SPAIN & PORTUGAL MURCIA DESTINATIONS
◗ ON DRY LAND If clients are looking to get active without getting wet, direct them to the Via Verde, a 50-mile route from Murcia to Caravaca de la Cruz which winds its way through bright green fields, sprawling vineyards and traditional Spanish villages such as Cehegín, where the pace is happily slow and the coffee ridiculously good. Once an ancient pilgrimage route, it’s now popular with cyclists and walkers, and I got a taste of the final 15 miles on a guided bike tour with local excursion provider Entre Tierras (from £32). Gliding along on two wheels, cooled
by a gentle breeze and warmed by a glaring sun, was one of the most serene experiences of the trip, and given that most of this final part is downhill (and off-road) you don’t need to be super-fit. For any hardcore adventurers seeking a bit more of a challenge, recommend they do the whole thing – it only takes a day and provides an excellent glimpse into the diversity of the region’s landscapes. There’s plenty in the way of hiking
too, with several nature parks in the region, including Sierra Espuna, a 25,000-hectare chunk of green dotted with pine trees and mountain peaks. These are the features that characterise the whole region –
Murcia Cathedral Less than an hour south of Murcia
Murcia isn’t short on food options – in fact, it’s regarded as the home of tapas, with signature dishes like la marinara
patchworks of green and brown jutting out of arid, moon-like landscapes.
◗ CULTURAL HIGHS If it’s more culture than adventure that clients are after, direct them to the capital, Murcia, founded by the Moors in 825. Here, traces of its Islamic heritage, the dominant influence for more than five centuries, meet baroque churches, ornate plazas, designer boutiques and an incredibly elaborate, gothic cathedral. The city isn’t short on food options
– in fact, it’s regarded as the home of tapas, with signature dishes like la marinara (creamy tuna salad and fresh anchovies on a breadstick) available all over. The best place to sample it all is La Tapa, a rustic-meets-modern restaurant where locals come for the likes of whitebait in tomato vinaigrette and salted cod in a crispy pork crust.
latapadelasflores.com
lies Lorca, famous for its ancient fortress and synagogue, which visitors can explore with an audioguide (entry €5). And to delve even further into the region’s religious history, suggest Caravaca de la Cruz. It’s home to an elaborate, baroque-style temple as well as an interesting museum dedicated to Los Caballos del Vino, an annual festival which sees participants run alongside horses decked out in glittering, hand-embroidered costumes. It’s not the only fiesta in Murcia’s calendar. February sees the arrival of carnival, most fervently celebrated in Aguilas, where colourful parades, feathered costumes and street parties bring life to the sun-drenched streets. It’s an ideal time to send clients looking for a properly authentic experience, and marks an appropriate ode to the spirit of happiness, heritage and vitality which seems to characterise the region year-round.
GETTING THERE Monarch operates year-round flights to Alicante from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester, with fares from £44 each way or £90 return.
monarch.co.uk
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Saga offers an all- inclusive seven- night stay at Hotel Puerto Juan Montiel from £449 including flights and
transfers, plus two excursions. Guests can book water sports at the hotel for an extra charge.
travel.saga.co.uk
A three-night stay at El Churra Hotel in Murcia starts at £229 with Jet2holidays, based on
room-only accommodation and flights from Manchester departing
October 10, with 22kg luggage allowance. tradesite.
jet2holidays.com 1 September 2016
travelweekly.co.uk 75
PICTURES: MELIA HOTELS INTERNATIONAL; REGION OF MURCIA/MARK HIGHAM
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