London Stansted to Murcia Airport
The university city of Murcia in southern Spain was founded by the Moors in 825. Standing on a fertile plain midway between the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, this pretty city is an important centre for market gardening. Murcia comes to life during the busy Easter period when a number of important religious processions parade through the town.
Flights between London Stansted and Murcia are operated by Ryanair. Murcia Airport is situated at San Javier, around 40km (25 miles) from the centre of Murcia.
There is a bus service (line 73) operated by Latbus from the airport to Murcia city centre which runs at 5.45pm, 7.15pm and 10.45pm. Journeys take about 45 minutes and a single ticket costs 7 euros (£1 is approximately equal to 1.45 euros) Taxis are available from outside the terminal exit. A typical taxi journey to the centre of Murcia costs around 42 euros and takes about 40 minutes. Additionally there is a train station around 10 km (6 miles) from Murcia Airport which can be reached by taxi. For more train information call (0034) 902 240 202.
Places of interest in Murcia include:
- Cathedral de Santa Maria. Work began on the most important monument in Murcia in the 14th century. Originally constructed in a Gothic style on the site of a former mosque, the cathedral was partly rebuilt before the ornate Baroque facade designed by Jaime Bort was added in the mid-eighteenth century. Santa Maria boasts an impressive 90-metre tall tower that was started in 1521 and not completed until 1792. From the top there are fine views over the city. Also noteworthy are the fine side chapels, the Gothic style Capilla de los Velez and the Renaissance Capilla de los Junteron.
- Cathedral Museum. Artefacts on display in the museum include part of a Roman sarcophagus, various Gothic altarpieces and a huge silver monstrance weighing in at around 600kg.
- Salzillo Museum. Housed in an 18th century Baroque chapel, this museum is dedicated to the work of the Murcia-born sculptor Francisco Salzillo. Some of the masterpieces on display include eight wood sculptures known as ‘pasos’. These religious figures, housed within side chapels off the main nave, are carried through the streets during the Holy Week processions. Other items on display include over 500 terracotta pieces representing scenes from the life of Jesus.
- Museum of Archaeology. One of the finest of its type in Spain, this museum traces the history of the area from prehistoric times through the many local finds which include Roman coins, ceramics and mosaics. There is also an important collection of Moorish items from the 12th to the 14th century and Spanish ceramics dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
- Casino. Located on the main street in Murcia, the Calle de la Traperia, is the casino which was founded in 1847. The unusual building boasts an Arab-style patio based on the Alhambra in Granada. Inside, the main ballroom is illuminated by five magnificent chandeliers.
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