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Region of Murcia Today

Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia: Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia

The Region of Murcia is the 9^th largest autonomous community in Spain by size, covering an area over half the size of Wales, and the tenth most populated with 1,474,449 inhabitants (national statistics institute, Jan 2013) of whom 22,000 are British.

It is formed by a single province, and governed by the autonomous regional government, based in the Palacio de San Esteban in Murcia City, and the regional Assembly, the regional parliament, in Cartagena.

The region is further broken down into 45 individual municipalities, each with their own municipal government and Mayor. These are then further subdivided into local pedanías, or diputaciones.

There are three major cities in the Region: the capital City of Murcia, with 441,354 inhabitants (Jan 2013), the historic port of Cartagena which is an important naval base and Mediterranean cruise ship destination with a population of 216,655, and Lorca with 92,865 residents.

The economy of the Region has traditionally relied on agriculture: it is often referred to as the market garden of Spain, and is a major exporter of fruit, salad and vegetables to most European countries, including the UK.

In the 20^th and 21^st century Cartagena has become a major centre for petroleum and energy production with the Repsol refinery and surrounding developments in the valley of Escombreras and its container port.

In the past there were important mineral mines in the Region, and over the centuries significant contributions to the economy have also been made by the furniture industry in Yecla, various traditional crafts such as esparto grass weaving and of course, being a coastal region, fishing (and, in recent times, fish farming).

There are also many new technological parks, notably the one in Fuente Álamo, and in the last twenty years international tourism has begun to develop.

Murcia is a popular Spanish tourist destination but remains largely unknown outside of Spain. UK tourists make up the largest group of foreign visitors to the region, accounting for more than 50% of tourists, however, many of these either own, are renting or visiting, properties on the 6 residential tourism developments built by the Polaris World Promotor and a number of other residential tourism developments including the luxurious La Manga Club, Camposol in Mazarrón, and Hacienda del Álamo in Fuente Álamo.

These are serviced by an airport at San Javier, shared with the Spanish Air Academy, and El Altet at Alicante (about a 1-hour drive from the region), and an opening date is still awaited for the new International airport at Corvera, near to Murcia City.

Murcia enjoys a warm climate, with 300 days of sun and clear skies a year and an average temperature of 21 degrees. The region is fringed by the Mediterranean Sea, its coastal area known as the Costa Cálida, with 250km of coastline. Murcia also has the Mar Menor, technically an inland saltwater lake separated from the Mediterranean by La Manga, a 22km long sandy strip with high density tourist occupation. This has 73km of internal beaches with a maximum depth of just 7 meters in the centre, making it a major focal point for watersports, with no tidal currents or waves, but having salt water, sandy beaches and steady sailing winds.

The region also has hotspring spas, mountainous interior areas, forested areas and stone fruit growing river valleys, offering a wide range of landscapes, and a rich offering of cultural monuments and historical sites.

Municipalities of the Region of Murcia

The municipalities of the Region of Murcia are Abanilla, Abarán, Águilas, Albudeite, Alcantarilla, Los Alcázares, Aledo, Alguazas, Alhama de Murcia, Archena, Beniel, Blanca, Bullas, Calasparra, Campos del Río, Caravaca de la Cruz, Cartagena, Cehegín, Ceutí, Cieza, Fortuna, Fuente Álamo de Murcia, Jumilla, Librilla, Lorca, Lorquí, Mazarrón, Molina de Segura, Moratalla, Mula, Murcia, Ojós, Pliego, Puerto Lumbreras, Ricote, San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar, Santomera, Torre Pacheco, Las Torres de Cotillas, Totana, Ulea, La Unión, Villanueva del Segura and Yecla.

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Region of Murcia News Whats on Region of Murcia Basic information Costa Cálida Walks, senderismo routes

REGION OF MURCIA

Region of Murcia News Whats on Region of Murcia Basic information Costa Cálida Walks, senderismo routes

28th November to 12th January, exhibition by artist Ángel Haro at the Centro Párraga in Murcia Abstract paintings and sculptures at the contemporary arts centre in the regional capital Ángel Haro was born in Valencia and spent his childhood in Paris before settling in Murcia, where he studied architecture and later became a multi-disciplinary..

14th to 17th November, West Side Story at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia One of the greatest musicals of all time at the main auditorium in the city of Murcia Hailed as one of the greatest achievements in musical theatre history, West Side Story was first performed on Broadway in 1957 and has remained a firm favourite among..

1st to 3rd November, Jekyll and Hyde the musical at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia A musical version of the RL Stevenson classic at the main auditorium in the city of Murcia This extraordinary musical version of the story by Robert Louis Stevenson explores the struggle between good and evil in human nature in a spectacular production..

1st to 3rd November, Annie the musical at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia The 1977 musical which wowed Broadway at the main auditorium in the city of Murcia The classic Broadway musical Annie, first performed in 1977, returns to the city of Murcia with the full original song list including “Tomorrow”), spectacular..

18th and 19th October, Manolo García in concert at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia The former leader of El Último de la Fila live on stage at the Murcia auditorium Manuel García García-Pérez, getter known simply as Manolo García, has recorded with rock bands including Los Rápidos, Los Burros..

11th October, Benedetti Sinfónico at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia Uruguayan poetry and music at the main auditorium in the city of Murcia Conductor Diego Naser, singer Silvana Marrero and pianist Carlos Darakjian accompany the Region of Murcia Symphony Orchestra in a performance of “Benedetti Sinfónico&..

6th October, Dire Straits bass guitarist John Illsley live in Murcia The concert will include various of the best known Dire Strait songs John Illsley, founding member of Dire Straits and bass guitarist with the group until they disbanded in 1995, is playing live in the Sala REM venue in the city of Murcia on 6th October..

19th September to 17th November, Luis Gordillo art exhibition at the Centro Párraga in Murcia One of most renowned abstract artists in Spain exhibits at the contemporary arts centre in the regional capital Luis Gordillo, born in Sevilla in 1934, has been acclaimed as one of the leading figures in Spanish abstract art, and his works can be seen..

4th July, open-air Loreena McKennitt concert in the Malecón gardens in Murcia The Canadian singer and pianist in the Noches del Malecón cycle on the banks of the River Segura Las Noches del Malecón is a new cycle of concerts and stage shows being held in the Malecón gardens on the north bank of the River Segura..

4th July to 15th September, Fernando de Retes exhibition at the Centro Párraga in Murcia Architecture and design at the contemporary arts centre in the regional capital With over 40 years of experience behind him Fernando de Retes has carved out a reputation in the field of architecture and design on account of the quality, beauty and innovative..

3rd July, open-air Madeleine Peyroux concert in the Malecón gardens in Murcia The jazz and blues vocalist opens the inaugural Noches del Malecón cycle on the banks of the River Segura Las Noches del Malecón is a new cycle of concerts and stage shows being held in the Malecón gardens on the north bank of the..

3rd to 7th July, open-air concerts and comedy in the Malecón gardens in Murcia Madeleine Peyroux and Loreena McKennitt top the international bill of the Noches de Malecón season Las Noches del Malecón is a new cycle of concerts and stage shows being held in the Malecón gardens on the north bank of the River..

27th June, choral concert at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia The Alfonso X El Sabio choir on stage at the Murcia Auditorium The last in a series of six choral concerts at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia begins at 20.30 with a performance by the Alfonso X El Sabio choir. Tickets are priced at 6 euros..

21st June, Mavica live in concert at the Auditorio Víctor Villegas in Murcia The folk pop singer and guitarist on stage at the Murcia auditorium Marta Casanova, better known as Mavica, is a young musician and guitarist who was born in Cartagena but studied in Madrid and later lived in Berlin, where she made her way by busking..

21st June, Mercedes Máis Eu, contemporary dance at the Centro Párraga in Murcia Janet Novás and Mercedes Peón perform at the emerging arts centre in the regional capital Dancer Janet Novás and composer Mercedes Peón explore the relationship between their two disciplines, based on instruments, memories..

20th June to 8th September, exhibition by Gelén Alcántara of Jeletón at the Centro Párraga in Murcia Fanzines as a means of feminist emancipation at the contemporary arts centre in the regional capital Murcia artist Gelén Alcántar has been working with Jesús Arpal Moya as part of the “Equipo Jeleton” since 1999, and has..

Region of Murcia News