Why move to Murcia
Move to this quirky city to enjoy amazing architecture, a thriving arts scene and some of the best food in Spain.
Located 30 minutes inland off the coast of southeast Spain lies Murcia, a historic cultural city and capital of the region of the same name. Murcia is famous for its abundance of spectacular architecture, unique gastronomy and more recently, a growing art scene.
Strolling through its beautiful plazas, you will be struck by the eclectic architecture: the Santa Maria Cathedral took so long to complete that the interior and exterior are finished in totally different styles, the Casino de Murcia is similarly ecumenical, with an English library, a French style ballroom, and palatial Arabic Court.
Head to the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga to see more of Murcia’s diverse heritage: the slick, modern Moneo Building – Murcia’s town hall, sits next to the blushing pink 18th century Palacio Episcopal – Bishop’s Palace.
Perhaps it is this quirkiness that has attracted so many arts curators to the city of late, bringing with them galleries, museums and pop-up art spaces. Or perhaps they have been enticed by the tapas, which is renowned as some of the very best in Spain.
Here, the market stalls swell with huge fruits and vegetables and excellent seafood brought in fresh from the nearby Mar Menor. With such a rich variety of food, art, and architecture on offer, it’s surprising that Murcia isn’t more well known to tourists. Their loss could be your gain.
Community
Murcia has a majority Spanish population but has a sizeable international community of around 13%.
Property
Murcia offers buyers a wide variety of property: modern apartments, terraced houses and villas, rustic country houses or traditional townhouses.
Amenities
You are spoilt for choice by the huge range of shops and facilities at your fingertips. There are numerous supermarkets, big brand shops, independent boutiques, bars, cafés and restaurants serving some of the best food in Spain. There are also a number of British shops where expats can find some of their favourite items from home.
Transport
Getting around Murcia is very easy – most places are within walking distance and there are plenty of regular buses and trains. Murcia International Airport is roughly 30 minutes away from the city centre.
Employment
There are lots of employment opportunities in the area – many only require English. However, as with other parts of Spain, you will be at a distinct advantage in your job hunt if you learn to speak Spanish.
Health
Murcia has excellent healthcare facilities, with various doctors surgeries throughout the city, several hospitals plus a range of private facilities with English speaking doctors. There are also numerous pharmacies, opticians and veterinarians around the city.
Schools
Murcia has good Spanish state schools, and if you are looking for the English curriculum you will find both the El Limonar International School and also the award-winning King’s College, The British School of Murcia on your doorstep.
Cost of Living
You can expect the cost of living in the city centre to be higher than living in the surrounding suburbs, but even city centre living offers good value compared to other parts of Spain. There are bargain properties to be found too, if you are willing to carry out the renovation yourself.