PROPERTY SEARCH
HOME > MURCIA REGION > REGION OF MURCIA
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
Salmonella alert for supermarket products throughout SpainSix different brands of pork rinds sold at Carrefour and Alcampo have been contaminated The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has issued an urgent recall of six widely available varieties of pork rind snacks that have been found.. 26/03/2025
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
Spain to witness a stunning partial solar eclipse this monthOn March 29, the moon will partially obscure the sun, creating a breath-taking event visible across Spain - here’s how to watch it safely Spain is about to experience a spectacular astronomical event - a partial solar eclipse. Here'.. 25/03/2025
March 29-30 Meal deal and activity weekend at Terra Natura MurciaThe Murcia zoo and park has several options for both adults and children this weekend in celebration of the 20th birthday of Brisa the Iberian lynx This weekend, on Saturday March 29 and Sunday 30, Terra Natura zoo and park in Murcia city is celebrating..
When to file your Spanish tax return in 2025: All the dates and what's new this yearBarring a few exceptions, anyone working in Spain during the 2024 fiscal year will need to file a return from April It’s time to dust off that folder full of invoices and expenses and dig out the calculator as the annual Income Tax Return season.. 24/03/2025
The good weather returns: Murcia weekly forecast March 24-27…but what is ‘good’ exactly? Murcia weather forecast, Wednesday March 26 The good weather returns to the Region of Murcia this week, though of course ‘good’ is a relative term. While March’s storms.. 24/03/2025
Hello spring: Clocks go forward this weekend as Daylight Saving Time beginsSpain is considering abandoning the bi-annual clock change at the end of next year As we welcome the arrival of spring, Spain is getting ready to make its annual switch to Daylight Saving Time (DST), which will usher in longer, brighter days. This.. 24/03/2025
Send your mother flowers this Mothers' Day with a beautiful bouquet from Garden BoutiqueCelebrate Mothering Sunday on March 30 with fresh, hand-picked flowers delivered with love in Murcia Mothers' Day is a cherished occasion to honour the remarkable women who have shaped our lives. In the UK, this year's Mothering Sunday falls.. 24/03/2025
Pensioners in Spain will face 3 major changes in AprilOlder people will be able to continue to work past retirement age without impacting their pensions The month of April is going to be full of changes for retirees in Spain thanks to a series of measures first announced last December. According to the Spanish..
New squatting law in Spain aims to speed up evictions to 48 hoursThe law still won’t allow fast-track evictions of tenants who stop paying rent in Spain Squatting has become a real hot-button issue in Spain over the last few years. As cases of illegal occupation rise, with more than 16,000 breaking and entering..
