The tower of the ex-Collegiate Church of San Patricio in Lorca is open to visitors for the first time  The first visit to the bell-tower took taken place on St Patrick's Day, around whose figure a series of tourist activities in English have been programmed for the first time ever in the city.   From the bell tower, which is open to the public for the enjoyment of Lorca residents and to host tourist visits, you can see the historic..

The tower was built on the orders of Alfonso X in the 13th century when Lorca was a frontier city One of the most iconic elements of the historic castle of Lorca is the tower which was built under the orders of King Alfonso X “El Sabio”, who expelled the Moors from what is now the Region of Murcia in 1243 before inheriting the Crown of Castilla from his father, Fernando III. Following those events Lorca was a frontier city for around 250..

The tower was built on the orders of Alfonso X in the 13th century when Lorca was a frontier city One of the most iconic elements of the historic castle of Lorca is the tower which was built under the orders of King Alfonso X “El Sabio”, who expelled the Moors from what is now the Region of Murcia in 1243 before inheriting the Crown of Castilla from his father, Fernando III. Following those events Lorca was a frontier city for around 250..

The tower was built on the orders of Alfonso X in the 13th century when Lorca was a frontier city One of the most iconic elements of the historic castle of Lorca is the tower which was built under the orders of King Alfonso X “El Sabio”, who expelled the Moors from what is now the Region of Murcia in 1243 before inheriting the Crown of Castilla from his father, Fernando III. Following those events Lorca was a frontier city for around 250..

This spectacular visit takes in the 15th century castles of Xiquena and Tirieza in the north-west of Lorca This unusual tour of the north-west of the huge municipality of Lorca encompasses an area which for centuries was a kind of no man’s land between the Christian kingdom of Castilla and the Moorish Nazarí kingdom of Granada. It was not until the 15th century that the area finally came under the control of Christian forces, shortly before..

A free route uncovering some of the most important treasures of the historic city centre of Lorca Lorca is a city rich in history, its strategic position above the Guadalentín Valley having attracted human settlers for thousands of years. The Argarics, Iberians, Moors, Jews and Christians all left their footprints in the city, which contains many important monuments and interesting buildings. The imposing medieval castle (the Fortaleza..

The spectacular embroideries of Semana Santa in Lorca can be seen throughout the year in these four museums Lorca embroideries are famed throughout Spain Every town and city in the Region of Murcia has its curiosities, quirks and unique traditions, but none is as colourful and passionate as the Semana Santa (Easter week) celebrations in the City of Lorca, the outstanding feature of this extraordinary week being the embroideries created..

Oficina de Turismo de Lorca The tourist information office in Lorca can be found centrally located in one of the most important plazas of the city: the Plaza de España. This is next to historic buildings including the former Collegiate Church of San Patricio, the Salas Capitulares, the Town Hall and the traditional palatial houses which belonged to some of the most important families in Murcia in previous centuries. It is one of these..

The tourist information office can provide vouchers giving parking discounts All efforts are made in Lorca to facilitate parking for visitors to the city and to this end the Town Hall has instigated a number of schemes to enable those visiting the city to park their cars cheaply and conveniently for the day. One of the most convenient parking locations for visitors is outside the La Merced visitors’ centre, a recommended starting point..

The regional artisan centre offers traditional Murcian crafts from a wide selection of craftsmen The Centro para la Artesanía de Lorca is a dedicated sales and display space showcasing traditional crafts in the centre of the historic city of Lorca, and offers colourful displays of the traditional trades of the Region of Murcia, all at "straight from the artisans prices". The building in which it is housed stands between the Palacio..

Lorca is famed for the embroideries featured in the annual biblical processions in Easter Week (Semana Santa) One of the most impressive and ebullient expressions of faith which can be seen anywhere in the Region of Murcia is the remarkable collection of embroidered pieces which the Lorca brotherhoods continue to expand and parade during the annual Easter week (Semana Santa) processions in the City of Lorca. The "Biblical processions..

Exquisite embroidery features in the annual biblical processions of Lorca Semana Santa (Easter week) in Lorca is an extraordinary week, as although the religious acts follow the similar pattern of processions charting the last acts of drama in the life of Christ, as in other parts of Spain, the city stands out for its exceptional embroideries and the "biblical processions" in which they parade. Although the brotherhoods of Lorca..

The museum contains pieces relating to the Semana Santa processions in Lorca Lorca has gained a fully justified reputation for artistic creativity due to the incredible biblical processions of Semana Santa week, the robes, standards and embroideries taking artistic creativity to a new level. Four brotherhoods work throughout the year to not only maintain and restore their existing collections, but also continue to amplify them, constantly..

This is one of four museums dedicated to the embroideries of the Semana Santa processions in Lorca The Museo de Bordados del Paso Encarnado, often known by the acronym MuPaEn, is one of four museums in Lorca  dedicated to the remarkable embroideries associated with the biblical processions which are held in Semana Santa (Easter Week) every year in the city of Lorca. The Paso Encarnado, officially entitled the Archicofradía del Santísimo..

The imposing might of the Fortaleza del Sol in Lorca A visit to Lorca castle makes the centrepiece of a great day out for families or those with an interest in history, its spacious grounds hosting several interesting displays which focus on Medieval Murcia and the many cultures which have shaped the Region throughout its long history. Nicknamed the Fortaleza del Sol (the fortress of the sun), the castle was never taken by force at any..

The Lorca visitors’ centre in the former Convent of La Merced PLEASE CLICK TO SEE TEMPORARY OPENING INFORMATION FOR SUMMER 2020 FOLLOWING THE COVID CRISIS A good starting point for anyone visiting Lorca for the first time is the Centro de Visitantes located in the Antiguo Convento de la Merced. This an excellent base from which to work as it is easy to find and there is plenty of parking alongside, making it a good location from which..

The Excolegiata is a cathedral-sized church in Lorca built between the 16th and 18th centuries Of all the historic and monumental buildings in Lorca perhaps the most important is the Excolegiata (or Antigua Colegiata) de San Patricio, which was originally built to commemorate a victory in battle over the Moors in the 15th century and now boasts one of the best examples of the typical Murcia baroque façade in the whole of the Region. Situated..

The gate of San Antonio stood on the eastern side of the defensive wall of Lorca The Porche de San Antonio is the only remaining medieval entrance gate left in the whole of the Region of Murcia and is just one of the gates which used to provide entrance through the city wall of Lorca. This was once a significant structure which surrounded the hill on which the castle stands and enclosed the residents safety behind a stone ring measuring..

Hotels in and around the historic city of Lorca Hotel Félix (*) Address: Calle Fuerzas Armadas, 30800 Lorca Telephone: 968 467654 Email: informacion@hotelfelix.com Website: www.hotelfelix.es Rooms: 40 (sleeps 58)   Hotel Hacienda Real Los Olivos (****) Address: Calle de Altobordo, 30813 Purias (out-of-town location) Telephone: 968 959100 Email: hrlosolivos@royalpremierhoteles.com Website: www.haciendareallosolivos..

The oldest cloth in Europe and a journey through the history of Lorca from pre-history until the 15th century By no means every town or city in Spain has enough archaeological wealth to boast its own museum, but in the case of Lorca the sites which are dotted around the huge municipality have provided so many items of interest dating from pre-history to the Middle Ages that the impressive facility housed in the Casa de los Salazar Rosso almost..

A little known location which should be on the map for every visitor to Lorca In Lorca the traditions of Semana Santa, or Easter Week, run especially deep, and perhaps this is nowhere better illustrated than in the small church known as El Calvario which stands on a rocky outcrop just outside the northern edge of the city. El Calvario, or Mount Calvary, is the last of the 14 Stations of the Cross on the Via Crucis route which is followed..

Includes emergency services, Town Hall departments, etc Main tourist information office Address: Plaza de España, 7 Telephone: 968 441914 Click for further information   LAW AND ORDER Guardia Civil Address: Carretera de Granada, 12 Telephone: 968 477452 (emergencies 062)   Policía Nacional Address: Lope Gisbert, 29 Telephone: 968 477500 / 968 355514 (emergencies 091) Fax: 968 441 151   Polic..

The Museo del Belén de Lorca, located in the Ermita de San Roque y San Sebastían CLICK ON THE GALLERY IMAGE TO ENLARGE This little museum is set inside the Ermita de San Roque, the oldest surviving Christian building in Lorca. Although the church itself was first consecrated in the 14th century, the museum opened for the first time during the Christmas season of 2014, and was inaugurated following the first living nativity representation..

A magnificent 17th century baroque residence in the centre of Lorca The Palacio de Guevara, sometimes known as the Casa de las Columnas, is the most representative baroque building in the historic city centre of Lorca, and was officially recognized as an Item of Cultural Interest in 1984. Located on Calle Lope Gisbert alongside many other of the sumptuous residences occupied by the aristocracy of Lorca in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was..

These were discovered during works to build a new Parador Hotel During construction works to build the Parador Hotel in Lorca, the remains of the only known medieval synagogue within the Region of Murcia was discovered, as part of the Jewish quarter inside the fortified walls of the Mediaeval castle. The Synagogue is the only one known to exist in Spain which has not been re-used as a religious building  following the tumultuous events of..