City of Murcia

The city of Murcia is located in the South East of the Iberian Peninsula. It's the capital of the Autonomous Community of the same name, that, with an area of 11,317 km2, is the largest autonomous community of only one province in Spain.

The metropolitan area of Murcia spreads over 881 km2 and it is made up of the capital city and 54 towns and villages. It consists the urban quarters, including the downtown centre of 3 km in diameter, its old quarters of 1.5 km in diameter, and the 54 administrative districts of the Murcia City government, which encompass half of the population in the municipality.

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Geographically it's divided into two very different areas: the Huerta, which spreads along the banks of the river Segura and the countryside, dry land situated to the Northwest, Northeast and South of the region. The average height above the sea level is about 43 metres.

Acording to census figures from the first of January 2004, Murcia and its nearby towns had a total of 398,798 inhabitants, placing it in the group of the seven most populated cities in Spain. Of this population, 45% live in the city.

The city of Murcia is described as one of the most beautiful and historic in the country. The city stands on the banks of the river and enjoys all year round sunshine. It has the highest temperatures in the region. There is a great deal of Moorish influence in the city, not least of all the impressive city walls. After the reconquest, the 20 mosques in the city were turned into churches. The Cathedral is the most highly prized building in the city. The first foundation stone was laid in 1388 by Bishop Pedrosa. It took four centuries to complete. There are so many different styles and cultures within, including 23 different chapels.

The city enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate, as its proximity to the sea acts as a thermal cushion. The average annual temperatures in Murcia stay around 18 ºC. The winters are mild with an average in January of 10.2 ºC and the summers are very hot with an average of 25.7 ºC.

The rains are scarce and irregular, as are cloudy days, as there are more than 2800 hours of sun annually.

Murcia is an open and dynamic city with a privileged situation in the Mediterranean, making it very attractive for tourism, cultural and sporting activities.

Murcia has everything to offer the visitor and you can almost certainly guarantee that no matter what time of year you visit, you will be wrapped up in some kind of fiesta or celebration. You will find the people pleasant and friendly towards tourists.

We hope you have a very pleasant and rewarding stay in Murcia!

More info on Murcia:

:: Murcia Tourist Information Portal
:: Ideal Spain: Murcia
:: Wikipedia: City of Murcia
:: Wikipedia: Region of Murcia

City of Murcia Street Map (pdf)