A 1500-metre route recreates the steps followed by Penitents on the Tuesday before Easter in Jumilla The Easter Week processions and celebrations in Jumilla date back at least 600 years, placing them among the oldest in Murcia, and have been awarded..

The Casa de la Cultura Emilio Sáez in Caravaca dates from 1581 The Town Hall of Caravaca de la Cruz continues to invest in the restoration of elements of its historical and cultural heritage and the latest project to begin is that of repairs to the..

Hiking, kayaking, birdwatching and the simple joy of the countryside in Caravaca, Cehegín and Calasparra Source: ITREM The River Argos is far from being a major waterway but it is one of the natural jewels of the north-west of the Region of Murcia..

A magical history tour of Caravaca for religious and non-religious visitors alike! With Easter Week about to start and most towns and cities in the Region of Murcia about to begin an exhaustive program of Semana Santa processions blending religious..

Guided tours of the convent are available on the 15th of every month In order to cater for the huge influx of visitors during the Holy Jubilee Year of 2024 in Caravaca de la Cruz the tourism department of the Town Hall has announced that the convent..

The Jubilee in Caravaca is a culturally and socially dynamic event as well as one of great religious significance (Source: ITREM, tourist board of the Region of Murcia) When Pope John Paul II granted a Holy Jubilee Year to Caravaca de la Cruz..

A popular rural tourism destination with a prestigious musical museum on the high ground of north-western Murcia Barranda is a small village in the high ground of north-western Murcia on the RM-730 road between Caravaca de la Cruz and La Puebla de..

A chance to see the incredible embroideries of the Running of the Wine Horses up close If you’re in the Region of Murcia on May 2 then take the opportunity to witness one of the most memorable and unique fiestas to be seen anywhere in Spain and..

Up to 72 hours free motor home camping close to the city centre of Caravaca The council-run motor home and caravan park in Caravaca de la Cruz is located 2 kilometres from the RM-15 motorway alongside the RM-715 in Calle Pabellón (click for map)...

A popular walking and picnic area and home to a sleeping giant named Tomir! Peña Rubia is a vertical limestone peak in the Cerro Gordo area of mountainous terrain, surrounded by pine forest and a perfect mountain ecosystem. The escarpments reach..

A picturesque rural retreat, a popular rural tourism destination and a wealth of history shared with Caravaca The village of Archivel lies in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz between Barranda (also in Caravaca) and Campo de San Juan (in Moratalla..

The Museo de Música Étnica y Colección Carlos Blanco Fadol in Barranda The man responsible for this amazing place is a remarkable man by the name of Carlos Blanco Fadol. There are many accomplished musicians throughout the world with a passion..

Caravaca de la Cruz is a focal point for spirituality and culture during 2024 Source: ITREM, regional tourist board of Murcia, “La belleza de lo Extraordinario” It’s always a great time to visit the Region of Murcia but in 2024 that’s doubly..

Millennia of archaeological remains have been found in the picturesque mountain scenery of La Encarnación It has been said that if one place in the Region of Murcia above all others can boast archaeological remains which transcend the centuries..

The second most important place of worship in Caravaca The parish church of El Salvador in Caravaca de la Cruz (Parroquia de El Salvador) plays an important part in the Holy Jubilee celebrations which are held every seven years in the city, and is..

A harder job would be to name reasons NOT to visit Yecla and Jumilla! If you’re one of those whose knowledge of the Region of Murcia is limited to the beaches of the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, couple of local watering holes or restaurants..

The Vía Verde del Chicharra covers a distance of 31.6 kilometres The Vía Verde del Chicharra is a greenway which has been created, like many others, by making use of an old disused railway trackbed, this one running from Yecla in the north of the..

100% ecological family-run winery supporting the Ruta del Vino de Yecla Bodegas Evine is an ecological family-run winery operating under the Denominación de Origen de Yecla (D.O. Yecla) which produces small volumes of wine, the emphasis being on..

The mid-May fiestas feature folk dancing, music and the famous parade of floats made from quilled paper Every year in mid-May in Yecla, reflecting the town’s agricultural heritage, the local fiestas are celebrated in honour of San Isidro, the patron..

Caravaca and its neighbours Cehegín, Bullas, Calasparra and Bullas all offer a fascinating range of experiences to visitors The city of Caravaca de la Cruz is one of only 5 to have been awarded the status of “Holy Cities” by the Vatican and is..

Visit Caravaca and experience its extraordinary historical, cultural and spiritual heritage One of the greatest treasures in the Region of Murcia, attracting visitors interested in culture, history, nature and the Catholic faith, is in the north-west..

2024 will bring thousands of walkers to the north-west of Murcia as they hike to Caravaca As Caravaca de la Cruz prepares for its 7-yearly Holy Jubilee in 2024 and gets ready to welcome thousands of hikers and religious pilgrims there are various..

Ulea and Abanilla are also added to the itinerary as places where fragments of the True Cross are venerated As preparations continue for the Holy Jubilee Year in Caravaca de la Cruz in 2024 it has been announced that a new branch of the pilgrimage..

Icy cold springs, moonscapes, badlands and enchanted natural cities in the Costa Cálida! Far from being simply a stretch of coastline in the western Mediterranean, the Region of Murcia has a fantastically varied landscape, and the following selection..

Locations to send chills down your spine even in the heat of the Costa Cálida summer! The Region of Murcia is renowned for its sunshine, the warmth of its climate and its people, the good living and the delicious food, but even the Costa Cálida..

Half a dozen plans for a day away from the beach in the Costa Cálida! School’s almost out for summer, and thousands of families will be heading from all over Europe to the Costa Cálida for their annual dose of sun, sea and sand, but of course..

Miniature versions of Romanesque masterpieces at the church of San Francisco in Yecla Local craftsman Vicente Palao has set up this display of some of his models of masterpieces of Romanesque architecture in the exhibition space of the church of San..

Local snappers show off their talents at the Casa Municipal de la Cultura in Yecla The works submitted for the 18th annual José Martínez Ibáñez photography competition in Yecla are on display at the Casa Municipal de la Cultura (Calle España..

Fósiles Marinos del Terciario Mioceno at the Jerónimo Molina Ethnography and Natural Science Museum in Jumilla Among the many treasures housed in the Jerónimo Molina Ethnography and Natural Science Museum in Jumilla is a rare collection of fossils..

At least 600 kinds of mushroom can be found in the mountains around Cehegín! The recent rain on the higher ground and woodland in the north-west of Murcia has led to the emergence of countless mushrooms in the countryside, and in Cehegín this is..

Jumilla celebrates its agricultural wealth with a weekend of tastings and demonstrations The annual agricultural fair and show in Jumilla is being held over the weekend of November 22 to 24 with over 30 stands of displays, talks and wine tasting..

Discover the monuments and history of Moratalla in the north-west of the Region of Murcia This guided tour of the town of Moratalla, which is dominated by the medieval castle and impressive churches, begins at 11.00 on Saturday August 10 at the main..

Con Historia with the Julían Santos Music Society at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla The feast day of Santa Cecilia, the patron saint of music (as well as poetry and the blind) falls on November 22, and one of several events in Jumilla to mark the date..

Music representing a variety of cultures in the Caravaca countryside One of the new initiatives in the cultural calendar of Caravaca de la Cruz this year is the recovery of the concert cycle known as “Conciertos Sentidos”, which had not been held..

Dark humour from Zarco Teatro at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla “Páncreas” is no ordinary comedy, featuring as it does a collection fo characters who are re-living the last traffic night of their lives, but although this doesn’t sound promising..

A wide range of bargains on offer in the Parque Ginés Ibáñez in Cehegin The latest edition of the popular occasional antiques and second-hand market in Cehegín is being held on Sunday November 2024 in the Parque Ginés Ibáñez between 9.00 and..

The neo-classical portrait painter Rafael Tegeo was born in Caravaca in 1798 Rafael Tegeo Díaz was a prominent neo-classical painter, known mainly for his portraits, in the first half of the 19th century, having been born in Caravaca de la Cruz in..

The exhibition is dedicated to pioneering archaeologist Ana María Muñoz Amilibia Ana María Muñoz Amalibia was an archaeologist who was born in northern Spain but eventually accepted a post at the University of Murcia, where she remained from..

In the city of Caravaca de la Cruz the threads of religious belief and military strength are inextricably intertwined The history of the Holy City of Caravaca is characterized by two main elements: the presence of the Vera Cruz, believed by many to..

A festival of traditional dishes washed down with Jumilla wine and creative activity In recent years the annual early December Gastroarte event in La Alquería, just outside the town of Jumilla, has met with great success and has become a fixture..

A coach trip to Tentegorra followed by a rewarding climb up the Cerro de Roldán The “D’Ruta” season of hikes in the countryside continues on 1st December with a coach trip to the southern coast of Murcia, where walkers will undertake a 14.5..

The December artisan market in Bullas features traditional cheeses prepared by local experts Bullas is hosting its monthly El Zacatín artisan market on Sunday December 1 between 9.00 and 14.00 in the squares around the Plaza Vieja and Plaza del..

One of the seeds from which the post-medieval town of Yecla grew in the 16th and 17th centuries This free visit in Yecla, in the north of the Region of Murcia, traces the monuments left to the town by the Franciscan Order in centuries past, including..

Rigid tradition, the smell of gunpowder and the deafening sound of arquebus fire in the early December fiestas of Yecla There are many fiesta traditions in Spain which seem bizarre to those from elsewhere in Europe, and the Fiestas de la Virgen in..

Revisit the Middle Ages in the Holy City of Caravaca! Over the long holiday weekend of 6th to 9th December the 20th annual medieval market is being held in the old centre of Caravaca de la Cruz, specifically in Gran Vía, Calle Canalica, Calle Puentecilla..

A vibrant recycling show at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla Trash is a dynamic and energetic show featuring percussion group Toom Pak as they have some fun while inventing instruments to promote the concept of recycling, re-using household and other items..

Discover the history and landscapes of this river in the north-west of Murcia! The La Junquera association is holding this event on Saturday 7th December at the source of the River Quípar, beginning at 11.00 and ending at approximately 16.00...

Visit the Museo del Vino in Jumilla and learn about local wineries! This exhibition of artwork at the Museo del Vino can be visited until February 9 during museum opening hours (Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00, Sundays and public..

The Festival de Villancicos Colegio Cruz de Piedra at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla In recent times the annual Christmas concert by the Colegio Cruz de Piedra in Jumilla has become something of an institution, and this year the event celebrates its 21st..

A green oasis of nature and wildlife in Calasparra in northern Murcia The tourist information point of Cañaverosa in the municipality of Calasparra is located at the entrance to the astonishing Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Esperanza, alongside the..

The Vain Little Mouse at the Teatro Thuillier in Caravaca La Murga Teatro present La Ratita Presumida, the popular Spanish version of The Vain Little Mouse, a children’s tale in which the vanity of the main protagonists leads her to be seduced by..

Music representing a variety of cultures in the Caravaca countryside One of the new initiatives in the cultural calendar of Caravaca de la Cruz this year is the recovery of the concert cycle known as “Conciertos Sentidos”, which had not been held..

The back story of Willy Wonka at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla Familiar to all of us through Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka is of course the best chocolatier the world has ever seen, and this musical tells us about his past, from his..

The Asociación Musical Julián Santos at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla Jumilla’s very own version of the famous New Year’s Concert which is held in Vienna, this event is presented by the local Julián Santos music society and includes many of the..

Abraham Gallego at the Teatro Vico in Jumilla What better entertainment over the magical season of Christmas than an evening with Abraham Gallego, one of the most successful stage magicians in Spain, as he brings to the stage some of the most popular..

Some of the most demanding ascents in southern Spain are to be found in the mountains of Murcia The Region of Murcia is something of a paradise for nature lovers who enjoy exploring on two wheels, with rides ranging from the flat crop fields of the..

Calasparra is one of only three areas in Spain with Denomination of Origin status for locally grown rice Despite rice being one of the commonest foods on the planet it is a relatively rare sight to see the product being cultivated in Europe, but in..

A small agricultural village in northern Lorca on the old inland route to Andalucía La Parroquia, also known as La Parroquia de la Fuensanta and La Tova, is a small village with around 500 residents in the western part of the “Tierras Altas”..

Wednesday is market day in Cehegín: fresh fruit and veg and a range of other goods For many expats and visitors, one of the great joys of shopping in Spain is the opportunity to buy fresh products and bargain clothes in the weekly local markets..

Saturday is market day in Mula: fresh fruit and veg and a range of other goods For many expats and visitors, one of the great joys of shopping in Spain is the opportunity to buy fresh products and bargain clothes in the weekly local markets, which..

Friday is market day in Calasparra: fresh fruit and veg and a range of other goods For many expats and visitors, one of the great joys of shopping in Spain is the opportunity to buy fresh products and bargain clothes in the weekly local markets..

The main square of the old quarter of Calasparra The Plaza de la Corredera is the most important square in the town of Calasparra and is centrally located in the heart of the old quarter. It has been re-modelled several times and today contains..

Part of the Moorish battlements can still be seen at the majestic hilltop fortress of Benizar The remains of the castle of Benizar, in the north-west of Moratalla close to the boundary with the region of Castilla-La Mancha, are perched magnificently..

The figure of the patron of Calasparra is brought from her rural sanctuary into the town Every 1st May the figure of the Virgen de la Esperanza is brought down from her sanctuary outside Calasparra to the town below, where she remains until the first..

The Order of Saint John the Hospitaller in the Region of Murcia 1244-1851 The Orden de San Juan de Jerusalén is a religious order of knights known in English as the Knights of the Order of Saint John the Hospitaller, which grew from a brotherhood..

Calasparra Fiestas and Traditions Calasparra has a number of local fiestas and festivals throughout the year, intertwining its rich history with the main local traditions which define the town, namely the agricultural links of Calasparra, rice growing..

Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Esperanza, Calasparra One of the most beautiful sanctuaries in the Region of Murcia is that of the Virgen de la Esperanza in Calasparra. This little sanctuary is cut into the rock face of a sheer cliff overlooking..