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Spanish culture at its best

Katie Storey
14/ 7/2008

LOCATED less than 10 kilometres from the mediterranean coast is the fiercely Spanish city of Murcia.

Steeped in history from the Roman period producing elaborate architecture, Murcia encapsulates Spanish culture and city living.

The city boasts 315 sunny days each year with temperatures rising from 16 to 35 degrees during the summer months.

Amidst the pastel walls and paved streets are a collection of communal squares littered with authentic tapas bars offering tastes to suit every pallet. From fresh seafood, with delicacies including seasoned squid alongside vivid selections of mediterranean vegetables teamed with warm bread and washed down with sangria.

Food is bought locally from the Veronica‘s indoor market situated in Plano de San Francisco where oversized fruit and vegetables grown in the hot Spanish sun are on sale alongside traditional salted fish produced using techniques from the Roman area, delicate spices and the catch of the day, which has been known to weigh over 70kg.

Listed as one of only five holy cities in the world, the centre piece of Murcia is its gothic cathedral, built between the 14th and 15th centuries, which remains a important part of life for locals.

Facing the Cathedral is the newest section of the Town Hall, built by architect Alberto Noguerol after winning a competition run by Murcia City Council. The Town Hall’s asymmetric pillars, sharp angular features and oversized windows provide a stark contrast to the elaborate patterns and images embedded in the Cathedral representing the two pillars of law, religious and civic alongside each other.

Stylish and quirky

Rivaling Barcelona in the style stakes, Murcia offers an abundance of stylish and quirky, but also designer labels and high street fashion exploring catwalk couture with a Spanish twist.

Moving away from the city centre the resort boasts a host of leisure facilities for people seeking adventure or just merely relaxation.

Mar Menor has reserved a place in the natural history books, visited by underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau who helped to conserve the area's immense population of seahorses. Concealed in the Continental Shelf is a diverse underwater habitat swarming with sea-life from tiny fish to huge sperm whales.

Creating a path out to sea and leaving a trail destruction are The Mar Mayor, a trio of islands with the infamous Isla Hormigas lurking beneath the sea level notorious for causing thousands of shipwrecks.  The legacy of these deep sea tragedies lives on with divers travelling from around the world each year to visit the underwater monuments.

Preferring to stay above the water level visitors to the resort of La Manga can try a selection of watersports including water skiing, sailing and windsurfing on the private beach of the Hotel Cavanna.

With calm, warm waters merely a few feet deep swayed by a mild sea breeze both children and adults can learn to refine their skills in safety.

Moving inland there is quieter pace of life in Mazarrón featuring the Sensol resort with the 18 hole Camposol golf course providing an opportunity to perfect your swing in scenic surroundings.
Overlooking the golf course is the four-star Sensol Hotel, which has a stylish and modern layout with a bar, gym, outdoor swimming pools and newly opened spa. Based on the five elements, fire, water, metal, earth and air, the spa is the ultimate way to relax.

The city of Murcia is a hidden Spanish treasure, merging elements of metropolitan city living with religious and historic roots exposed in striking architecture and an unspoilt landscape.

FACTBOX:

• Flights to Murcia depart from Manchester airport during the summer months and Leeds-Bradford airport all year round; and are available from Jet2holidays.
• For more information about the resorts and accommodation featured visit: www.jet2holidays.com or call 0871 386 0000; or for flights visit www.jet2.com .
• Tourist information is also available from the Murcia Tourist Board at www.murciaturistica.es .