2. So the family kept on flying looking for warmer winds. They travelled to the South
for a long time and when the temperature reached 20 degrees centigrade and it was
only March, they landed on top of a tower, in the middle of a city. They saw a monk in
it and they asked him:
- Excuse me friar, what city is this?
3. - Murcia, this is Murcia, a small
region in the South East of Spain.
- You know, we are travelling
around Europe and we would like
to know more about Murcia, now
that we are here.
- Ok, from here we can look
around and I will show you some
interesting things. The region has
got 1.500.000 inhabitants and
500.000 of them are here in the
capital and surroundings. It is
famous for its ancient culture, its
production of fruits and vegetables
and its beaches!
4. - But, what place is this?
- This is the tower of the Cathedral, in the city centre. It is on the ancient Muslim
mosque and they lasted 600 years to build it.
- So long?
- Yes, that is why it has got several artistic styles, from Gothic in the structure to
Renaissance in some chapels. Well and the Baroque façade.
5. - You talked about
your Muslim past.
- Oh, yes. A kilometer
from here is the last
archaeological site
they found. They
discovered it when
they started to build
a parking!
6. - Now, look northwest.
Inland there are several Christian castles.
In Moratalla, Aledo…
7. - The last one in that area in Caravaca was used by
the order of the Temple!
8. - And Southwest, in Lorca, the third city of the region,
the so called Fortress of the Sun.
- Wow…
9. - But if you look north directly from here, following the course of
the river you will see the rich and green valley.
10. - But, we saw very dry land in our way.
- That must be the Badlands. They call the desert area that way.
- A desert so close this rich land?
- Well… variety is part of us. Different ancient cultures in our
past, different landscapes in our land…
11. - Well, let’s show you the coast now.
- Oh yes, we have heard a lot about it!
- Of course! First the Roman Theatre of Cartagena, the second city of the region.
- You talked about Muslims. Were the Romans here?
- Oh yes, and the Carthaginians, and the Phoenicians and the Greek…
the list is long!
12. - And very near, The Mar Menor (literally the minor sea),
separated from the Mediterranean only by an arm of land.
13. - But there are
others also charming
and interesting…
14. - We love this place! And we can come not only on holidays but to learn a lot of
history! But we will have a rest now and tomorrow we will decide what place we will
visit next.
- Stay here and enjoy our Easter and Spring Festival! You can go on with your trip after
that! Maybe you would like to watch the Easter religious processions (parades) and
dress up with the typical folklore clothes from Murcia! Everything starts today!
- We will do that then!
15. So our family put on typical costumes of this land and
went out to have fun!
