A historic town in the captivating countryside of northern Murcia with unique gastronomic, wine-making and fiesta traditions!

Yecla is the northernmost municipality of the Region of Murcia, and its inland location means that it is often lower down the list of places to visit for those spending some time in the Costa Cálida, but there are plenty of reasons to consider an excursion to this part of the world, whether for a day or a weekend.

Firstly, it’s not as far away as it used to be! That’s not to say that it has moved in terms of geographical location, but the completion of new motorways means that it is now on the fastest route by road between Murcia and Valencia, and can be reached by car from the regional capital in just an hour.

On top of that, though, there’s so much to see and enjoy there! It’s quite a change from the lower-lying and more coastal parts of Murcia, with palm trees and cacti replaced by pines and spruces, almonds and lemons giving way to vineyards and orchards, and the sky somehow seems bigger on the high plain of the Altiplano, with the mountains merely magnifying the effect.

Yecla is also a thriving town, best known for its fine wines and its prominence in the furniture industry (stemming from the historical availability of high-quality timber from the nearby forests), and now has a population of well over 35,000. This leads to there being a large number of attractions for a wide range of visitors, and the following are just a few suggested by the regional tourist board (ITREM) and the local tourist office of Yecla.

1. Discover the historic old centre of Yecla

Why not begin your day in the Plaza Mayor, at the higher end of the town, where you’ll find beautiful buildings representing the historical development of the town. These include the Town Hall itself, the Renaissance buildings of the Palacio de los Alarcos and the Concejo, and the old “pósito” (granary and cereals distribution building) as well as the Iglesia Viejo, just a one-minute walk away, with its fascinating and iconic bell tower.

Not far away is the Basílica de la Purísima Concepción, a neo-classical church whose blue and White tiled dome is perhaps the most instantly recognizable sight in the town. Work on the building began in 1775 and was not completed until 1868, and the original plans did not include the distinctive colouring of the dome!

Other religious buildings of note include the Modernist church of El Niño Jesús, and for more history you can visit the Cayetano de Mergelina archaeological museum, which contains exhibits dating from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, or even the Roman villa site of Los Torrejones.

It’s also worth stopping off in the Parque de la Constitución, which was built as long ago as 1967 and is still the most notable public garden in the town, having undergone various re-designs over the last 160 years.

2. Try the hearty local cuisine!

Yecla is in the heart of wine-growing country, with its Denomination of Origin wines mostly produced using the characteristic Monastrell strain of grape, and at one of the best-known wineries in the area, that of Bodegas Barahonda, is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the north of Murcia. The dishes at Restaurante Barahonda are a blend of technical excellence, local produce and, above all, great respect for tradition, and the tasting menu is guaranteed to leave a wonderful taste in the mouth and create special memories of your visit.

On the other hand, if you prefer something a little less refined (and probably slightly more affordable), you really should try some of the local specialities such as gachasmigas, the local migas “ruleras”, gazpachos yeclanos (nothing to do with the gazpacho you’re probably more familiar with!), the “pelota” chicken or turkey meatballs in delicious broth, the handmade goat cheeses, the delicious meat products and everything else which has made the locals such resilient folk over the centuries – and don’t forget to wash it down with a glass or two of D.O. Yecla wine!

3. Wineries

Of course, while you’re in the area you might want to book a guided visit to one of the wineries affiliated to the Yecla Wine Route, seeing all aspects of production from the vineyards themselves to picking, maceration, maturing, bottling and, of course, tasting!

4. Hiking and rural tourism

After lunch, take to the great outdoors and discover the beauty of the Yecla countryside! One of the most popular locations for a good hike is the mystical mountain of Monte Arabí, with its surprising rock formations eroded by wind and water over the millennia, its prehistoric rock art (which forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site), its mysterious bowl-like carvings in the rock surface (are they natural or were they created by the cave dwellers 10,000 years ago??) and the fabulous views out over the surrounding countryside.

Alternatively, take a walk or a bike ride along the flat path of the “Chicharra” greenway, which heads along an old railway track bed towards the province of Alicante – a perfect route for families to enjoy the fresh air!

And even closer to the town centre, there’s the Yecla Valora route on the castle hill, a series of wooden walkways and viewing platforms providing great views over the historic old town. This is highly popular among the locals, who know how to appreciate their town like no-one else!

5. The annual December fiestas

In 2025 the Fiestas de la Virgen in Yecla were awarded International Tourist Interest status in recognition of their unique traditions and the fervour with which the traditional ceremonies and celebrations are observed. The most surprising feature of the processions is the constant firing of ancient arquebuses (a kind of gun dating from the 15^th and 16^th centuries), and if you decide to go along be warned – earplugs are essential!

But even if your visit doesn’t coincide with the fiestas, you can always visit the Museo Mariano on the castle hill above the town and see the weapons, the costumes and video presentations, just to see what all the fuss is about!

While you’re at the museum, you can also see the remains of the 11^th- to 14^th-century Moorish castle (Hisn Yakka) itself – there’s not much of it left, but the Town Hall has just announced a million-euro investment to make the ruins more visible and to allow visitors to understand the importance of the fortification in early medieval times.

 

All in all, there’s probably too much in Yecla to enjoy it all in just one day, so why not stay the night in one of the many hotel and rural accommodation options available!

For further information don’t hesitate to contact the local tourist office (email turismo@yecla.es)!

 

Sources: ITREM, Town Hall of Yecla

article_detail