With all its honey-coloured stone houses and grand cathedrals, Murcia is actually a very picturesque and sweet city. About two hours by train from Alicante, this little inland city offers some interesting sights, most notably its medieval Cathedral and its arrays of Spanish Baroque houses. Known for its mild climates in winter, Murcia is a good place to spend a few days in the sun if you happen to find yourself touring around the south-eastern coast of Spain.
The beautiful town hall of Murcia lies right on the bank of the Segura River, close to the Puente de los Peligros, a 18th century bridge and the oldest bridge in Murcia. Just like in neighbouring Cathargena, metal sculptures of fish can be seen 'swimming around' in the river.
In front of the town hall is a nicely designed landscape garden, with fountains, beautiful flower beds, cafes and an art gallery lining up graciously alongside one another.
Not a city on popular tourist routes, Murcia has a congenial, homely feeling, and local restaurants have some of the most authentic foods I have ever tried in the whole of Spain. Near the hotel I stayed at is a small take-away place with delicious roasted chicken (freshly grilled every day on the spit) and other regional specialities. Roasted chickens run out of stock very fast - by 5 in the afternoon all chickens are gone.
The Cathedral of Murcia is an interesting composite of various different architectural styles, most famous of which is its Spanish Baroque main façade build during the mid-18th century. The construction of the cathedral began in the medieval times, and the whole structure incorporates elements such as Castillan gothic, Renaissance, Rococo and Neo-Classical style throughout the centuries of continuous addition and renovation.
The colourful and cheerful pinkish building located to the right of the Cathedral is the 18th century Bishop's Palace.
Another noteworthy building in Murcia is a house known as the 'Casino', located in the old town of Murcia.'The Casino' is actually not a gambling place, but is a kind of social club built in 1847 with a sumptuous interior, whose Moorish-themed hall design is inspired by the splendid royal palace of Alhambra.
Copyrights@2011. All text and photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved.
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