Page 269 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

V ALENCIA AND MURCIA  267

from this era, although only
two of its original 35 towers
remain. In 2011, the city was
hit by Spain’s worst earthquake
for more than 50 years. The
castle was badly damaged but
it has since been repaired –
there is now a parador inside.
After Granada fell the town
lost its importance and, except
for one surviving gateway, its
walls were demolished.
The central Plaza de España
is lined with handsome stone
buildings. One side of the square
View of the domes and spires of Cartagena’s town hall from the seafront is occupied by the Colegiata
de San Patricio (Church of St
z Cartagena x Costa Cálida Patrick), built between 1533 and
1704, the only church in Spain
Murcia. * 218,200. ~ San Javier. £ Murcia. £ Murcia. @ Murcia.
@ g n Palacio Consistorial, Plaza n Plaza Antonio Cortijos, Águilas, dedicated to the Irish saint.
del Ayuntamiento 1, 968 12 89 55. ( 968 49 32 85. ∑ murciaturistica.es
Wed. _ Semana Santa (Easter Week), v Caravaca de
Carthagin ians and Romans (last two The most popular resorts of
weeks Sep). ∑ cartagenaturismo.es Murcia’s “Warm Coast” are around la Cruz
the Mar Menor. Be tween Cabo
The first settlement founded in de Palos and Cabo Tinoso the Murcia. * 26,400. n Calle de las
Monjas 17, 968 70 24 24. ( Mon,
the natural harbour of Cartagena few small beaches are dwarfed 3rd Sun of month (crafts). _ Vera
was constructed in 223 BC by by cliffs. The resorts of the south- Cruz (1–5 May). ∑ caravaca.org
the Carthaginians, who called it ern part of the coast are relatively
Quart Hadas (New City). After quiet. There are several fine A town of ancient churches,
conquering the city in 209 BC, beaches at Puerto de Mazarrón; Caravaca de la Cruz’s fame lies
the Romans renamed it Carthago and at nearby Bolnuevo the in its castle, which houses the
Nova (New Carthage). Although wind has eroded soft rocks into Santuario de la Vera Cruz
the city declined in importance strange shapes. The growing (Sanctuary of the True Cross).
in the Middle Ages, its prestige resort of Águilas marks the This is where a double-armed
increased in the 18th century southern limit of the coast, cross is said to have appeared
when it became a naval base. at the border with Andalucía. miraculously in 1231 – 12 years
The park surrounding the ruins before the town was seized by
of the Castillo de la Concepción, Christians. The highlight of the
Cartagena’s castle, has views over c Lorca Vera Cruz fiesta is the Race of
the impressive Roman theatre Murcia. * 91,700. £ @ n Plaza the Wine Horses, which
and its museum, the Museo del de España 7, 968 44 19 14. ( Thu. commemorates the lifting of a
Teatro Romano. The city hall is _ Semana Santa (Easter Week), Moorish siege of the castle and
at the end of the Calle Mayor, a Feria (3rd week of Sep), Día de the appearance of the cross.
street with hand some buildings San Clemente (23 Nov). The cross was dipped in wine,
and balconies. Ex cavations in the ∑ lorcaturismo.es which the thirsty defenders
city include a Roman street and then drank and recovered
the Muralla Bizantina (Byzantine The farmland around Lorca their fighting strength.
Wall), built between 589 and 590. is a fertile oasis in one of
The Museo Nacional de Arqueo­ Europe’s most arid areas. Environs
logía Marítima has trea sures Lorca was an important Just to the north, among
from Greek and Roman wrecks. staging post on the Via the foothills on Murcia’s
Heraclea, as witnessed western border, is the
E Museo del Teatro Romano by the Roman milepost village of Moratalla, a
Plaza del Ayuntamiento 9. stand ing in a corner of jumble of steep streets
Tel 968 52 51 49. & 8 7 the Plaza San Vicente. and stone houses lying
∑ teatroromanocartagena.org During the wars beneath a 15th-century
T Muralla Bizantina between Moors and castle. Cehegín, east of
Calle Doctor Tapia Martínez. Christians in the 13th Caravaca, is a partially
Tel 968 50 79 66. Open Tue–Sat. to 15th centuries, Lorca preserved 16th- and
E Museo Nacional de became a frontier town 17th-century town.
Arqueología Marítima between Al Andalus and
Paseo Alfonso XII. Tel 968 12 11 66. the Castilian territory of Roman milepost topped by a statue
Open Tue–Sun. & free Sat pm & Sun. Murcia. Its castle dates of St Vincent, Lorca

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