Murcia
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| Murcia | |||||
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| Santa María Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena. | |||||
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| Location | |||||
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| Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) |
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| General information | |||||
| Native name | Murcia (Spanish) | ||||
| Spanish name | Murcia | ||||
| Postal code | 30001 - 30012 | ||||
| Website | http://www.ayto-murcia.es | ||||
| Administration | |||||
| Country | Spain | ||||
| Autonomous Community | Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia | ||||
| Province | Murcia | ||||
| Mayor | Miguel Ángel Cámara Botía (PP) | ||||
| Geography | |||||
| Land Area | 881,86 km² | ||||
| Altitude | 43 m AMSL | ||||
| Population | |||||
| Population | 424.362 (20-10-2006) | ||||
| Density | 481,2 hab./km² (20-10-2006) | ||||
Murcia () is a city and municipality on the river Segura in southeastern Spain and the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. Population: 409,810 (2005); 563,272 including the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns), ranking as the 12th-largest metropolitan area of Spain. Since 2003 the mayor has been Miguel Ángel Cámara Botía (PP).
Murcia is built nearly in the centre of a low-lying fertile plain, known as the huerta or market garden of Murcia, which includes the valleys of the Segura and its right-hand tributary the Guadalentín (Wadalentin) or river Sangonera, and is surrounded by mountains. Despite the proximity of the sea, the climate is subject to great variations: the summer heat is severe, while frosts are occasionally experienced in the capital during the winter.
Precipitation in Murcia is scarce, with less than 200 mm (7.9 inches) registered in the hydrological year October 2004 to September 2005.
Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV) is located on the edge of the Mar Menor close to the towns of San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, 45 km southeast of Murcia, about 30 minutes by car. The airport at Alicante is frequently used by travellers to Murcia also.
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[edit] History
Murcia was founded with the name of Medinat Mursiya in A.D. 825 by Abd ar-Rahman II, emir of Al-Andalus. The Egyptians, who spoke Arabic (and who were therefore confused with being of Arabic descent), taking advantage of the course of the river Segura, created a complex network of irrigation channels that made the town prosperous and is the predecessor of the modern irrigation system. The Arab traveller Muhammad al-Idrisi described it in the 12th century as populous and strongly fortified. After the fall of the caliphate of Cordova, Murcia passed successively under the rule of Almería, Toledo and Seville. In 1172 it was taken by the Almohades, and from 1223 to 1243 it became the capital of an independent kingdom.
The Castilians, led by King Alfonso X, took it at the end of this period, when large numbers of immigrants from north Catalonia and Provence settled in the town; Catalan names are still not uncommon. In 1296, Murcia and its region were transferred to the Kingdom of Aragon, but in 1304, in virtue of the Treaty of Torrellas, it was finally incorporated into Castile.
Murcia flourished in the 18th century, mainly due to the boom of the silk industry. Many of its churches and monuments are from this period.
The town and surrounding area suffered badly from floods in 1651, 1879 and 1907, though the construction of a levee did much to keep the Segura within its own channel. A popular walkway, the Malecon, runs along the top of the levee.
Murcia was struck by an earthquake in 1829. According to contemporary accounts, some 6,000 people died in the province.
Murcia has been the capital of the province of Murcia since 1838, and capital of the autonomous community (which includes only the province) since its creation in 1982.
[edit] Sights and Monuments
The Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia was built between 1394 and 1465 in Castilian Gothic style. Its tower, only completed in 1792, shows a mixture of styles: the first two stories were built in Renaissance style (1521-1546), the third one is Baroque, and the bell pavilion has Rococo and Neoclassical influences. The main façade (1736-1754) is considered a masterpiece of the Spanish Baroque style.
Other noteworthy buildings in the square in front of the Cathedral (Plaza Cardenal Belluga) are the colourful Bishops palace (18th century) and a controversial extension to the town hall, by Rafael Moneo.
The Glorieta, next to the Segura river, has traditionally been the center of the town. This a pleasant landscaped square, built in the 18th-century. The Ayuntamiento (City Hall) is located here.
Pedestrian areas cover most of the old town, centered around Platería and Trapería Streets. Trapería goes from the Cathedral to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, the former 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 Alhambra royal rooms.
 The Glorieta, with the Town Hall on the left |
 Plaza Cardenal Belluga (seen from the Cathedral) |
 Cathedral (detail) |
 Plaza de Santo Domingo |
Some other places worth seeing are El Malecón boulevard, La Fuensanta sanctuary and El Valle regional park, Los Jerónimos monastery, the Romea theatre, the Almudí palace, the Monteagudo castle, the Salzillo museum, and the San Juan de Dios church–museum. In the metropolitan area, you can also see the Azud de la Contraparada reservoir and the Noria de La Ñora water wheel.
[edit] Festivals
The Holy Week processions in the city of Murcia are famous throughout Spain. Life-sized sculptures by Francisco Salzillo (1707-1783) are taken out of museums and carried around the city in elegant processions full of flowers and, at night, candles. These finely detailed sculptures portray events leading up to and including the crucifixion.
Possibly the most colourful celebrations are the week after Holy Week, when Murcians dress in traditional huertano clothing to celebrate Bando de la Huerta (Huerta Parade) and, a week later, fill the streets for the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine Parade).
[edit] Economy
Murcia serves as a major producer of agricultural products; it is common to find Murcia's tomatoes and lettuce, and especially lemons and oranges, in European supermarkets.
These days, the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which many people from northern European countries have a second home in sunny Murcia.
The economy of Murcia is also supported by fairs and congresses, museums, theatres, cinemas, music, aquariums, bullfighting, restaurants, hotels, campings, sports, foreign students, and tourism.
[edit] Education
Murcia has three universities: the University of Murcia, founded in 1912; the UPCT, Polytechnic University of Cartagena; and the UCAM, Saint Anthony Catholic University. There are also several high schools, elementary schools, and professional schools.
 Old University Building |
 Old University (cloister) |
[edit] Notable people from Murcia
- Muhyī al-Dīn Ibn al-‘Arabī (1165-1240), a Sufi thinker.
- Diego de Saavedra Fajardo (1584-1648), a writer and diplomat.
- Francisco Salzillo (1707-1783), a Baroque sculptor.
- José Moñino, conde de Floridablanca (1728-1808), a stateman, minister of King Charles III of Spain.
- Juan de la Cierva (1895-1936), the inventor of the autogyro, a forerunner of the helicopter.
- Francisco Sánchez Bautista (1925-), a poet.
- Julián Romea (1818-1863), a theater actor.
- Alejandro Valverde (1980-), a cyclist.
- Luis León Sánchez Gil (1983-), a cyclist.
- Nicolás Almagro (1985-), a tennis player.
- Charo (1951-), a musician, actress and entertainer.
[edit] Sport Teams
- Ciudad de Murcia, Spanish Second Division football (soccer) club.
- Real Murcia, Spanish Second Division football (soccer) club.
[edit] Sister cities
Miami, USA
Lecce, Italy
Grasse, France
Irapuato, Mexico
Murcia, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Łódź, Poland
[edit] External links
- Official Tourism Site of the City of Murcia
- Official Tourism Site of Murcia, Spain (click on English at the bottom)
- (Spanish) Ayuntamiento de Murcia (the Town Hall)
- (Spanish) Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia (the Autonomous Community)
- (Spanish) La Opinión - local newspaper
- (Spanish) La Verdad - local newspaper
- University of Murcia - public university
- (Spanish) Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena - public university
- (Spanish) Universidad Católica San Antonio - private university
- (Spanish) Murcianicos.com
- (Spanish) Big Murcia Photogallery
- Murcia, my hometown in Spain - Marcos Campillo's personal page, with several sections and plenty of pictures
- Viva-Murcia.com - Information about Murcia City and provincial directory
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- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
| edit | Municipalities in Murcia |  |
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Abanilla | Abarán | Águilas | Albudeite | Alcantarilla | Los Alcázares | Aledo | Alguazas | Alhama de Murcia | Archena | Beniel | Blanca | Bullas | Calasparra | Campos del Río | Caravaca de la Cruz | Cartagena | Cehegín | Ceutí | Cieza | Fortuna | Fuente Álamo de Murcia | Jumilla | Librilla | Lorca | Lorquí | Mazarrón | Molina de Segura | Moratalla | Mula | Murcia | Ojós | Pliego |Puerto Lumbreras | Ricote | San Javier | San Pedro del Pinatar | Santomera | Torre-Pacheco | Las Torres de Cotillas | Totana | Ulea | La Unión | Villanueva del Río Segura | Yecla |
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