Many residents and visitors currently in lockdown mode throughout the Murcia region will be thinking ahead, to when they can once again enjoy the region’s attractions – including its venerable history.
Before the quarantine restrictions were decreed last month (and subsequently expanded until midnight 11 April), tourism authorities had launched an initiative “combining the appeal of the past with the modern technology of the future to bring some of its most famous attractions to life”.
Welcoming more than two million visitors in 2019, the Museum of the Roman Theatre in Cartagena, for example, is home to artefacts excavated from the 2,000-year-old Roman theatre.
A 21st century aspect is added to the museum by the use of virtual reality headsets at various points within the monument to display a 3D recreation of how it looked at the time it was in use. There are also virtual “flights” through the site, virtual guided tours, and a short excerpt from the type of play which would have provided entertainment for the people of that era.
According to a press release from Turística Murcia, “The city itself is a living monument to a bygone era and is renowned for its archaeological sites, with many Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and Moorish ruins remaining.”
Its Port of Cultures project is designed to make the city’s historical and cultural sights more accessible for tourists – highlighted by a panoramic elevator that connects the port with Concepción Castle.
Another city in the region with a rich history is Lorca. The impressive mediaeval castle, where Muslims, Christians and Jews cohabitated for centuries, is the focal point, able to be viewed from a far-off distance, while other attractions include many free-to-enter museums, squares, palaces, notable buildings and churches.
Within the castle’s grounds, the meticulously preserved Archaeological Park of the Castle and Synagogue is also a must-visit attraction.
Overall, the region’s strategic location as a Mediterranean enclave has enabled it to retain many significant historical links. These comprise a fascinating mix of culture and history including rock-paintings in cave-shelters dating to the Iberian period; Arab medinas; Christian castles, watch-towers, churches and temples; and numerous civil and military buildings.
For more information about other attractions in the Murcia region, click here.