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The amazing murals you can visit in Río, Almendricos and Campillo, the villages surrounding Lorca
A new visitable wall mural in Lorca’s Río area is just one of a series of actions to revitalise areas outside of the city centre
The outlying rural villages that lie around Lorca already had plenty to offer visitors, from the inland river beach in Coy and the ancient ruined castle of Xiquena in La Parroquia to the coastal attractions of Puntas de Calnegre and the 300-year-old structures in Zarzadilla de Totana.
But now the small diputation of Río, just to the northwest of Lorca city, has a brand-new mural on the façade of the social local and association of neighbours and women of Río which aims to be a new tourist attraction for the locality.
The new mural depicts the agricultural traditions and history of Río to “reflect the customs, trades and natural, cultural and intangible heritage” of the area.
The theme includes allusions to the first settlers of Río, who focused on agriculture, with some small irrigated orchards, located on the banks of the Guadalentín River, with orange and lemon trees, lettuce plantations and, above all, tomato plants.
The final image also recalls the sulphur exploitation of the Sierra de La Serrata, whose furnaces are still preserved with a yellowish reflection as a result of the mineral and ‘El salto’, which was part of the Canal de Aguas Claras and which connected the reservoir of the Puentes Reservoir directly with the ‘Casa Mata’ and which used to be a place of recreation and enjoyment for locals during hot summer days.
Adding this mural as a new site to visit in Río is part of several actions carried out by the ayuntamiento city hall of Lorca, by way of the Local Action Group CAMPODER, in an attempt to adapt and optimise existing “infrastructure and services in various districts of the municipality through innovative actions aimed at revitalising those enclaves furthest from the town centre”.
The city council assures that this will serve to “promote territorial balance and the development of rural areas, with a view to offering, in addition, greater social welfare for its neighbours, in a municipality characterised especially by its large territorial extension”.
Other murals achieve the same ends in Almendricos, Campillo, Campo López (Carrasquilla), El Consejero (Parrilla), Aguaderas and Cazalla, “promoting their identity and at the same time making them attractive to potential tourists who want to know a little more about these areas of the municipality of Lorca, which have their own historical and cultural heritage”.
The project has also involved the participation of the local residents of these areas themselves, as they came together to choose between several different sketches drawn up on the theme established for each area, as brought to life by artist Iván Molina.
For more local news, information and upcoming events, go to the home page of Lorca Today
Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca
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Calle Lope Gisbert, 12, LorcaTel: 968 441914
Oficina de Turismo de Lorca
The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern city has built its tourism industry. Among these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish quarter of the castle and synagogue, Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.
Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011, claiming 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.
The tourist office relocated for 14 years to Calle San Patricio, near the church, but has now returned to its former premises alongside the Palacio de Guevara in the Plaza Concha Sandoval, or Plaza de la Bordadora (click for map).
Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only along difficult tracks or by boat!
However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a series of processions in which the Whites (Paso Blanco) and Blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.
Lorca also has a Parador hotel, located within the historic castle.
Opening hours for Lorca tourist office:
Every day of the year apart from 1st and 6th January and 25th December, 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 18.30 (except Sunday afternoons).
These opening times are often extended and other information points created during the Semana Santa celebrations.
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today
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