The village and outlying district of Zarcilla de Ramos in the municipality of Lorca

A small agricultural village in the vast countryside of northern Lorca

Zarcilla de Ramos is village with around 1,000 residents in the “Tierras Altas” area of the vast municipality of Lorca, and is in fact one of the most heavily populated of the 39 “diputaciones” of the vast municipality of Lorca (occupying an area of 1,675 square kilometres, the second largest municipality in Spain).

The main economic activity in the area is non-irrigated farming and pig-rearing, although in recent years the rural atmosphere and the imposing landscape – in this part of the world even the sky somehow seems bigger! – has led to a significant increase in rural tourism.

The local gastronomy is typical of the rustic environment, local favourites including various rice dishes with rabbit and snails, roast lamb and “gurullos”. For visitors exploring the countryside there are paths flanked by esparto grass, rosemary and thyme, along which it is not uncommon to see Barbary sheep, boar and mountain goats on the climb up to the hill known as Cerro del Sagrado Corazón.

The local fiestas are held on September 8.

In and around Zarcilla de Ramos, the Town Hall of Lorca has included three walking and mountain biking routes in its “Los Caminos del Sol” program:

• The Ruta de las Loberas (12 km, approximately 4 hours, medium to high level of difficulty)
• The Pericay MTB mountain bike route (44 km, especially attractive for those who enjoy riding in mountainous terrain)
• The El Calar walk, suitable for families with children (5 km)

Bars and restaurants

- Tiro al plato, Carretera de La Parroquia 1

- Bar Ángela, Calle D. Miguel Coronel 13, 30810 Zarcilla de Ramos, telephone 968 499571

- Pub Alpe, 968 499372

- Mesón La Rubia, Calle Dip. Provincial 16, telephone 666 338041

Accommodation

Casas rurales Casa Aurelia, Calle Juan Carlos I, telephone 968 237627 / 626 368554

Shops

- Supermercado Mondéjar, Calle Diputación Provincial 9, telephone 968 499582

- Supermercado Mena

- Supermercado Luis y Carmina

- Carnicería Arcas García

- Multiprecio Isabel, Calle Mocete, telephone 629 546882

- Embutidos el Ventero, Calle Larga 21, telephone 968 499477

- Pescadería Benito

- Pescadería Maria Ángeles, telephone 626 154947

- Panadería Chaveo, telephone 645 533605

- Quesería La Zarcillera, Carretera La Parroquia 1, telephone 645 557594

Chemist

- Calle Sastra 2, telephone 968 499302

Citizen security

Guardia Civil, Plaza Iryda

Places of interest

- The church of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad

- El Santo

- Centenary olive trees on the track to the old public wash house of El Rincón

- Vulture nesting area in El Pericay (a mountain which rises to 1,235 metres above sea level)

- Open-air public swimming pool in summer

- A couple of kilometres away in El Rincón de los Carranzas there are more centuries-old olive trees and the public washhouse of “El Tornajo”, which was restored in 1997.

- La Piedra del Collado, a rock shaped like a sinking ship (also referred to as the “Piedra del Gallo”).

- The church of La Purísima Concepción.

For more local information, news and events go to the home page of Lorca Today.