Murcia, the seventh largest city in Spain, is home to a sizzling gastronomic scene
Nicknamed the ‘Orchard of Europe’ thanks to its production of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, Murcia is home to a gastronomic scene.
flat and walkable, SpainThe seventh largest city of is worth a visit for the restaurants alone, all offering regional dishes at reasonable prices.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Catalonia Count of Floridablanca Hotel
Despite an extensive refurbishment, this hotel has retained some of its old-fashioned charms, such as the coats of arms of the villages in the area. Double rooms are modern and airy. The pool is a bonus. Room Only Double from £52 (cataloniahotels.com).
If you’re planning a trip to Murcia, consider staying at the Catalonia Conde de Floridablanca Hotel, where room rates start from just £52. Above you can see the city from a bird’s eye view
Sercotel Amistad Murcia Hotel
This affordable, no-frills 4-star hotel is about a five-minute walk from Murcia’s central shopping district, Gran Via.
Wood-paneled rooms are dated but spacious. Good size TV, wifi and air conditioning.
Room Only Double from £65 (www.sercotelhoteles.com).
Hesperia Murcia center hotel
This hotel in the heart of the city is bright and modern, with white leather headboards and smart TVs that you can link to your Netflix account. There is also a gym.
Room Only Doubles from around £56 (hesperia.com).
Hotel Cetina Murcia
The modern and fresh Hotel Cetina Murcia is close to the decorative Catedral de Murcia (picture)
Just 100 meters from Murcia’s famous cathedral, Hotel Certina is an ideal base for exploring the city. Interiors are modern and fresh with pops of color and huge smart TVs.
Room Only Double from £51 (www.cetinahotels.com).
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Plaza hopping
Admire the grandiose Episcopal Palace (above), located in one of Murcia’s many piazzas
Murcia is all about plaza hopping. Start at the ornate La Glorieta, home to the city’s pink City Hall and the grandiose Bishop’s Palace (Palacio Episcopal). Stroll through the Plaza de los Apostoles past the towering cathedral. Then head to the flower-strewn Plaza de las Flores.
Visit the tower of the Catedral de Murcia
Murcia’s decorative cathedral was built on the site of an ancient Arab mosque – the Moors founded Murcia in 825 AD. The cathedral is a mixture of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles and has a 95m high spire, which visitors can visit for €5 (€4). £.50) can climb. Two daily tours must be booked in advance, but make sure you request English. It’s worth a visit for the city views (catedralmurcia.org).
Tapas with the locals
Have lunch at the top of the Mercado de Correos, a modern food market housed in an old post office
Mercado de Abastos de Veronicas and Mercado de Correos are very different markets. The former is a traditional fish, meat and vegetable market where locals pick up their groceries.
The latter is a modern grocery store housed in the old post office. You’ll find a range of options, from tapas to Chinese, Italian or international dishes.
Visit the Real Casino de Murcia
Above is the French-style neo-baroque ballroom at the legendary Real Casino de Murcia
Founded in 1847, the iconic Real Casino de Murcia is perhaps the city’s finest architectural showpiece. A mix of the 19th and early 20th centuries, it houses an ornate Arabic courtyard and a French-style neo-baroque ballroom. Entry is £4.30 (realcasinomurcia.com).
WHERE SHOULD WE EAT
pure burden
Perched on the edge of an unassuming square, Pura Cepa is the ideal spot for an al fresco lunch (or dinner). This small corner restaurant serves a range of reasonably priced tapas, from red shrimp croquettes (£2.40 each) and succulent Iberian pork cheeks (£14.70) to the finest baked cheesecake in Murcia (£6, puracepamurcia.com).
alma mater
Enjoy a Michelin-starred meal for a fraction of what you would pay in the UK at AlmaMater (above).
Recently awarded its first Michelin star, AlmaMater offers gourmet experiences for a fraction of what you would pay in the UK. Dishes are packed with innovative flavors, such as grilled fish with kaffir lime soup, coconut and lemongrass (£20). This quality restaurant is worth a waste (almatermurcia.com).
dusk
Not much on the outside, but the food in Alborada is outstanding. Try creamy jamon croquettes (£1.70 each), cod salad (£13.90) and rice with vegetables (£14.70), a Murcian staple. Don’t miss the dessert – milk flambé (£5.20) (alborada restaurante.com).
Street food in Murcia. The town is worth a visit for the restaurants alone, all of which offer reasonably priced local dishes
The Zagales
This typical tapas bar, whose walls are adorned with cupboards, azulejo tiles and oak barrels, is the place to go for cheap, no-frills food. For less than £2, try Murcia’s classic tapas, Marinera Murciana – a glorified breadsticks with Russian salad and anchovies (barloszagales.com).
HOW TO GET THERE
EasyJet flies direct from London Gatwick to Murcia for around £139 round trip (easyjet.com).
