Murcia is an illustrious town with a lengthy history, founded as Medinat Mursiya in 825 AD by Abd ar-Rahman II, emir of Al-Andalus. These Arabic-speaking Egyptians saw a great advantage in the river, and thus created an advanced network of irrigation facilities, which brought prosperity to the town. In the 12th Century, the town was described as a populous and strongly fortified site. Later on, Murcia passed under the rule of Almería, Toledo and Seville, successively. Murcia came into independence as a taifa (petty kingdom) and administrative headquarters of the Moors following the fall of the Omayyad Caliphate of Cordoba in the 11th Century. It was taken by the Christians in the middle of the 13th Century, but maintained its status as a separate kingdom until the constitutional reforms of 1812. It flourished in the 18th Century due to the silk industry, and this is when it gained the major portion of its monuments. The city was almost untouched by the effects of the Industrial Revolution, and remains part of a traditional and mainly agricultural region. 

The city has an abundance of noteworthy architecture. The Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia, built between 1394 and 1465 in the Castilian Gothic style, has a tower, completed in 1792, expressing a peculiar mix of styles, including Baroque with Rococo and Neoclassical influences. Other buildings worth seeing can be found in Plaza Cardenal Belluga, the square in front of the Cathedral. They include the multicoloured Bishop’s Palace from the 18th Century, plus an extension to the Town Hall, the work of Rafael Moneo. The Glorieta, close to the bank of the Segura River, has traditionally been regarded as the city centre. The major portion of the Old Town is covered by pedestrian areas, particularly around Plateria and Traperia Streets. The latter runs from the Cathedral to Plaza de Santo Domingo, a former market square, and it encloses the Casino; the social club erected in 1847 with a sumptuous interior features a Moorish-style patio evocative of the Alhambra royal rooms.

The Murcia Region is famous for its delicious rice, claimed to be the best in Spain, so don't hesitate to try one of the local dishes of arroz with chicken, vegetables, rabbit or even snails. Also popular is the fish soup, as well as other salty fish products. Any meal enjoyed in one of the city's restaurants should be accompanied by a glass of wine, with the best being of three denominaciones de origen: Bullas, Jumilla, and Yecla. Bear in mind that tourist souvenirs and postcards can be hard to find, and the nearest lively resort specially designed for tourists is La Manga Club, featuring a golf course and located 75 kilometres (47 miles) from Murcia. Around Easter, the city flourishes with the colours of spring festivals and street parades of the Bando de la Huerta. Any time of year, we recommend travelling 5 kilometres north to see the remains of the Arab Castle of Monteagudo.