Visit to Murcia

Last weekend we went to Murcia in south-eastern Spain, the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, and the seventh largest city in the country. The city is divided into the old town and the new. The Cathedral of Murcia was built between 1394 and 1465 in the Castilian Gothic style. Its tower was completed in 1792 and shows a blend of architectural styles.

 The first two stories were built in the Renaissance style (1521–1546), while the third is Baroque. The bell pavilion exhibits both Rococo and Neoclassical influences. The main façade (1736–1754) is considered a masterpiece of the Spanish Baroque style. Pedestrian areas cover most of the old town of the city, which is centred around Platería and Trapería Streets. 

Trapería goes from the Cathedral to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, formerly a bustling market square. Located in Trapería is the Casino, a social club erected in 1847, with a sumptuous interior that includes a Moorish-style patio inspired by the royal chambers of the Alhambra near Granada.

 

. The name Plateria refers to plata (silver), as this street was the historical focus for the commerce of rare metals by Murcia's Jewish community. The other street, Traperia, refers to trapos, or cloths, as this was once the focus for the Jewish community's garment trade. 

Fine dining is possible in the old town center.

We traveled back to Alicante, not on the motorway, but in the mainland, the backyard of Spain, a wonderful countryside who still amazes. From old watermills to in-land seas, Golden sunshine on a land that lays restless with long plains and bushy quarters. There is semblance with the inland Morocco, next to the sandy mill you will find farmers growing cabbage, celery and olives. What a combination.

 Driving all the way to Santa Pola, the landscape changes into a sea side resort with one of the left places, wild in nature, that em brasses the sea and little creeks. In summertime the place to be for campers, and tourists who love the country side with a sniff of the salty sea. Little wooden houses on the beach in this tile of the year are empty, the beach restaurants are gone. Every summer season they construct whole little villages with refreshments, food and tapas bars.