Spanish Property Murcia - Cartagena - Towns and Maps

Middle Segura Valley

The city of Murcia is little visited by tourists, despite its proximity to the coast. If you do venture there you will find it is a fascinating city with a colourful past, superb architecture and a thriving university scene. Situated in the lush and fertile Segura valley, the area around Murcia has some lovely countryside and untouched Spanish towns.

Murcia
Built on the banks of Rio Segura, Murcia was founded in 825 as an Islamic town. Irrigated by the Segura River, Murcia is situated in the heart of a rich and fertile plain. The city itself has some remarkable features worth visiting. The old quarter consists of a labyrinth of narrow streets that weave their way around the old cathedral. The Cathedral dates back to the 14th century and took 4 centuries to complete. The result is a combination of gothic and renaissance architecture with a magnificent baroque facade. Remains of the Moorish wall that previously enclosed and protected the city are still visible. The wall originally measured 15m in height and had 95 towers. From the 16th century onwards, Murcia began to grow beyond the city walls and a number of baroque churches from this period exist in the city. Wandering through the city you will find a plethora of interesting and monumental buildings almost everywhere. Of particular note is the fantastic 19th century Casino with an ornate exterior and an amazing interior. The 18th century Bishop’s Palace, near the cathedral is also worth a visit, with its 2 intricate facades. Perhaps the most attractive part of Murcia can be found on the banks of the Segura itself, which offers excellent views of the city. There are numerous museums in Murcia, including the Archaeological museum, the Fine Arts Museum and the Salzillo Museum which displays examples of the images created by the artist for Murcia’s Easter procession. The agricultural lands around Murcia are used to grow a variety of fresh produce for both the domestic market and for export to the rest of Europe, earning Murcia the name of “La Huerta de Europa” – the Market Garden of Europe. Murcia is a flourishing modern city. It has a large university campus that attracts both national and foreign students and as such, a thriving nightlife scene.
Murcia has a population of 320,000.
It is well connected by rail to the rest of Spain by the national RENFE station.
A number of main roads run through and round Murcia, fast motorways. connecting it with Almeria, Alicante and Valencia.
Murcia’s airport is at San Javier, 25km outside the city.
Altorreal Golf Club is 10km outside the city.

7km west of Murcia is the town of Alcantarilla with a population of 44,000 and 18km to the east, the town of Beniel lies right on the border of the province. It is located in an agricultural area and has a population of 7800.

Fortuna
Fortuna is a spa town to the northeast of Murcia near the border of the province. Famous for its hot springs which were greatly appreciated by the Romans, Fortuna is becoming popular once again as the town becomes an important centre for hydrotherapy, beauty treatments and other therapies associated with the natural hot mineral water. Fortuna is a typical Spanish town, as yet unexploited, with peaceful streets and a white church with a curious tower. For country lovers, to the south of Fortuna, there is a large lake, enclosed in a nature preservation area and surrounded by woods, ideal for walking or fishing.
The village of Abanilla with a population of 7000 is a few kilometres west of Fortuna.
Fortuna has a population of 6200.
It is 45km to the coast from Fortuna.
Murcia is 18km away.
San Javier airport is 38km from Fortuna, Alicante airport is 60km away.
Altorreal Golf Club is 10km the other side of Murcia.

Middle Segura Valley - Maps and Towns - Costa Calida - Southern Spain

Zones of Murcia Province - Start your property search in the Middle Segura area