Most visitors know about 3 or 4 of the most popular tourist attractions and beauty spots in the Region of Murcia, with thousands flocking all year round to the Cathedral in the regional capital, the Roman Theatre in Cartagena, the castle of Lorca and of courses the beaches of the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, but this short list contains a couple of suggestions equally rewarding:
Águilas has a wide range of tourist attractions, including the castle, the archaeological museum, the railway history museum and of course some wonderful beaches, but the Rincón del Hornillo is often forgotten despite its being very close to the town centre and the ship loading rail jetty of El Hornillo.
The attraction here is mainly aesthetic, which the highlight a Gaudí-esque stairway railway decorated with a handmade tile mosaic created by local artist Juan Martínez "Casuco". The views are exceptionally beautiful and this is a wonderful spot to enjoy a quiet stroll and enjoy the charming atmosphere.
On the face of it, a visit to a series of old mines and pithead ruins sounds like a rather bleak proposition, but the abandoned mines of Mazarrón are mainly located in a surreal landscape of brightly coloured rock formations created by the minerals which were extracted from the ground here in the past. For children and adults alike this is magical environment, calling to mind our imagination of what Mars might look like, complete with dark maroon lakes and crinkled rock outcrops which are unlikely to resemble anything you’ve seen before.
An unforgettable landscape reflecting the history of Mazarrón and the way in which Man has altered the lay of the land in his quest for materials and wealth.
When thinking about the beaches of Murcia most people’s minds turn to the shoreline of the Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón and Águilas, but the enormous municipality of Lorca also includes a short stretch of coast in which the mountains of the regional park of Cabo Cope y Puntas de Calnegre drop directly into the Mediterranean and are home to a series of small but sandy coves.
These are the “calas de Calnegre”, some of the most unspoilt and least frequently visited in the Costa Cálida. The first three are relatively easy to reach along a driveable track, but after that the terrain becomes more difficult and these are extremely quiet – although for some it is attractive that the further you go, the more nudity seems to become acceptable!
Whether you prefer modesty or not, this area is a wonderful place to get right back to nature, with the sea on one side, the mountains on the other and very few distractions.
The River Chícamo is one of the best-kept secrets of Murcia, despite the presence of a water course being such a rarity in the mostly dry landscape, the fresh water running for just 31 kilometres through the incredibly barren landscape alongside the “badlands” of Barinas and Abanilla before flowing into the River Segura.
For much of its length the Chícamo has formed a deep, narrow gorge between vertical rick faces, the combination of shade and water leading to lush vegetation, and the natural pools and weirs make for a perfect refreshing dip in the water for those walking along it. The walking route is a spectacular and immensely rewarding one, and in spring the flowers fill the landscape with even more colour, creating a vision of a completely different Murcia!
Fuente Caputa is a little slice of paradise hidden among the mountains of the municipality of Mula, consisting of a series of natural wells and pools fed by springs and constituting a place of extremely refreshing tranquility. The water is pure and clear and on sunny days -of which of course there are many in this part of the world – they reflect the sky and the surrounding vegetation, adding to the serenity of the spot.
Over the years this has started to become a favoured destination for people seeking to escape the hurly-burly of day-to-day life, and it is still a perfect area to rest, breathe deep and enjoy the natural spring water, be it alone or with friends or family.
As ever, this is just a small selection of the many natural escapes from the crowded towns, cities and beaches of Murcia – discover them and many more while enjoying your time in the Costa Cálida!