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ARCHIVED - Tuesday 17th March Saint Patrick's day tour in Lorca
Lorca has special links to Saint Patrick and each year honours his saint's day
Why is Saint Patrick so important in Lorca?
Date: Tuesday 17th March 2020 Meeting point: Tourist Office in the Plaza de España . Click for map, Plaza de España
(NB.The easiest parking is in the Convento de la Merced by the main rambla. A map can be collected from the tourist information point here and then it is about a ten minute walk to the Plaza de España. There is other parking in the centre, but for those who are uncomfortable driving around in a city they don´t know, the convent offers the easiest start point.This is PAID parking)
Starting time: 11.15, meet at 11:00.
Language: English
Price: 1 euro
Discover why Lorca celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day
This is an interesting little story, and it will come as a surprise to many that Lorca has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day since 1452.
The story goes back to 711 when the Visigoth overlords who ruled what is now southern Spain, were engaged in a power struggle and one party made the fatal error of seeking military aid from the Moors across the sea in modern day Morocco.
What started out as an alliance soon became an occupation and by 713 all of southern Spain was ruled by the Moors. They remained here for 500 years until the Christian forces of the Reconquist from Castile y León and Aragón in the north of Spain pushed them back into one last kingdom: Granada. In those days Lorca was a frontier town, the borders with Granada close to the city and skirmishes were frequent.
On the 17th of March of 1452, a major battle took place: the Battle of Alporchones in which the two sides clashed in a large-scale fight to the death. The army belonging to the Emirate of Granada, led by Malik ibn al-Abbas, was defeated by the Castilian troops of Alonso Fajardo el Bravo, head of the house of Fajardo, which is one of the most important names in Mediaeval Murcia and crops up time and time again in relation to various castles and even the Cathedral in Murcia, which has a stunningly beautiful chapel built by this family.
This date became one of the most significant in the history of the city and the decision was taken to build the magnificent St. Patrick’s Collegiate, dedicated to the saint, as a result.
Today St. Patrick’s Collegiate in Lorca is the third largest church dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland, along with Dublin and New York Cathedrals and has now been fully re-opened after suffering significant damage during the May 2011 earthquake in Lorca.
What does the tour include?
Traditionally in Lorca, the Irish flag together with the Spanish flag were raised in the Plaza de España in front of the Colegiata de san Patricio on the 17th of March but, since 2012, the event takes place in Plaza de Calderón nearby.
- The raising of the Irish and Spanish flags will take place in Calderón Square coinciding with the celebration of the local Police fiestas, as St Patrick is also the patron saint of the police. Both National Anthems will also be played by the Local Band of Music
- A guided walk to the Plaza de España with commentary about the façade and courtyard of the Guevera Palace.
- Once reaching the Plaza de España commentary will be given about the square, “Pósito”, “Corregidor’s House”, and Town Hall
- An official guide will explain the history of the famous battle of Los Alporchones and tell the audience about St. Patrick’s Cathedral (both in Spanish and English)
-Followed by invitation to enjoy Irish hospitality with the first beer free!
Who can participate? Anyone who enjoys tourism and culture is welcome to come along, Irish or not.
Please note, this tour is being run in both English and Spanish on the same morning, but is offered only to private individuals not travel agencies or tour organisers.
Other events on this same day:
Please note: There is also the opportunity to visit Lorca castle after this tour. The special ENGLISH language Saint Patrick's Day in the castle tour includes lunch, full castle entry and audio guide in English, English speaking tour of the Jewish quarter and Synagogue and entry to the Alfonsine Tower and is priced at 24 euros for adults. Click here for full information.
Booking is essential as places are limited, so contact the Tourist Office if you'd like to go or book directly USING THE ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM below
Click for more information about the Lorca municipality, places to visit and forthcoming events.
SELECT THE ROUTE NAME AND CLICK ON THE "31" SYMBOL, WHICH REVEALS THE DATES AVAILABLE. CLICK ON THE DATE REQUIRED TO BOOK.
Cartagena
El Carmoli
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Puebla
La Torre Golf Resort
La Union
Los Alcazares
Los Belones
Los Nietos
Los Urrutias
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Pilar de la Horadada
Playa Honda / Playa Paraiso
Portman
Roldan and Lo Ferro
San Javier
San Pedro del Pinatar
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
Torre Pacheco
Aledo
Alhama de Murcia
Bolnuevo
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
Fuente Alamo
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Lorca
Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto Lumbreras
Sierra Espuna
Totana
Abaran
Alcantarilla
Archena
Blanca
Corvera
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Lorqui
Molina de Segura
Mosa Trajectum
Murcia City
Peraleja Golf Resort
Ricote
Sucina
Condado de Alhama
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Torre Golf Resort
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Mazarron Country Club
Mosa Trajectum
Peraleja Golf Resort
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
La Zenia
Lomas de Cabo Roig
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