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Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia: Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia
The Region of Murcia is the 9th largest autonomous community in Spain by size, covering an area over half the size of Wales, and the tenth most populated with 1,474,449 inhabitants (national statistics institute, Jan 2013) of whom 22,000 are British.
It is formed by a single province, and governed by the autonomous regional government, based in the Palacio de San Esteban in Murcia City, and the regional Assembly, the regional parliament, in Cartagena.
The region is further broken down into 45 individual municipalities, each with their own municipal government and Mayor. These are then further subdivided into local pedanías, or diputaciones.
There are three major cities in the Region: the capital City of Murcia, with 441,354 inhabitants (Jan 2013), the historic port of Cartagena which is an important naval base and Mediterranean cruise ship destination with a population of 216,655, and Lorca with 92,865 residents.
The economy of the Region has traditionally relied on agriculture: it is often referred to as the market garden of Spain, and is a major exporter of fruit, salad and vegetables to most European countries, including the UK.
In the 20th and 21st century Cartagena has become a major centre for petroleum and energy production with the Repsol refinery and surrounding developments in the valley of Escombreras and its container port.
In the past there were important mineral mines in the Region, and over the centuries significant contributions to the economy have also been made by the furniture industry in Yecla, various traditional crafts such as esparto grass weaving and of course, being a coastal region, fishing (and, in recent times, fish farming).
There are also many new technological parks, notably the one in Fuente Álamo, and in the last twenty years international tourism has begun to develop.
Murcia is a popular Spanish tourist destination but remains largely unknown outside of Spain. UK tourists make up the largest group of foreign visitors to the region, accounting for more than 50% of tourists, however, many of these either own, are renting or visiting, properties on the 6 residential tourism developments built by the Polaris World Promotor and a number of other residential tourism developments including the luxurious La Manga Club, Camposol in Mazarrón, and Hacienda del Álamo in Fuente Álamo.
These are serviced by an airport at San Javier, shared with the Spanish Air Academy, and El Altet at Alicante (about a 1-hour drive from the region), and an opening date is still awaited for the new International airport at Corvera, near to Murcia City.
Murcia enjoys a warm climate, with 300 days of sun and clear skies a year and an average temperature of 21 degrees. The region is fringed by the Mediterranean Sea, its coastal area known as the Costa Cálida, with 250km of coastline. Murcia also has the Mar Menor, technically an inland saltwater lake separated from the Mediterranean by La Manga, a 22km long sandy strip with high density tourist occupation. This has 73km of internal beaches with a maximum depth of just 7 meters in the centre, making it a major focal point for watersports, with no tidal currents or waves, but having salt water, sandy beaches and steady sailing winds.
The region also has hotspring spas, mountainous interior areas, forested areas and stone fruit growing river valleys, offering a wide range of landscapes, and a rich offering of cultural monuments and historical sites.
Municipalities of the Region of Murcia
The municipalities of the Region of Murcia are 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 Segura and Yecla.
Where is the Region of Murcia?
Click for map, Region of Murcia
Murcia celebrates 1,200th anniversary with ambitious sculptural mural and time capsuleYecla-born sculptor Lidó Rico is already working on this mammoth twenty-two square metre mural Murcia city is marking a major milestone in 2025, its 1,200th anniversary, with a unique and ambitious project. Renowned Yecla-born artist Lidó.. 26/03/2025
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San Pedro steps up mosquito control after heavy rainsParks, drains and storm tanks are all being sprayed to prevent mosquitoes The recent heavy rains have brought a welcome boost to the Region of Murcia’s water supplies but they've also created a perfect storm for mosquito breeding. ..
This month's rain has caused Murcia bars and restaurants to lose up to 40% of their incomeMurcia’s bars and restaurants have seen turnover drop by up to 40% but they are hoping for a strong Easter come April Bars and restaurants across the Region of Murcia have been hit hard by the continuous rainfall of the past six or seven weeks.. 25/03/2025
Seismic activity continues with 3.2-magnitude earthquake off coast of Murcia and AlmeríaThere have been seven earthquakes in Murcia in the last 72 hours Seismic activity continues in the south of Spain. This Tuesday March 25, after an earthquake was recorded in Lorca, the sixth in the last 72 hours, the National Geographic Institute (.. 25/03/2025
Berber pirate raids fiestas of Los Alcázares included in National Historical Reenactments AssociationThe 2025 edition of the fiestas takes place from 17th to 20th April The annual fiestas of the Berber pirate raids in Los Alcázares have been admitted to the Asociación Española de Fiestas y Recreaciones Históricas (the Spanish.. 25/03/2025
Ryanair launches new Prime subscription discount schemeThe budget airline claims passengers could save almost €500 per year Ryanair has launched an exciting new subscriber discount scheme called ‘Prime’ that promises to save members more than five times the cost of the subscription. For.. 25/03/2025
VIDEO: One man and his dog rescued from Camposol embalseThe dog got trapped and first and the man went in after it This Monday March 24, a man and his dog had to be pulled from a reservoir near the Camposol urbanisation after they fell in and became trapped. The man became.. 25/03/2025
San Javier cheese factory awarded artisan company statusThe Quesos Ruperto cheese factory in El Mirador makes and packages its delicious products by hand The Quesos Ruperto cheese factory in El Mirador, San Javier, has been accredited as an artisan company, a prestigious award that not only acknowledges.. 25/03/2025
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