ARCHIVED - La Floración in Cieza 2020
ARCHIVED ARTICLE 5000 hectares of peach trees burst into flower for the spring
Between approximately the 22nd February and 22nd March 2020 the municipality of Cieza in central Murcia is transformed into a sea of sweet smelling pink and white as La Floración fills the orchards surrounding this attractive, riverside town.
Cieza is one of the prettiest yet least known corners of Murcia, with a rich history of habitation, its flat fertile valleys and winding river overlooked by high craggy peaks, and the abandoned medieval Moorish city of Medina Siyasa, an area whose climate renders it perfect for stone fruit production, peaches being the crop most widely grown in this particular municipality.
La Floración is the season when hundreds of thousands of peach trees burst into blossom, filling the air with scent and creating one of the most visually stunning displays of blossom in the whole of Murcia, giving a million reasons why this is the best time of year to dust off the camera, put on a pair of good walking shoes and head to Cieza for a spot of photography and to enjoy a pleasurable day out.
The most intense blossom displays will be between the 22nd February and 22nd March this year, although the blossom can still be seen in limited quantities at the end of March, but this depends on the evolution of the weather and the different varieties grown in the various areas around the town, so contact the tourist office to see which area has the best displays if planning to visit.
An ample programme of activities are run during this period, which includes visits to the main tourist attractions of the town, guided routes, a photographic competition and a gastronomic selection of meals featuring Cieza peaches on the menu.
There are also recommended routes which can be enjoyed by visitors independently, either on foot, in a car or on a bicycle, and the tourist office in Plaza de España is happy to supply leaflets, maps or advice on potential routes. (Click for walks and routes to see a selection). These can be followed at any time of the year but are at their most spectacular during La Floración.
Tourist office: Plaza de España, Cieza, telephone 968 453 800, click Cieza tourist office to make a booking, for telephone numbers or contact via email.
Walks and guided senderismo routes to visit the blossom.
There are several companies offering guided walks in the blossom fields who will take visitors to the areas in flower at any given point. Bear in mind that there are several varieties of peach which all flower at different times and there are thousands of hectares of blossom fields spread around cieza, so the guides take visitors to the fields in flower at any given time. the packages generally range from 8 to 15 euros, some include a farmer's breakfast taken in the open air in amongst the trees or supper. There are daily walks starting in the morning or afternoon. All should be contracted directly with the companies involved. There are also options to enjoy river rafting, see the views from a hot air balloon, or via the daily tourist train.
Click here for full information about the companies running walks and activities during Floración.
For information about guided routes and trips on offer during La Floración, musical events in Cieza during this period, sporting events, the special set menus run by the restaurants in the municipality which can be booked during Floración, and cultural events during this period, contact the tourist office in the municipality. Events which are likely to be of interest to foreign visitors are listed below.
All the info in Spanish can be seen on this pdf, although a lot of basic details are missing, which leads back to the tourist office!
The reality for most foreign visitors is that a guided walk is the best option, followed by lunch out in Cieza. If you go during the week there is no problem finding a restaurant, (go during the week if you can as the tours are cheaper and less busy) the weekends are always really busy as this is a popular day out for the city dwelling Murcianos and it is virtually impossible to find a table in a restaurant if you haven´t booked one.
A trip on the tourist train is fun for those with less mobility and it is also fun to just drive through the surrounding areas and find your own views. The feed below contains recommended driving and walking routes which can be undertaken independently.
Most of the cultural activities(theatre, monologues, cultural tours) are in Spanish. The tourist office will organise cultural visits to places of interest such as the Cueva La Serreta which contains prehistoric and Roman remains or the Medina Siyasa Moorish settlement by prior arrangement for larger groups with English guides at a cost. Contact the tourist office directly for more information.
Click for further information about visiting Cieza. This includes accommodation options, places to visit and general information about the area: Click Cieza section
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See the feed below for further information La Floración.