Ricardo Codorníu visitors centre, Sierra Espuña

The Centro de Visitantes Ricardo Codorníu is a central information point for visitors to Sierra Espuña

It can almost be said that the regional park of Sierra Espuña, which lies in the municipalities of Alhama de Murcia, Pliego, Aledo, Totana, Mula and Librilla, was created in 1889 by the inspiration and determination of one man, Ricardo Codorníu, a native of Cartagena who was born in 1846.

Codorníu, a passionate lover of nature, went to Madrid to study forestry engineering, and was responsible for the founding of many of the bodies which now control the natural spaces in the Region of Murcia today.

During his lifetime he achieved fame and recognition for his work, becoming known as the "Apóstol del Árbol" (the apostle of the trees), and in 1889 he visited the area of the Sierra Espuña and was horrified by the devastation left by the boom years of industrial activity in the Region, stimulated by the arrival of the railways in 1862. During the latter half of the 19th century Murcia was transformed as minerals were shipped across the world and the economy boomed, stripping vast tracts of land for wood, devastating forested areas.

Codorníu set about the task of repopulating the Sierra Espuña, replanting 20,000 hectares with pine trees, and his legacy later became the Sierra Espuña regional park, a protected leisure space which encompasses 25,000 hectares of forest and mountains. The park is a maze of walks and routes, with recreation areas and restaurants provided for the visitors who flock to the park every weekend, and is  also extensively used as an educational facility to encourage young Murcianos to enjoy the great outdoors.

Having completed his project in Sierra Espuña, Ricardo Codorníu went on to save the town of Guardamar del Segura, in the province of Alicante, from being engulfed by sand dunes, by overseeing the planting of 600,000 pine trees, 40,000 plam trees and 5,000 eucalyptus in the shifting sands. 

The visitors centre is home to a permanent exhibition about the flora and fauna to be found in the park and has teaching and meeting facilities for the various activities which take place within it, as well as a centre for the vigilance patrols who care for the park (and toilets!).

The staff have a number of routes printed out which can be taken by visitors, although much of the information is in Spanish. Alhama de Murcia tourist office in the town centre have far more information in English.

Telephone: 968 43 14 30

Email: infosierraespuna@carm.es

Opening times.

15th June to 15th September:

Mondays closed

Tuesday to Thursday 09:00 to 15:30

Friday and Saturday from 09:00 to 15:30 and again from 16.30 to 19:30.

Sundays and festival days from 09:00 to 15.30.

16th September to 14th June:

Mondays closed

Tuesday to Thursday 09:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 17:30.

Friday and Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00 and again from 15.30 to 17:30.

Sundays and festival days from 09:00 to 15.30.

From the visitors' centre it is possible to drive down to the road junction and follow the signs to one of two recreational areas, both of which have restaurant facilities (and public toilets), La Perdiz or the more popular Fuente el Hilo, with public picnic areas and paths leading from both.

The picnic tables are all for the use by the public, although the lighting of barbecues is now banned due to the fire risk. 

How to get to the Centro de Visitantes Ricardo Codorníu

From Alhama de Murcia

Take the C3315 which leads from the main high street of Alhama, past the Town Hall and up along a twisty, climbing road up into the Sierra Espuña.

At 6.8 km from Alhama, a low valley appears on the left hand side, planted with crops and vines, then just past this point the road turns a sharp left and the view on the right hand side stretches out across "the badlands" the dry, barren ravines and undulations of the Barrancos de Gebas. 

Immediately past this corner is a left hand turn, signposted El Berro 7.5km: take the left turn and for the next 5km the road continues to climb, winding up through the pine trees, the air cooling as altitude increases. At the next junction the signs say El Berro to the right, 2.5km and the Centro de Visitantes Richard Codorníu and the recreation area are signposted from there.

For more local information in English about the Alhama de Murcia municipality and Sierra Espuña in English, including news, static information and forthcoming events, go to Alhama Today.