Murcia (Autonomous community)

Introduction

Murcia, Cathedral

© amanecer

Murcia is one of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain. It can be found in the southeast of the country on the coast of the Mediterranean sea. The capital is the city with the same name: Murcia. The region is often overlook as a tourist destination, and even within Spain not the most popular destinations. This means that most of the region is not as overrun with tourists as other places on the Mediterranean.

Geography

Murcia borders in the north to the Valencian Community on the west to Castile-La Mancha, in the south to Andalusia and in the east to Mediterranean Sea. A lot of the region can be labeled as mountainous, with the highest peak just topping the 2000 metres mark.

Cities

• Murcia
• Cartagena

Sights and Activities

Cathedral of Murcia

The Cathedral of Murcia or in full the Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena is a mixture of styles but the facade is considered to be a baroque master-piece. The first parts were built between 1394 and 1465 in a Gothic style. The facade was added later between 1736 and 1754. Soon after that the tower was finished.

• The cities of Murcia and Cartagena.

Getting There

By Plane

The airport of Murcia (and Cartagena) is Murcia-San Javier Airport (IATA: MJV / ICAO: LELC) and is located about 25 kilometres south of the city. It has connections with Air Berlin to Palma de Mallorca, Bmibaby to Birmingham and Cardiff, Easyjet to Bristol, London-Gatwick and Newcastle. Iberia (Air Nostrum) offers connections to Barcelona and Madrid, Jetairfly flies to Charleroi in Belgium (Brussels South Charleroi Airport). Norwegian Air Shuttle flies to Bergen, Oslo-Gardermoen, Stavanger and Trondheim, and Ryanair to Birmingham, Bournemouth, Dublin, East Midlands, Glasgow-Prestwick, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool, London-Luton, London-Stansted. There are also some seasonal flights with the following companies: Jet2.com to Belfast, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle. and Monarch Airlines has flights to Birmingham, London-Gatwick, and Manchester.

Another option is to fly into Alicante International Airport, about 60 kilometres to the north in the Valencian Community.

By Train

The bigger places are linked by rail. Check the Renfe website for more information and timetables.

By Car

Murcia is connected to Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona by the A-7 in the north. The same road goes south to Granada and Málaga. The A-30 goes to the northeast. If you like to go to Madrid, you can take the A-30, change to the A-31, and than to the AP-36, or stay a bit longer on the A-31, and change to the A-3.

Sleep