apartment in the city, this is the place to do your grocery shopping. To make it more authentic, you can look for some of Murcia’s “Denominación de Origen” ingredients, such as Calasparra rice, a plump variety that goes well in stews and soups. Paprika, a key ingredient in many Spanish dishes, is grown in the Murcian countryside, while the local cheese is made from goat’s milk and cured. A significant portion of Spain’s fruits and vegetables are also grown in the Murcia region, so you can count on fresh produce at the 116 stalls in this food lover’s paradise.
