Learn the history of Murcia, Spain

Want to learn a little about the history of Murcia, Spain during your vacation at Palatinum Golf, Spa, and Sport Resort? Below are just a few of the places you should visit.

Catedral de Murcia

Catedral de Murcia was created in 1394 on the site of a former mosque. The Catedral has many Renaissance and Baroque elements, although its interior is fundamentally Gothic. It also features a 302 foot tower whose construction was started in 1519 and took more than two hundred years to build with the involvement of many different architects.

A highlight of the interior is the 15th century flamboyant Gothic Capilla de los Vélez and its flutes and curls. It also features a vaulted ceiling with star-shaped skylights. For those interested in the history of Murcia, Spain, Catedral de Murcia is the best attraction because this extraordinary building reflects the memory, time, art, and history of Murcia.

Almudi Palace

The Almudi Palace is a unique, imposing building located in the Plano de San Francisco and features many columns which recall the baroque style of Murcia.

The building was finished in 1440 by Esteban Fernández, and was reformed on various occasions throughout the XVI century. In the XVII century, some of its rooms were used temporarily to store weapons while the "Contraste" building was under completion.

The building later became the Law Court and today it is home to the City Archives, where the administrative documentation of the city and the "Huerta" has been kept since the XIII century. It is also an art center with an exhibition room in the grandiose hall.

The Castle of Monteagudo

Before the founding of Murcia, The Castle of Monteagudo was a place where local peasants took refuge. Later, when the city became the true capital of the territory, it became a fort and defensive watchtower of the Murcian ruler who resided in the city. In times of instability, the permanent garrison of the castle was ready to alert the defenders of Murcia to the arrival of the enemy, by way of smoke signals at day or fire at night.

As a state fortification, The Castle of Monteagudo had other uses. For example, it was used as a prison, where the Murcian King, Ibn Tahir, himself was imprisoned in its dungeons and it was also used as a storage place for the cereal paid by the peasants as a tribute.

On the summit of the hill, there stands the monument of Reparation to the Heart of Jesus. This majestic sculpture is fourteen meters high and was designed in 1951 by the artist Nicolás Martínez.

In recent years, the community has been carrying out excavation, restoration, and fitting out of the entrances in order to make it easier to appreciate its socio-cultural and tourist value.

DID YOU KNOW?

The City of Murcia was founded in 825 AD by Abd ar-Rahman II, who gave it the name Medinat Mursiya, meaning Market of Murcia.