Lighting improved at the site of the medieval synagogue in Lorca castle
Lorca continues to invest in the historical significance of the Fortress of the Sun The remains of the medieval synagogue which stood within the confines of Lorca castle until the expulsion of the Jews (along with the Moors) from Spain in the late 15th century has become one of the city’s most important tourist attractions in recent years, and it has just been announced that a further 52,000 euros (52,106.60€, for those who enjoy precision..

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Four new pieces go on display at the archaeological museum of Lorca
Items dated at between 4500 and 500 years old are on display at the MUAL museum in Lorca The archaeological museum of the city of Lorca is an excellent establishment, beautifully laid out and full of items of interest which have come to light in the area (and with no admission charge!), and its collection has now been further enriched by the restoration and donation of four artifacts discovered in the municipality. The funds for the restoration..

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July 2026 Evening tours at Lorca castle
Enjoy the sights of the Fortress of the Sun in the cool of evening! During the two warmest months of the year Lorca castle, which remained closed to invaders from outside for so long in the past, opens its doors and actively welcomes visitors after dark, enabling them to enjoy the relative cool of the evening and take a look at the remarkable fortress which remained impregnable throughout the Middle Ages. From the 13th to the late 15th century..

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July 2026 Evening tours and dinner at Lorca castle
A full evening package including guided tour and dinner in the Las Caballerizas restaurant inside the Fortress of the Sun Every summer the management of Lorca castle, one of the most iconic medieval fortifications in southern Spain, offers a selection of evening events to appeal to all members of the public, and 2026 is no exception with this complete package offering a great experience at the impregnable Fortress of the Sun. From the 13th..

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The CiuFRONT medieval museum in Lorca
The CiuFRONT is housed in the old church of Santa María la Mayor in Lorca The church of Santa María La Mayor The church of Santa María la Mayor in Lorca is one of the oldest still standing in the city, and to understand the location and circumstances in which it was built it is necessary to go back to the 13th century, when the territory now known as the Region of Murcia was conquered by Christian forces of the Kingdom of Castilla after..

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A history of Lorca, part 1: pre-history
From the Paleolithic to the Iberians in the municipality of Lorca Lorca as we know it today is the third largest city in the Region of Murcia, with a population in the municipality of over 90,000 and a deserved reputation for having one of the richest histories and cultures in south-eastern Spain. But the chain of developments and events which led to Lorca becoming what is is in modern times is one which begins a very long time ago indeed:..

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A history of Lorca, part 2: the Romans, the Moors and the Christian Reconquista
Lorca from the 1st century BC to the 13th Century AD By the time of the last years before the birth of Christ permanent settlements had existed for many centuries at the site of the current city of Lorca and in other parts of the municipality. Early pre-history had given way to the cultures of the Argar people and the Iberians, and Lorca had become important due to the defensive impregnability of the hill on which the castle now stands..

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A history of Lorca, part 3: from the Reconquista to the 21st century
The fortunes of Lorca have ebbed and flowed for the last 700 years Lorca from the 13th century to the present day Most of the important sites relating to the history of Lorca lie buried beneath the buildings which constitute "modern" Lorca, the events of the last 700 years dictating the constitution and character of what we see today above ground. "Modern Lorca" effectively begins at the time of what is now known..

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The Argaric Culture in Lorca
The Argaric culture was present in Bronze Age Murcia between 2200 and 1550 BC. Artefacts recovered in the Lorca municipality can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum. The extensive Lorca municipality is rich in archaeological sites, its natural resources attracting a number of cultures throughout its history, providing important materials for tools, sea access and the opportunities for settlement and shelter. Between the years..

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The archaeological museum in Lorca
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..

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Roman milestones in Lorca
The most visible milestone in Lorca is a replica which is now part of the Casa de los Marín Ponce Relatively little is known about Lorca during the centuries of Roman occupation in the Iberian Peninsula, except that it was known as Eliocroca (see the second of three articles related to the history of Lorca), but what is certain is that it was a fairly important stopping-off point and trading post on the main communications routes which linked..

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The medieval Jewish quarter and synagogue in Lorca
The best-preserved 15th-century synagogue in Spain During construction work to build the Parador Hotel in Lorca the remains of the only known medieval synagogue within the Region of Murcia were discovered within 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 the 13th to 15th..

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Lorca history: Lorca earthquakes May 2011
Two earthquakes struck Lorca on 11th May 2011 CLICK ON GALLERY TO ENLARGE IMAGES The Lorca earthquakes of 11th May 2011, were the largest earthquakes registered in modern history in a seismically active area which has a history of tremors, with written records of activity dating back to 1579. The Region of Murcia lies within the interior of the Betic cordilleras, and is a point of contact between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates ...

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Collapse of the Puentes dam in Lorca (1802)
The dam collapsed in 1802 killing 608 people. A date in the history of Lorca which is of great significance is that of the 30th April 1802, the date of the collapse of the Puentes dam, the worst dam disaster ever recorded in Spain . At the time, the straight-line dam, which is located 12 kilometres to the north-west of Lorca, was the longest in Spain, measuring 286 metres, as well as being 50 metres high and 8 metres wide at the top. Its foundations..

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Lorca historical background: the Jewish presence in Lorca
The Jewish population played a vital ròle in an era divided by the battles between Christians and Moors The discovery of an important Jewish presence in Lorca. Lorca is a city immersed in history, its modern aspect flavoured by the many cultures which have inhabited and controlled the strategic position of the city and its rich natural resources. This strategic advantage, visible today in the imposing fortifications which dominate..

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