Page 381 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

the tourists have arrived,
Mojácar has retained its
essence.
There are actually two
towns here: old Mojácar
Pueblo, a jumble of white,
cube-shaped houses on a
hilltop 2km inland, and
Mojácar Playa, a modern
UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP / GETTY IMAGES ©
beach resort.
Exploring Mojácar
Pueblo is mainly a mat-
ter of wandering the
mazelike streets, with
their bougainvillea-
swathed balconies,
stopping off at craft SPAIN 27 MEDITERRANEAN MEANDER
shops, galleries and
boutiques. El Mirador del
Castillo, at the top-most
point, has a cafe-bar and
magnificent views. The
fortress-style Iglesia de
Santa María (Calle Iglesia)
dates from 1560 and
may have once been a
mosque.
South of Mojácar
Playa, the beaches are
quieter, and once you get
to the fringes of town,
there are a number of
more secluded areas.
4 p386
The Drive » Retrace your
steps from Mojácar back to the
A7 autovia. After 10km merge
onto the AP7 near Vera. This is
a toll road. Continue until the
exit for Cartagena Oeste. At the
roundabout take the N332 into
the city. Mojácar to Cartagena
is 134km.

6 Cartagena
Cartagena’s fabulous
natural harbour has
been used for thousands
of years. Stand on the

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