Costa Calida Towns & Attractions

One of the most notable features to the north of the region is the Mar Menor or “Little Sea”. This is the largest salt water lake in Europe and is famous for the therapeutic properties of its mud. It is separated from the Mediterranean by a narrow strip of land known as La Manga or “The Sleeve”. A quirk of nature, La Manga is extremely narrow in some places - just a few hundred feet wide. In addition to separating the Mar Menor from the rest of the Mediterranean Sea, La Manga has produced one of the best known sports and tourist resorts on the whole of the Spanish coastline. The waters of the Mar Menor are significantly warmer – in fact up to five degrees warmer – than the Mediterranean itself, so the attraction of the area is fairly obvious.

The city of Murcia itself dates from the 9th century when it was founded by the Moorish ruler, Abd al Rahman II. The remains of the city wall – originally 50 feet high – are still visible in places around the city. This gives an indication of the city's past prosperity and importance. Murcia also features many fine examples of baroque architecture, the most important of which is the Cathedral de Santa Maria. This was originally built in Gothic style in the 14th century and was extensively modified in the 16th and 18th centuries.

Cartagena or “New Carthage”, once the Iberian capital of the Carthaginian general Hannibal and an important city during Roman times, has a long and rich history. This is exemplified by the archaeological remains from various eras which can be seen throughout. The city remains one of the most important ports and naval bases in Spain. It boasts a modern commercial centre and promenade area, from which it is possible to take a boat trip around the ancient harbour. The Los Urrutias beach to the south of the town is one of the best in the area, featuring over 600 yards of fine golden sand and ample opportunities for water sports including sailing, jet and water skiing. Cartagena is also renowned for its fabulous cuisine based, unsurprisingly, on seafood including “la ensalada cantonal” – a salty fish salad – and “el pulpo a la plancha” – grilled octopus.