Murcia
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| Murcia | |||||
| Image:Murcia.JPG | |||||
| View from Fuensanta Sanctuary | |||||
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| Location | |||||
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| Image:Murcia, Spain location.png | |||||
| Coordinates : Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2) | |||||
| General information | |||||
| Native name | Murcia (Spanish) | ||||
| Spanish name | Murcia | ||||
| Founded | 825 | ||||
| Postal code | 30001-30012 | ||||
| Area code | 34 (Spain) + 968 (Murcia) | ||||
| Website | http://www.ayto-murcia.es/ | ||||
| Administration | |||||
| Country | Spain | ||||
| Autonomous Community | Murcia | ||||
| Province | Murcia | ||||
| Comarca | Huerta de Murcia | ||||
| Mayor | Miguel Ángel Cámara Botía (PP) | ||||
| Geography | |||||
| Land Area | 881.86 km² | ||||
| Altitude | 43 m AMSL | ||||
| Population | |||||
| Population | 424.362 (2006-10-20) | ||||
| - rank in Spain: | 7 | ||||
| Density | 481.2 hab./km² (2006-10-20) | ||||
Murcia () is a city and municipality on the river Segura in southeastern Spain and the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. Population: 409,810 (2005); 563,272 including the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns), ranking as the 12th-largest metropolitan area of Spain. Since 2003 the mayor has been Miguel Ángel Cámara Botía (PP).
Murcia is built nearly in the centre of a low-lying fertile plain, known as the huerta or market garden of Murcia, which includes the valleys of the Segura and its right-hand tributary the Guadalentín or river Sangonera, and is surrounded by mountains. Despite the proximity of the sea, the climate is subject to great variations: the summer heat is severe, while frosts are occasionally experienced in the capital during the winter.
Precipitation in Murcia is scarce, with less than 200 mm (7.9 inches) registered in the hydrological year October 2004 to September 2005.
Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV) is located on the edge of the Mar Menor close to the towns of San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, 45 kilometres (28 mi) southeast of Murcia, about 30 minutes by car. The airport at Alicante is frequently used by travellers to Murcia also.
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[edit] Geography
The municipal term has an approximate extension of 882 square kilometres (341 sq mi) and is divided from east to west in two parts separated by a series of mountain ranges (Carrascoy, El Puerto, Villares, Columbares, Altaona and Escalona). These two zones are denominated Field of Murcia and Orchard of Murcia.
The city is located at 43 m.a.s.l., in the medium alluvial plain of the Segura river (Vega Media del Segura). The river crosses the city from west to east. It is a river with Mediterranean pluvial regime, little volume but with strong swellings, like those of 1946, 1948, 1973 or 1989 that flooded the Murcian capital.
The most well-known and significant landscape of the municipal area is its orchard, which dominates in great part of the municipality. It is a plain territory but with hills that surround the ample valley of the Segura, where the mountain ranges of the south (Cordillera Sur) and the steep hill of Monteagudo in the middle of the plain can be emphasized.
In addition to the orchard and urban zones, the great expanse of the municipal area is made up of different landscapes: badlands, the pine groves of Carrasco pine in the precoastal mountain ranges and, pass these towards the south, semi-steppe surroundings.
Also a part of the natural space of Carrascoy and the Valley (Carrascoy y el Valle), a Regional Park, is inside the municipality of Murcia.
[edit] Districts
The 881.86-square-kilometre (340.49 sq mi) territory of the municipality of Murcia is made up of 54 pedanías (suburban districts) and 28 barrios (city neighborhood districts). The barrios make up the 12.86-square-kilometre (4.97 sq mi) urban section, the main city. The "center" of the city, the old quarter, is approximately 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) across with approximately 3 square kilometres (1 sq mi) of area.
[edit] Climate
Given its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, Murcia enjoys a Mediterranean climate, of semi-arid type, with smooth winters and warm summers.
It has more than 300 days of sun in the year, with few precipitations, being the water a very considered good in the region, given in addition the great orchard diversity that characterizes the zone. Sometimes it undergoes a gota fría (cold drop), where the entire year's precipitation is concentrated into a few days.
The temperatures oscillate between 16°C/4°C of January and 34°C/20°C of August, although 40°C is surpassed during many summers. The 20th century record high temperature for Spain was 47.2 °C (117.0 °F) in Murcia on July 4, 1994.
[edit] History
The Castilians, led by King Alfonso X, took it at the end of this period, when large numbers of immigrants from north Catalonia and Provence settled in the town; Catalan names are still not uncommon. In 1296, Murcia and its region were transferred to the Kingdom of Aragon, but in 1304, in virtue of the Treaty of Torrellas, it was finally incorporated into Castile.
Murcia flourished in the 18th century, mainly due to the boom of the silk industry. Many of its churches and monuments are from this period.
The town and surrounding area suffered badly from floods in 1651, 1879 and 1907, though the construction of a levee did much to keep the Segura within its own channel. A popular walkway, the Malecon, runs along the top of the levee.
Murcia was struck by an earthquake in 1829. According to contemporary accounts, some 6,000 people died in the province.
Murcia has been the capital of the province of Murcia since 1838, and capital of the autonomous community (which includes only the province) since its creation in 1982.
[edit] Demographics
Murcia has 416,996 inhabitants (INE 2006), making it the seventh Spanish municipality by population. Nevertheless, due to Murcia's large municipal territory, its population density (472 hab./km², 760 hab./sq.mi.) is not among the highest in Spain.
When adding in the municipalities of Alcantarilla, Alguazas, Beniel, Molina de Segura, Santomera and Las Torres de Cotillas, the metropolitan area has 564,036 inhabitants, making it the 12th most populous metropolitan area of Spain.
According to the official population data of the INE, 10.16% of the population of the municipality had a foreign nationality as of 2005.
[edit] Sights and monuments
The Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena (based in Murcia) was built between 1394 and 1465 in Castilian Gothic style. Its tower was completed in 1792 and it shows a mixture of styles. The first two stories were built in Renaissance style (1521-1546) and the third one is Baroque. The bell pavilion has Rococo and Neoclassical influences. The main façade (1736-1754) is considered a masterpiece of the Spanish Baroque style.
Other noteworthy buildings in the square in front of the Cathedral (Plaza Cardenal Belluga) are the colourful Bishop's Palace (18th century) and a controversial extension to the town hall by Rafael Moneo.
The Glorieta, next to the Segura River, has traditionally been the center of the town. This a pleasant landscaped square, built in the 18th century. The ayuntamiento (city hall) is located here.
Pedestrian areas cover most of the old town, centered around Platería and Trapería Streets. Trapería goes from the Cathedral to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, the former market square. Located in Trapería is the Casino, a social club erected in 1847, with a sumptuous interior that includes a Moorish-style patio inspired by the Alhambra royal rooms.
Murcia Ayto.jpg
The Glorieta, with the town hall on the left |
Murcia Cathedral.jpg
Cathedral and Plaza Cadenal Belluga |
Murcia CathedralSquare1.jpg
Plaza Cardenal Belluga (seen from the Cathedral) |
Murcia CathedralSquare.jpg
Cathedral (detail) |
Murcia-Pza Sto Domingo.jpg
Plaza de Santo Domingo |
Some other places worth seeing are the Malecón boulevard, La Fuensanta sanctuary and El Valle regional park, Los Jerónimos monastery, the Romea theatre, Almudí Palace, Monteagudo Castle, the Salzillo Museum, and the San Juan de Dios church-museum. In the metropolitan area, you can also see the Azud de la Contraparada reservoir and the Noria de La Ñora water wheel.
[edit] Festivals
The Holy Week processions in the city of Murcia are famous throughout Spain. Life-sized sculptures by Francisco Salzillo (1707–1783) are taken out of museums and carried around the city in elegant processions full of flowers and, at night, candles. These finely detailed sculptures portray events leading up to and including the Crucifixion.
Possibly the most colourful celebrations are the week after Holy Week, when Murcians dress in traditional huertano clothing to celebrate the Bando de la Huerta (Huerta parade) on Tuesday and fill the streets for the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) parade on Saturday.
Murcia Three Cultures International Festival: takes place in May and was created with the idea of overcoming the barrier of racism and xenophobia , understanding and reconciliation of the three cultures that populated the peninsula: Christians, Jews [1] and Muslims. Each year the festival brings us closer to these three cultures through music , but also we find exhibits,symposiums and conferences.
[edit] Economy
Murcia serves as a major producer of agricultural products; it is common to find Murcia's tomatoes and lettuce, and especially lemons and oranges, in European supermarkets.
These days, the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which many people from northern European countries have a second home in sunny Murcia.
The economy of Murcia is also supported by fairs and congresses, museums, theatres, cinemas, music, aquariums, bullfighting, restaurants, hotels, campings, sports, foreign students, and tourism.
[edit] Transportation
- Bus: The transport is provided by Latbus which operates the urban bus and other interurban services.
- Tramway: Provided by Tranvimur which operates the urban tram, a little line 2 kilometres long, finished in April 2007. There are, in total, 4 lines in project.
- Train: Provided by RENFE. Murcia have two lines of Cercanías trains, to Alicante and Águilas
[edit] Healthcare
The hospitals and other public primary healthcare centers belong to the Murcian Healthcare Service. There are three public hospitals in Murcia:
- Ciudad Sanitaria Virgen de La Arrixaca in El Palmar, that includes obstetrics and pediatrics units
- Hospital Reina Sofía
- Hospital Morales Meseguer
[edit] Education
Murcia has three universities:
- two public universities: the University of Murcia, founded in 1912 and the UPCT, Polytechnic University of Cartagena; and
- one private university: the UCAM, Saint Anthony Catholic University.
There are also several high schools, elementary schools, and professional schools. Murcia has 3 types of schools for children: private schools such as El Limonar (well-known English language school), semi-private schools (concertado) such as Las Maristas (well-known for its graduates), and public schools such as Colegio Publico (CP) San Pablo (known for maths and science). The private schools and concertados can be religious (Catholic) or nonreligious. The public schools are strictly nonreligious. More information is needed here to define concertado: a school receiving government money but private in nature even religious. Such schools fill the gap by providing schools where the government isn't able to or come from a time in the past before the government developed a national school system and these private schools were working and were thus left in place and given the responsibility to act as public schools in educating all without having to become nonreligious like all other public schools.
Murcia University.jpg
Old University Building |
Murcia UniversityCloister.jpg
Old University (cloister) |
[edit] Notable people from Murcia
- Muhyī al-Dīn Ibn al-‘Arabī (1165–1240), a Sufi thinker.
- Diego de Saavedra Fajardo (1584–1648), a writer and diplomat.
- Francisco Salzillo (1707–1783), a Baroque sculptor.
- José Moñino, conde de Floridablanca (1728–1808), a statesman, minister of King Charles III of Spain.
- Juan de la Cierva (1895–1936), the inventor of the autogyro, a forerunner of the helicopter.
- Francisco Sánchez Bautista (1925–), a poet.
- Julián Romea (1818–1863), a theater actor.
- Alejandro Valverde (1980–), a cyclist.
- Luis León Sánchez Gil (1983–), a cyclist.
- Nicolás Almagro (1985–), a tennis player.
- Charo (1951–), a musician, actress and entertainer.
- Maria Teresa Chicote (1935–), a notable scientist.
Laura Dominguez
[edit] Sport teams
- Real Murcia — Spanish First Division football (soccer)
- Polaris World Murcia — basketball
- El Pozo Murcia Turistica — indoor soccer
[edit] Sister cities
- Image:Flag of the United States.svg Miami, USA
- Image:Flag of Italy.svg Lecce, Italy
- Image:Flag of France.svg Grasse, France
- Image:Flag of Mexico.svg Irapuato, Mexico
- Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg Murcia, Negros Occidental, Philippines
- Image:Flag of Poland.svg Łódź, Poland
[edit] External links
- Official Tourism Site of the City of Murcia
- Official Tourism Site of Murcia, Spain
- (Spanish) Ayuntamiento de Murcia (the Town Hall)
- (Spanish) Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia (the Autonomous Community)
- University of Murcia - public university
- (Spanish) Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena - public university
- (Spanish) Universidad Católica San Antonio - private university
- (Spanish) Big Murcia Photogallery
- Viva Murcia community info and photos for Murcia City and Province
- Murcia is at coordinates Coordinates:
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
Municipalities in Murcia | |
|---|---|
| Abanilla · Abarán · Águilas · Albudeite · Alcantarilla · Los Alcázares · Aledo · Alguazas · Alhama de Murcia · Archena · Beniel · Blanca · Bullas · Calasparra · Campos del Río · Caravaca de la Cruz · Cartagena · Cehegín · Ceutí · Cieza · Fortuna · Fuente Álamo de Murcia · Jumilla · Librilla · Lorca · Lorquí · Mazarrón · Molina de Segura · Moratalla · Mula · Murcia · Ojós · Pliego · Puerto Lumbreras · Ricote · San Javier · San Pedro del Pinatar · Santomera · Torre-Pacheco · Las Torres de Cotillas · Totana · Ulea · La Unión · Villanueva del Río Segura · Yecla · La Manga Del Mar Menor | Image:Flag of the Region of Murcia.svg |
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