Information about Murcia (City), Murcia
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Murcia (37°59?N, 1°8?W) is a city and municipality on the river Segura in southeastern Spain and the capital of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia. Its population is 422,861 (2007), and the population of its metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) is 563,272, ranking as the 12th-largest metropolitan area of Spain.
Murcia is built nearly in the centre of a low-lying fertile plain, known as the huerta or orchard or vinyard of Murcia, which includes the valleys of the Segura and its right-hand tributary the Guadalentín or river Sangonera, and is surrounded by mountains. Despite the proximity of the sea, the climate is subject to great variations: the summer heat is severe, while frosts are occasionally experienced in the capital during the winter.
Precipitation in Murcia is scarce, with less than 200 mm (7.9 inches) registered in the hydrological year October 2004 to September 2005.
The temperature oscillates between 16°C/4°C of January and 34°C/20°C of August, although 40°C is surpassed during many summers. The 20th century record high temperature for Spain was 47.2 °C (117.0 °F) in Murcia on July 4, 1994.
Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV) is located on the edge of the Mar Menor close to the towns of San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, 45 kilometres (28 mi) southeast of Murcia, about 30 minutes by car. The airport at Alicante is frequently used by travellers to Murcia also.
Geography
The river crosses the city from west to east. It is a river with little volume but with strong swellings, like those of 1946, 1948, 1973 or 1989 that flooded the Murcian capital.
The most well-known and significant landscape of the municipal area is its orchard. In addition to the orchard and urban zones, the great expanse of the municipal area is made up of different landscapes: badlands, the pine groves of Carrasco pine in the precoastal mountain ranges and, pass these towards the south, semi-steppe surroundings.
History
Murcia was founded with the name of Medinat Mursiya in A.D. 825 by Abd ar-Rahman II, emir of Al-Andalus. The Arabs, taking advantage of the course of the river Segura, created a complex network of irrigation channels that made the town prosperous and is the predecessor of the modern irrigation system. The Arab traveller Muhammad al-Idrisi described it in the 12th century as populous and strongly fortified.
Murcia flourished in the 18th century, mainly due to the boom of the silk industry. Many of its churches and monuments are from this period.
The town and surrounding area suffered badly from floods in 1651, 1879 and 1907, though the construction of a levee did much to keep the Segura within its own channel. A popular walkway, the Malecon, runs along the top of the levee.
Murcia was struck by an earthquake in 1829. According to contemporary accounts, some 6,000 people died in the province.
Festivals
The Holy Week processions in the city of Murcia are famous throughout Spain. Life-sized sculptures by Francisco Salzillo (1707–1783) are taken out of museums and carried around the city in elegant processions full of flowers and, at night, candles. These finely detailed sculptures portray events leading up to and including the Crucifixion.
Possibly the most colourful celebrations are the week after Holy Week, when Murcians dress in traditional huertano clothing to celebrate the Bando de la Huerta (Huerta parade) on Tuesday and fill the streets for the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) parade on Saturday.
Murcia Three Cultures International Festival: takes place in May and was created with the idea of overcoming the barrier of racism and xenophobia.
Economy
Murcia serves as a major producer of agricultural products; it is common to find Murcia's tomatoes and lettuce, and especially lemons and oranges, in European supermarkets.
These days, the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which many people from northern European countries have a second home in sunny Murcia.
The economy of Murcia is also supported by fairs and congresses, museums, theatres, cinemas, music, aquariums, bullfighting, restaurants, hotels, campings, sports, foreign students, and tourism.
Education
Murcia has three universities:
two public universities: the University of Murcia, founded in 1912 and the UPCT, Polytechnic University of Cartagena; and
one private university: the UCAM, Saint Anthony Catholic University.
There are also several high schools, elementary schools, and professional schools.
Murcia is built nearly in the centre of a low-lying fertile plain, known as the huerta or orchard or vinyard of Murcia, which includes the valleys of the Segura and its right-hand tributary the Guadalentín or river Sangonera, and is surrounded by mountains. Despite the proximity of the sea, the climate is subject to great variations: the summer heat is severe, while frosts are occasionally experienced in the capital during the winter.
Precipitation in Murcia is scarce, with less than 200 mm (7.9 inches) registered in the hydrological year October 2004 to September 2005.
The temperature oscillates between 16°C/4°C of January and 34°C/20°C of August, although 40°C is surpassed during many summers. The 20th century record high temperature for Spain was 47.2 °C (117.0 °F) in Murcia on July 4, 1994.
Murcia-San Javier Airport (MJV) is located on the edge of the Mar Menor close to the towns of San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, 45 kilometres (28 mi) southeast of Murcia, about 30 minutes by car. The airport at Alicante is frequently used by travellers to Murcia also.
Geography
The river crosses the city from west to east. It is a river with little volume but with strong swellings, like those of 1946, 1948, 1973 or 1989 that flooded the Murcian capital.
The most well-known and significant landscape of the municipal area is its orchard. In addition to the orchard and urban zones, the great expanse of the municipal area is made up of different landscapes: badlands, the pine groves of Carrasco pine in the precoastal mountain ranges and, pass these towards the south, semi-steppe surroundings.
History
Murcia was founded with the name of Medinat Mursiya in A.D. 825 by Abd ar-Rahman II, emir of Al-Andalus. The Arabs, taking advantage of the course of the river Segura, created a complex network of irrigation channels that made the town prosperous and is the predecessor of the modern irrigation system. The Arab traveller Muhammad al-Idrisi described it in the 12th century as populous and strongly fortified.
Murcia flourished in the 18th century, mainly due to the boom of the silk industry. Many of its churches and monuments are from this period.
The town and surrounding area suffered badly from floods in 1651, 1879 and 1907, though the construction of a levee did much to keep the Segura within its own channel. A popular walkway, the Malecon, runs along the top of the levee.
Murcia was struck by an earthquake in 1829. According to contemporary accounts, some 6,000 people died in the province.
Festivals
The Holy Week processions in the city of Murcia are famous throughout Spain. Life-sized sculptures by Francisco Salzillo (1707–1783) are taken out of museums and carried around the city in elegant processions full of flowers and, at night, candles. These finely detailed sculptures portray events leading up to and including the Crucifixion.
Possibly the most colourful celebrations are the week after Holy Week, when Murcians dress in traditional huertano clothing to celebrate the Bando de la Huerta (Huerta parade) on Tuesday and fill the streets for the Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine) parade on Saturday.
Murcia Three Cultures International Festival: takes place in May and was created with the idea of overcoming the barrier of racism and xenophobia.
Economy
Murcia serves as a major producer of agricultural products; it is common to find Murcia's tomatoes and lettuce, and especially lemons and oranges, in European supermarkets.
These days, the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which many people from northern European countries have a second home in sunny Murcia.
The economy of Murcia is also supported by fairs and congresses, museums, theatres, cinemas, music, aquariums, bullfighting, restaurants, hotels, campings, sports, foreign students, and tourism.
Education
Murcia has three universities:
two public universities: the University of Murcia, founded in 1912 and the UPCT, Polytechnic University of Cartagena; and
one private university: the UCAM, Saint Anthony Catholic University.
There are also several high schools, elementary schools, and professional schools.
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