Lorca Spain
Useful Lorca Spain information, outlining the town situated in the Murcia region.
Guide to Lorca Spain
Lorca Spain - Dominated by its ancient Thirteenth Century castle the town of Lorca is, these days, a significant commercial centre for the surrounding region. Situated to the south-west of Murcia, Lorca is perfectly located on the A-7 (E-15) motorway and enjoys excellent rail and road communications with the main cities of southern Spain, both to the south (Granada and Almeria) and the north (Valencia and Alicante). Known as ‘The City of a Hundred Coats of Arms’, Lorca was a dangerous border town during the struggle between the Moors and Christians.
Lorca has the second highest municipal land area in Spain comprising 1,675 km2 and has a population of approximately 85,000 (2004 data).
The castle which overlooks the town was built by the Moors, and for many years it stood on the frontier between Muslim and Christian Spain. After the re-conquest the castle was re-named Torre Alfonsina in honour of the Castillian King Alfonso X. The story of Lorca however goes back considerably farther, as it was first settled by the Iberians (of the Argar Culture) during the Bronze Age (1100 - 3500 BC), it was later called Eliocroca during Roman times. The Moors called it Lurka and much of the old town of Lorca still reminds visitors of the Arab occupation in its layout and design, with distinctive narrow, winding alleyways and streets.
During the Eighteenth Century a number of Baroque churches were constructed in Lorca and these together with numerous other fine buildings make Lorca a fascinating and interesting place to visit. Amongst the finest buildings are the Ex-Collegiate Church of San Patricio which was built between 1536 and 1780 on the site of the former Church of San Jorge and it was named in honour of the people of Lorca who battled hard to defeat the Moors in 1452, the Church of San Francisco with its wonderful display of Baroque alter pieces, originally constructed 1561 it was re-built during the 17th Century, the Guevara Palace a Baroque building from the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries belonging to the Guevara family, the Town Hall first built in 1678 as a prison, it was extended and enlarged in 1739, the Granary (El Pósito) dating from the Fourteenth Century, one of the few surviving buildings of this age in Lorca and originally designed by Quijano, the Chapel of El Rosario and the Convent of Santo Domingo built during the Seventeenth Century by the Dominican Order with stonework by Antonio de la Rosa and Lorenzo Mora.
Lorca was named an area of ‘Historical and Artistic Interest’ in 1964 and a visit to the town will leave visitors in no doubt as to the reason for this accolade.
Lorca of course celebrates many fiestas and festivals but is particularly renowned for its ‘Holy Week’ celebrations when the streets are alive with local people dressed in elaborate costumes together with galloping horses, Roman carriages and carved religious images.
The land around Lorca is well irrigated (thanks mostly to the Arabs) and it has been an important area for agriculture (fruit and vegetables) on which it has mostly depended for its economic survival over the centuries, the town was originally built around the Guadalentin River (mud-river in Arabic) which can carry significant quantities of water some years and on others, run completely dry, the Moors brought water from the Tagus river in central Spain to alleviate this problem. Lorca supports a growing service-industry and is also an important area for pig-farming.
To the south of Lorca you will find the picturesque coastline of the southern Costa Calida with some splendid resorts which are also worth a visit including Puerto Mazarron, Calabardina and Aguilas.
Lorca Links: Lorca Map - Lorca Weather - Lorca Article
Places to Visit: Aguilas - Totana - Granada
Golf Courses: Desert Springs Golf Resort - Roda Golf Resort - Mar Menor Golf Resort - Spain Golf Courses
Related: Murcia - Cartagena - Los Alcazares - Mar Menor - San Javier - La Manga - Mazarron - Murcia Airport Transfers - Builders
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