Beyond the resort
SPAIN
Spain is the second largest and sunniest country in Europe and has been described by the Word Health organisation as having one of the healthiest climates in the world. The population is around 40 million, allowing the country to retain its beautiful character and landscapes. The average population density is one third of Britain 's and one of the lowest in Europe.
Within Spain there are 17 autonomous regions, each with its own president, government, administration and supreme court. All of these are funded by the central government.
Spain has the fifth largest economy in Europe and accounts for approx 10% of the EU output. It still is however (even with some of the traditional methods) the world's largest producer of olive oil, fourth largest producer of dried fruit and six largest producer of citrus fruits. Spain still boasts some of the largest vineyards in the world - in fact the wine industry is 60% larger than that of France - and is considered the third largest worldwide wine producer.
Food
The traditional dish in Spain is paella. The saffron taste of this rice based dish is best enjoyed with sea-views!
Most bars serve food with drinks (known as tapas), and this varies from region to region, and usually includes jamon serrano (cured ham), chorizo (garlic sausage) and pulpo gallego (tender pot cooked octopus).
Religion
99% of the Spain 's 40 million population declare themselves Catholic. There are some classic cathedrals, churches and religious sanctuaries (one of the most renowned being the Sanctuary in Calasparra, in Murcia region itself).
Geography
Spain covers approx 492,460 km2 of the Iberian peninsula, and 504,740 km2 including the Balearic and Canary islands. The country is a vast plain surrounded by mountains, and is the second highest country in Europe (Switzerland has the highest range). It has two north African enclaves, Ceuta and Meilla administered by the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga respectively, and have been held by Spain since the 15th century.
The Pyrenees in the north form a natural barrier between Spain, France and Andorra, while to the west is Portugal. The main river flowing through Spain is the Ebro from which the Iberian peninsula gets its name, and is the only Spanish river flowing into the Mediterranean.
Language
Spanish or Castilian is spoken as the first language by over 74% of the population. The other 36% speak regional languages with variants from Catalan, Gilician and a small minority speak Basque. the vast majority of the people who speak regional languages are also fluent in Spanish as Franco banned the regional languages during his reign.
Fiestas
Fiestas are a common sight in Spain , and many small villages will be decked with flags and streamers with bands playing, celebrating the fiesta. Each fiesta is celebrated for different occasions, they can be for religion, harvest etc, and many include the running of the bulls.
MURCIA REGION
The La Torre sports village is on the beautiful Costa Calida just 15 minutes from the beach. Costa Calida is renowned for having the lowest number of rainy days in Europe. Calida is situated in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula - to the north lies the Costa Blanca and to the south is the Costa de Almeria with a total of 253 kilometers of coastline.
Blessed by the mild Mediterranean climate it has at least 315 days of sun per year on average. Minimum temperatures in winter range between 12 and 14C, and maximum temperatures between 20-22C. Summer temperatures vary between 20C minimum and 30-35C maximum. The average annual temperature is 18C.
The region of Murcia is one of the richest provinces in Spain but also one of the least explored. The people are gentle and helpful, the whole region is well worth taking the time to explore and the good living is to be enjoyed. The seawater is warm and very pleasant for bathing. It is unique in that there is a peninsula which runs parallel to the coastline forming the Mar Menor (small sea). Here the sea temperature is several degrees higher than the surrounding sea, and therefore perfect for water sports. The Mar Menor is Europe's largest salt water lagoon. This 'sea' is great for all sorts of water activities and in the summer months heats up to the temperature of a warm bath.
Costa Calida is ideally situated between Murcia and Alicante airport (and both airports have regular flights from most U.K. and European cities).
The Costa Calida is also renowned for its fantastic golf courses, and unlike the Costa del Sol, has fewer tourist resorts, and therefore maintains its unique and traditional way of life in many areas. It is widely believed that residents here are more likely to live a healthier and problem free lifestyle than other areas. Whether you want an all action packed place to visit, or a tranquil setting with a traditional feel - the Costa Calida is the right place to be!
Calasparra
Calasparra is a traditional Spanish town. Forty five kilometres north west of Murcia it is known as the " Paradise of the region".
Set in the mountains alongside the Rio Segura and with excellent road access, this town has it all. Calasparra has much to offer for holidaymakers and those who are wishing to take up permanent residence. The locally grown rice (Arroz) is shipped around Spain, and has a reputation for its fine qualities. The Sanctuary de la Virgin de la Esperanza is a famous tourist attraction. This church is built into the mountainside and stone from the excavation has been used to make its external features. This serenely beautiful setting sits alongside the riverbanks which has seating and BBQ areas.
For the more adventurous there is river rafting which includes some white water, there is mountaineering, mountain walks, excellent fishing and hunting. A few kilometres outside of town there are numerous caves with cave drawings, stalactites and stalagmites with beautiful underground caverns which must be explored to fully appreciate them.
For the historian, this areas is steeped in history, with the remnants of old Moorish settlements, some of which have been reconstructed to show how the people of the time lived. The market which is held in the town centre on Friday is a must visit. Locally grown fruit and vegetables as well as leather, household goods and clothes are available.
If you want to visit the real Spain, where there is an abundance of fruit, olive and almond trees, superb country houses with spectacular mountain views, fine new developments - then Calasparra is the ideal place.
Murcia
Murcia is a large city at the heart of the Segura river valley. Founded by the Moors in the ninth century, and on the banks of the Rio Segura, Murcia became an important trading centre. Today it is the commercial area of the region and still retains its old charm.
Murcia's grand cathedral, which was built in 1394, has a variety of styles with strong gothic influences. There are comparatively few tourists, and nestled in the Mountains, this city has unspoilt air and tranquillity - which is unusual for a modern city.
Cartagena
Cartagena was founded by the Carthaginians in 227 BC and was Hannibal 's capital city on the Iberian peninsula . Its natural harbour and silver mines made it a prized possession. It has spent several centuries under Roman domination, and the old quarter has many Roman ruins. The archaeology museum is actually built on a Roman burial ground and has an excellent collection of Roman artefacts. Today, Cartagena is a modern industrial city, with the old quarter a Naval dockyard. It is located 10 minutes from Mar Menor and La Manga - making this a desirable region of Spain.
La Manga & Mar Menor
These areas are famous for the fine white sands and huge offerings of water sports (such as diving, windsurfing and sailing etc). The Mar Menor (the small sea) is separated from the Mediterranean by a strip of land known as La Manga. This has benefited Mar Menor by keeping the waters calm and warm, and the temperature rarely drops below 17C even in the winter months.
The Mar Menor has high concentrations of Iodine and Salt, and is said to be highly beneficial suffering from skin complaints
Costa Calida property
For those who are visiting with a view to check out the local area for properties; houses, villas and apartments in Costa Calida are widely available as this area has yet to reach the "heady heights" of popularity of that of the Costa Blanca. Villas in Mar Menor or La Manga are a popular choice - a beachside resort with all facilities, yet only 20 minutes or so away from the main city of Murcia.
Country houses in Costa Calida can be found pretty much anywhere - but for a taste of "real Spain" most venture further inland (approx 40 minutes from the coast) to beautiful areas such as Calasparra. This up and coming region is seen as the next growth area of Spain - and to gain a real price and property advantage - it is certainly worth considering looking in this region, particularly as most areas can reach the popular resort of Torrevieja in under an hour.
