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ARCHIVED - October 1 Wine bus trip to the town and a leading bodega in Yecla

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The trip includes guided tours of Yecla and Bodegas Barahonda as well as lunch

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - October 1 Wine bus trip to the town and a leading bodega in Yecla Wine production is one of the pillars of the economy in northern and north-western Murcia and in recent years wine tourism has become a popular addition to the attractions of these areas, as more and more “bodegas” specialise not only in growing grapes and making wine but also in offering fascinating guided tours of their vineyards and wineries as well as wine tasting sessions.

At the same time, of course, a visit to the main production locations also provides an opportunity to see the towns themselves, and with this in mind the regional tourist board is resuming its Wine Bus service this autumn, organizing coach trips to visit some of the best wineries (and try the best wines) that Murcia has to offer.

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - October 1 Wine bus trip to the town and a leading bodega in Yecla An added benefit of these coach trips, of course, is that visitors do not need a designated driver!

The coach trips during the autumn are to the Wine Routes of Jumilla, Bullas and Yecla. In all three of these areas Denomination of Origin status has been awarded, and the trips depart from Cartagena and the city of Murcia.

The trip to Yecla on October 1 leaves from the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Cartagena at 8.00 and the Plaza Circular (at the bus stop outside Mercadona) at 9.00, arriving at the Plaza de Toros in Yecla at approximately 10.00. There is then a guided tour of the historic town centre, a visit to the Roman site of La Fuente del Pinar, where the Romans are known to have made wine between the 1^st and 3^rd centuries AD, and a guided tour of the premises of Bodegas Barahonda.

The visit ends with lunch in Restaurante Aurora.

Bookings can be made online here at the all-inclusive price of 59 euros per person.

For more upcoming guided tours and other events go to the What’s On section of Murcia Today.

Address

Plaza Mayor, Casa de los Arcos, s/n 30510 YECLA

Tel: 968 754 104

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Oficina de Turismo de Yecla

Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia which is home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture Yecla Tourist Office production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.

While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and in many ways an identity quite different from the more coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.

Yecla borders with Castilla La Mancha and the Region of Valencia, so is closer for visitors from the Alicante coastal areas than those living in many parts of Murcia itself. However, it's well worth a visit, the historic old town itself an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history, the natural areas of Monte Arabí Yecla Tourist Office offering stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the wine routes taking visitors straight into the heart of wine production in the area and the gastronomy varied.

Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.

The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.

There is parking directly opposite the tourist office, although those driving to Yecla for the first time are advised to park alongside the Basílica which is easy to find.

Click for full information about visiting Yecla including the wine routes, where to go and what to see; Yecla

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 08:00 (8am) to 15:00 (3pm).

Saturday: 10:30 to 14:00 (2pm) and 17:00 (5pm) to 19:30 (7.30pm)

Sunday: Closed

Click for map, Yecla tourist office