Puerto De Mazarron

Puerto de Mazarron is situated just a short drive from Condado de Alhama. It offers beautiful beaches and coves and a chic marina. The promenade is pedestrianised and is lined with palm trees, fountains and an abundance of cafes, bars and restaurants. There is a good choice of shops, bars and a large underground car park close to the marina and promenade area.

        

There is a Sunday market selling clothing, handbags, shoes, jewellery and home furnishings, along with fresh produce.

Visitors may also visit the Lookout Tower, also known as the Tower of Santa Isabel and the Archaeological Museum.

The Bay of Mazarron is a sailing paradise where visitors can enjoy regattas, rowing, paragliding, water-skiing and motor boating.

Bolnuevo

A short drive from Puerto Mazarron is the small coastal village of Bolnuevo, with its beautiful beach. Alongside the beach, visitors will find one of the most unusual landscapes in the entire region. The wind and sea have carved a number of whimsical shapes out of the rock, forming what is known as the "Bolnuevo Erosions". Children will almost certainly recognise ET!!

        

Alhama De Murcia

The Town of Alhama de Murcia is situated a ten minute drive from Condado de Alhama, nestling at the foot of the Sierra Espuna mountains.

Visitors must see the Roman and Moorish archaeological remains of the Thermal Baths of Alhama. The “Los Banos” archaeological centre was created to conserve and protect the remains of the thermal baths. The thermal spring complex has reached its present day extension thanks to the restoration projects that have been carried out regularly since the 1980s. These projects have also transformed the neighbouring areas of the castle and the St. Lazarus Church, as well as the creation of the modern building that houses the museum and adjacent gardens where visitors will see the running water.

The Romans built their thermal spa complex at the foot of the castle, using the thermal spring water that flowed through the rocks.

Alhama de Murcia is a lovely Spanish town with lots of charm and a lovely local market which is held every Tuesday morning.

Sierra Espuna

There are fabulous views from Condado towards the Sierra Espuna mountains.

The Sierra Espuna Nature Reserve is located just 10 minutes drive from Condado. Its altitude varies between 260 and 1583 metres and it is one of Spain’s exemplary cases of reforestation. The river banks were replanted towards the end of the 19th century with huge pine and holm oak forests. Visitors can enjoy a range of outdoor activities including walking, mountain biking, rock climbing and horse riding. There are footpath walks across ridges, through forests and all give panaromic views over the surrounding area.

Hotel Mariposa

The Hotel Mariposa in the Sierra Espuna mountains is well worth a visit – the menu del dia offers a delicious four course lunch at a very reasonable price, with spectacular views across the Sierra Espuna mountains. The hotel has its own pool and sun terrace with breathtaking views. Quad biking, mountain biking and a host of other activities are organised by the hotel, making a fabulous day out for all the family.

        

Murcia

The city of Murcia is in the southeast of the Iberian peninsula in the valley of the River Segura, sheltered by the foothills of the Carrascoy, Cresta del Gallo and Pila mountain ranges. The city stands on the banks of the river, set among orchards of lemon trees and vegetable fields. Due to the region’s climate of year-round sunshine, visitors will find a good range of cultural and leisure activities to enjoy, not to mention some excellent shopping areas and some of the best examples of the Spanish Baroque architecture.

The city’s most important sight is undoubtedly the Cathedral with its marvellous Baroque façade, where sculpture and architecture combine to offer a truly astonishing work of art. The Cathedral is in Belluga Square with its tower standing at 92 metres high. Inside the Cathedral you will find the Museum of Holy Art and on the opposite side of the square, the Bishop’s Palace.

There are several churches, museums, the Town Hall, the Romea Theatre and the Casino with its attractive glass gallery, entrance hall, courtyards and spectacular Louis XV ballroom, for you to visit.

After your sight-seeing, you may want to relax and enjoy the excellent climate by sitting at one of the many terrace cafes or restaurants to enjoy a drink, or even to sample the different “tapas” available in the terrace restaurants.

Cartagena

Cartagena is a thousand year old Mediterranean port, first named over 2000 years ago as "Carthagonova" or "New Carthage". It is a fascinating historical city, packed with major monuments and archaeological remains.

Various panoramic views of the town can be enjoyed from the Tourist Bus, whilst the Tourist Boat also provides visitors with an opportunity to discover Cartagena’s lively harbour.

The most important sight of all is the Roman Theatre, an architectural jewel dating from the first century BC, which alongside the remains of the old Cathedral, forms part of a unique visitor centre together with the Theatre Museum,. The Spanish Civil War Shelter Museum is quite unique, offering visitors a fascinating insight into this historical period.

There are several museums to visit – the Municipal Archaeological Museum, National Maritime Archaeology Museum and the Naval Museum to name a few. The city’s military heritage deserves special mention, encompassing various sections of wall and castles, as well as the batteries along the coast, located on the hills around the bay and in the surrounding areas.

The city has a superb cultural programme including events such as the Festival of El Cante de las Minas de La Union. This takes place in August in the Public Market area, converting the town into a forum for modern and traditional flamenco. In July the International Festival of Music of the Mediterranean takes place, as well as the Mar de Musicas Festival which presents different types of music from around the world, accompanied by some striking stage sets.

           

Lorca

Lorca is a historical city, which has been declared a site of historical-artistic interest. The Visitor Centre is located in the former Convent of La Merced and provides the starting point for any visit. The Archaeological Museum offers visitors a historical tour through the civilizations that inhabited the town. The old quarter of the town is made up of cobbled streets that run round the medieval walled enclosure, dotted with numerous churches and convents.

The 13th century fortress has been converted into a centre to help us understand the town’s history by way of a series of exhibitions, interactive workshops and historical scenes acted out live.

In the old artisan quarter, workmen still practice the traditional techniques of weaving, clay work and basket work with hand made products on sale in the actual workshops.

Terra Natura and Aqua Natura, Murcia

Terra Natura and Aqua Natura are located to the north-west of the town of Espinardo in Murcia. Access is via the A7 motorway and the main Murcia road – the park is well sign-posted from the A7 and lies right next to the University Campus in Espinardo. The park is an ideal choice for a fabulous day out for both adults and children.

Terra Natura

Terra Natura is a new generation wildlife park of 165,445 m2 divided into two themed areas – the African Savannah and the Iberian Peninsula. Visitors can see more than 300 animals from 50 different species, with over 500 examples of more than 50 species of trees, shrubs and plants. There is a range of shows, entertainment and adventure activities to add to your enjoyment.

In the African Savannah area, visitors will see the Samburu settlement with zebras, gazelles, wildebeest and other animals wandering freely, the Serengeti Park with giraffes and hippopotamus, the Mara River which meanders through the Savannah and the Masai Mara lookout point.

Visitors will be able to watch exhibitions of the flights of birds of prey, wild animals feeding and meet the animal keepers.

In addition, there is a choice of restaurants as well as a number of kiosks and stands throughout the park, and the all-important souvenir shop, selling T-shirts, toys and other souvenirs.

Aqua Natura

Aqua Natura Murcia is a fabulous water park covering a total area of 30,000 m2. It is known as Zanzibar and aims to recreate the Indian Ocean island of the same name.

The water park has two swimming pools :

Prison Island – for adults and accompanied children, with a water tower, an oscillating water drum and relaxing water jets for the whole family to enjoy.

Grave Island – a splash pool for children, featuring water games and smaller water chutes.

Other attractions include the Lazy River where visitors can set off on a single or double float and take the journey down the lazy river.

Children's Zone – in addition to the separate children’s pool, there are three play areas – the Titanic which is a bouncy castle for young children, the Dinosaur which is a bouncy castle in the form of a prehistoric animal and Jumpy which is an area of trampolines with harness support for children to perform spectacular leaps and pirouettes.

Water Chutes – there are several water chutes to be used with or without floats. Try the Black Hole with its strobe lighting effect, the Adventure River or the Kamikaze and the Speed Hole, both of which are high speed chutes. There is also a gentle multi lane chute with four parallel lanes so you can enjoy competing with friends!

There is a Jetty Bar at the water park where you can enjoy tasty snacks and sandwiches. There are also a number of kiosks/bars around the water park where you can buy soft drinks, slush puppies, ice creams etc.

The water park is open throughout the main season but closes during the winter months. During September the park is only open at weekends.

For further information on Terra Natura and Aqua Natura, visit the website at www.terranatura.com.