The Region of Murcia receives 300 days of sunshine a year and is an ideal spot for active travellers. Travellers can enjoy a game of tennis in many areas of the region, including at the recently renovated La Manga Club, which is one of Europe’s premier sport and leisure destinations. The Racquets Club has undergone an exciting transformation to upgrade facilities and install a state-of-the-art fitness hub and padel centre.

Whilst in the region, travellers can continue the adventure by going on treks through the Sierra Espuña Nature Park, Murcia’s prime ecotourist destination or a relaxed walk along the stunning beaches of Calblanque. The Mar Menor is one of Spain's most appreciated racecourses, with its warm, shallow waters and its mild temperatures, visitors can enjoy the sunshine and nautical sports 365 days a year. The Costa Cálida, also offers some of the best cycling trails in the country. One of the most coveted routes both starts and finishes in Los Alcázares, a coastal spa town near the Mar Menor, providing a variety of terrain and scenery as well as being suitable for cyclists of all fitness levels. 

The Region of Murcia is well connected to the UK, with frequent departures from 10 airports to Murcia International, including from London Luton (departing twice weekly). 

• The digital platform includes essential details about restaurants, accommodation, places to visit and main events integrated into an interactive map of the region   
• Every seven years, the city of Caravaca de la Cruz, in the Region of Murcia, Spain, enters a Jubilee Year which brings celebrations and thousands of pilgrims to the city. 
• The last Jubilee year of the Caravaca de la Cruz in 2017, saw roughly 500,000 pilgrims and travellers gathering in Caravaca. 
• The city is one of the few granted as the Holy City of Catholic Christianity with the distinction of “jubilee in perpetuum” given by the Pope, alongside Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela, and Santo Toribio de Liébana, among others. 
• The Camino de Levante, a trail that leads through the Region of Murcia to the Caravaca de la Cruz, offers an alternative pilgrimage route through Spain. 

The Region of Murcia highlights the Camino de Levante as the main route for visitors wanting to do the pilgrimage of the Holy Jubilee of the Caravaca de la Cruz this year. This celebration attracts thousands of visitors from around the world every seven years with a pilgrimage tradition dating back almost eight centuries.   

Given the importance of this celebration for local tourism, the authorities of the Region of Murcia launched a user-friendly digital platform aimed at visitors who are joining the pilgrimage this year. The platform shares key information about the planning of the routes including accommodation details, restaurants, main highlights to see and answering other useful questions about the trip.  

Off the back of a growth in demand for holistic experiences that provide the opportunity for introspection and the revival of religious outdoor walks in Europe as shown in reports by the religious source Catholic World Report, more and more people are looking to embark upon a pilgrimage. Whether it be religious, spiritual or historical reasoning for following the path, the alternative pilgrimage route, Camino de Levante, that leads to Caravaca de la Cruz, sees thousands of walkers arrive to the Region of Murcia each year.  

According to religious history and the Christian faith, the Holy Cross of Caravaca contains a fragment of the Lignum Crucis; that is, the cross on which Jesus Christ died. Along the route, there are inspiring stops, interesting not only to those making the journey for religious reasons but also for hiking enthusiasts. 

The Camino de Levante route follows the River Segura and passes through fields and orchards on a 120km hiking route to Caravaca. Not only do most pilgrims choose to travel the Camino de Levante to celebrate the Jubilee Year, but it is also incredibly popular among holidaymakers wishing to experience the atmosphere of the celebrations non-theistically. The pilgrimage route is full of culture, nature and gastronomic offerings and can be broken down into five sections. The route is as follows: 

1. Orihuela – Murcia: Begin your journey in Alicante, venturing onto Murcia (24km)  

The route starts in the region of Alicante, in Orihuela, where visitors can visit the iconic sights of the city, such as, the Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina, the archaeological museum and the house which was lived in by the great poet Miguel Hernández. The route then crosses into the region of Murcia where the route follows the River Segura. Barceló Murcia Siete Coronas, in Murcia City is priced from £68 per person based on a stay on 13 May. 

2. Murcia - Alguazas: discover the orchards of Murcia (26km)  

This section runs through a large part of the Murcian orchard, where hikers will discover why Murcia is known as the “Europe’s orchard”. Visitors also pass one of the most important sites in Murcia, the Rueda de la Ñora and its aqueduct. The route continues to Molina de Segura, to visit the church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación, where the place of worship has stood since the 15th century and is still in perfect condition. Stay at the Villasegura hotel which provides traditional regional and national cuisine with modern touches using local produce. Hotel Villasegura in Molina de Segura is priced from £53 per person based on stay on 14 May. 

3. Alguazas – Mula: explore ruins and Barrancos de Gebas (26km)  

This area of Murcia is a rugged landscape home to a plethora of Roman remains, such as the Roman Villa of Los Villaricos, a large agricultural villa in the heart of Murcia, and the 12^th Century Castle of Alcalá. Guests can also stop at the ancient settlement of Campos del Río, with its typical villages and charm or walk through the Barrancos de Gebas, also known as “the Badlands”. Stay at La Casa de los Coy, a hotel that boasts a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a garden. La Casa de los Coy, in Mula, is priced from £105 per person based on stay on 15 May. 

4. Mula – Bullas: stroll through vineyards and landscapes (21km)  

Hikers will walk close to the Sierra Espuña Regional Park, the first area in the Region of Murcia endorsed by the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS). Following the Northwest greenways, walkers will arrive at Bullas, the land of vineyards and wine and can schedule a stop at Cristo Carrascalejo, or the Museo del Vino (Wine Museum). Stay at Hotel SG, home to a restaurant and winery that serve features Mediterranean cuisine and local wines of Bullas. Hotel SG, in Bullas, is priced from £72 per person based on a stay on 16 May 

5. Bullas – Caravaca de la Cruz: finishing the route in style (21km)  

The last stage of the route is the hardest with a 500m ascension. Hikers will pass through an old railway line before arriving at the Taibilla canal, allowing them to explore the pine forests and vineyards before arriving at their final destination: Caravaca de la Cruz, to see the Basílica-Santuario de la Vera Cruz. Stay at the Hotel Almunia, set in the Medieval heart of Caravaca de la Cruz, just a short walk from the central Plaza del Arco. Hotel Almunia, Caravaca de la Cruz, is priced from £73 per person based on a stay on 17 May  

Other accommodation options in Caravaca include: 

• Hotel La Vera Cruz, offers great city views, a terrace bar and every room has a balcony. It is priced from £69 per person based on stay on 16 May. 
• Círculo Artistico, is just 200 metres from the Sanctuary of Vera Cruz. It is priced from £62 per person based on stay on 13 May. 
• Nuestra Señora del Carmen is a restored 16th-century monastery just a ten-minute stroll from Santísima Cruz Sanctuary. It is priced from £60 per person based on a stay on 15 May. 

THE GRAND CELEBRATIONS – 2 MAY 

On the morning of 2 May, Caravaca celebrates the Caballos del Vino (The Wine Horses celebration), the most significant day of the fiestas. Everyone, including visitors, takes to the street dressed in a white shirt with a red shawl to watch a legendary horse race. Each horse is accompanied by four runners and races to the top of the hill that finishes at the open area of the Castle. This race relives an incredible event that happened 700 years ago, when, according to legend, the castle of the sacred city was sieged, and all the drinking water was poisoned. A group of templar knights were able to break the siege and distributed wine to drink from horseback to prevent the population from drinking the poisoned water that had contaminated the tanks. 

The Region of Murcia is well connected to the UK, with frequent departures from 10 airports to Murcia International. Easyjet offers direct flights from London Gatwick to Murcia International Airport starting from £35.99 (single fare). 

For more information about the Caravaca de la Cruz visit here.  

This legal status comes following a campaign to safeguard the Mar Menor. The campaign was supported by over 640,000 people and resulted in the lagoon be granted status as a legal person.

This law will give the lagoon the rights to obtain the required maintenance it needs and will be protected and preserved by the government and residents. As one of its initial initiatives, a governing body has been put forward to protect the lagoon, that consists of  local officials, selected citizens, and scientists from the region.

This governing body would act as "guardian" of the area to protect the ecosystem of the Mar Menor and contribute to its conservation. It represents a significant step forward towards the restoration of the lagoon and ecotourism in the Region of Murcia.

www.murciaturistica.es

Sierra Espuña Nature Park and its surrounding area have launched six new sustainable tourism experiences. These have been designed with visitors of all different ages and physical conditions in mind, offering distinctive ways in which to enjoy the fresh air and direct contact with nature. 

The six ecotourism experiences will allow visitors to uncover the historic forest full of traditions, culture, and flavours. Itineraries with the following themes have been created: Adventure; Among Birds; On Wheels; Panoramic Moment; Flavour Route; and Paths. These provide something for everyone, whether it is taking in the breathtaking views of the park while paragliding or sampling local organic produce.

  www.murciaturistica.es

Murcia is a corner of Spain with a deep-rooted gastronomical heritage thanks in large part to the outstanding produce on offer. Whether it is the broad range of high-quality fruit and vegetable from the fertile grounds of La Huerta de Murcia, fresh seafood from the Mar Menor or beautiful cuts of meat from inland farms. Murcia is among Europe’s largest producer of fruit and vegetables and this combined with agricultural and fishing techniques passed down through generations, influenced by the different cultures that occupied the lands, has given rise to a thriving modern food scene.

To drive local awareness and education on Murcia cuisine, activity includes a series of workshops for local chefs under the theme ‘La Huerta of 1001 Flavours’, ‘huerta’ referring to the fertile land where many of the region’s fruit and veg is grown. The programme also features ‘Gastrojueves’ (Food Thursdays), a series that will highlight healthy, Mediterranean cooking and will involve professional chefs running cookalongs allowing participants to cook Murcian specialities from the comfort of their own home (Spanish language only).

From May to December, Murcia will also be celebrating each week a different product emblematic of the region, many of which are protected by Denomination of Origin (D.O) recognising their specific qualities and characteristics. ‘Semanas de elaboraciones y de producto’ (Production and product weeks) will share typical recipes from the different municipalities of Murcia according to the produce being honoured that week.

More information on Murcia as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy is available at www.murciacapitalgastronomica.es (Spanish language only). 

THE FOODIE’S POCKET GUIDE TO MURCIA

For foodie’s looking to get a taste of the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy’s cuisine later in the year when travel resumes, the Costa Cálida – Region of Murcia has provided some must-try Murcian specialties and memorable restaurants fit for any culinary pocket guide.

Murcian Specialties:

Caldero del Mar Menor – a rice stew traditionally made by fishermen from the catch that was too small to sell at market. Cooked in a cauldron style pan, hence the name caldero, the stew includes ñoras (small dried peppers popular in Murcia), garlic, tomatoes, saffron and of course an array of seafood from the Mar Menor.

Ensalada Murciana – a traditional salad made with tomato, Cieza olives, onion, tuna and hardboiled egg. It is as healthy as it is refreshing and delicious.

Pastel de Carne – a Medieval recipe with a slight Muslim twist to it. The strict recipe is held in high regard with standards and processes laid down in 1695. The pastry is a puff pastry which envelopes meat, boiled egg ad chorizo.

Paparajotes – this is a traditional Murcian dessert consisting of battered and fried lemon leaves. It has the indulgent texture of a doughnut but be sure not to eat the whole package. Remove the leaves and enjoy the crisp, lemony dough casing.

Restaurants worth a visit:

El Sordo, Valle de Ricote – A family-run restaurant that has been in business for just over a century, but with a modern appearance. It has an extensive traditional menu serving specialities from the mountains, alongside a first-rate wine list featuring almost every wine from Murcia. www.elsordo.es

El Rincón de Pepe, Murcia (City) – A la carte restaurant based on Mediterranean cuisine and specialising in traditional Murcian cooking with a modern twist. Founded in 1925, the Rincón de Pepe Restaurant remains a culinary institution with over 80 years of history.

www.melia.com/en/hotels/spain/murcia/tryp-murcia-rincon-de-pepe

Magoga, Cartagena – Magoga is a one Michelin star restaurant run with great passion and enthusiasm. The menu seeks to rediscover the roots of local dishes through the maximum use of locally sourced seasonal products from the Mar Menor and the area surrounding Cartagena.

www.restaurantemagoga.com

La Pequeña Taberna, Murcia (City) – Located in the capital of Murcia, La Pequeña Taberna has an impressive display of vegetables. Guests can dine on the terrace, at the tapas bar or in the dining rooms enjoying a contemporary yet classic style. The artichokes de la abuela are a Murcian specialty served here. www.lapequenataberna.com

Restaurante Cabaña Buenavista, Murcia (City) – The two Michelin star restaurant, Restaurante Cabaña Buenavista, offers fine dining in a verdant setting. The restaurant is housed in a large conical hut with an African style thatch roof. The bright dining room overlooks relaxing gardens creating the perfect space to enjoy meticulously prepared cuisine. Certainly worth the trip from the Murcian capital! www.restaurantelacabana.com

Gastro tours in Murcia:

Gastronomic workshop of Tortada Murciana – This three-hour workshop teaches guests, together with an experienced local pastry chef, about the history of the Tortada Murciana, pastry techniques, its ingredients, how it is made and assembled. Participants will also learn how to make each of the elements that make up this cake, which can then be used in one's own dishes and desserts to surprise guests. After making this delicious cake, guests will be invited to taste this delicious Murcian delicacy. Priced from €100 per person. www.travelinmurcia.es

Gastronomic Workshop: Preparation of Murcian Meatloaf  - Foodies can enjoy Murcian gastronomy learning how to make the traditional meatloaf in a culinary workshop. This cookery class will be taught by an artisan pastry chef who talks participants through every stage of creating a dish symbolic of the city’s gastronomy. The class finishes up with a tasting session and is offered in both English and Spanish and is priced from €100 per person. www.travelinmurcia.es

Cartagena de Tapas - A combination of visiting the city’s most important monuments, while trying its most typical tapas. The tour visits the Teatro Romano, Puerto de Cartagena, the Grand Casino and many other sites while sampling delicious tapas and drinks. The tour is done on foot and lasts approximately three hours. www.planout.es/en

Murcia de Tapas - This tapas trail will cover four stops which are carefully selected to allow guests to take in sites around the city including the Centro de Murcia and other sites from its medieval origins. Whilst touring the city, four pit stops are made to try local tapas dishes with wine or other drinks. The tour lasts approximately two and a half hours. www.planout.es/en