Area Guides.
Spain really does have something for everyone and one of your first decisions will be to decide on which area is the best fit for you. Here are our guides to some of the most popular areas to consider....
Los Alcazaras
Located on the shore of the Mar Menor (meaning ‘minor sea’) Los Alcazares stretches along seven idyllic kilometres of beautiful Murcia coastline and remains a little known gem and one of Spain’s best-kept secrets. One of four municipalities (San Javier, Torre Pacheco and Cartegena being the others) which line the Mar Menor, it is well connected to all of the coastal resorts and cities being just 25 minutes from the new international airport at Corvera and less than an hour from Alicante Airport.
Los Alcazares is split into three main neighbourhoods – Los Narejos, the Town Centre and the Old Town - and is made up of a predominantly Spanish population. That can change however during the high season when the permanent population of around 17,500 can swell to as much as 250,000.
The name ‘Los Alcazares’ is derived from the Arabic ‘Al Kazar’ which means ‘house of nobles’ or ‘palace’. Originally a small fishing village, Los Alcazares has been welcoming tourism and health seekers since the first thermal bath houses were constructed by the early Roman settlers. Today Los Alcazares is renowned for its health tourism industry with the mineral-rich waters of the Mar Menor boasting therapeutic properties for those suffering from arthritic, rheumatic and skin issues. In addition to the original baths which still exist today, there is also a natural mud bath along the beach which is said to be as good as those on the Black Sea!
How to get there
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Things to do
Enjoying a water temperature which is 5o above that of the neighbouring Mediterranean and extending down to no more than 7m at its deepest point, at 170 km2 the Mar Menor is Europe’s biggest saltwater lagoon. Recognised by the World Health Organisation as one of the healthiest places on earth, the Mar Menor also holds the status as one of the largest open-air spas in the world. Almost entirely enclosed, the Mar Menor is protected from the Mediterranean by the 1200m wide La Manga sandbank, a 22km long strip of land which is renowned for its world class golf and tourist resort. Relatively untroubled by waves or current and with high saline content water which aids buoyancy, the Mar Menor enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the pre-eminent destinations for water sports. A comprehensive selection are available including sailing, windsurfing, diving, kite surfing and canoeing with plenty of schools hiring equipment and teaching both novices and professionals alike. For those preferring to stay dry during their sporting exertions, there’s plenty of cycling events (the area is very flat) and more than 30 golf courses within an hour’s drive. And then there’s the beaches……
There are seven beautiful golden sandy beaches along the Los Alcazares beachfront – the Los Narejos, Las Palmeras, Las Salinas, Carrion, Manzaneres, El Espejo and La Concha. Many of these bear Blue Flag accreditation and all can be reached by following the superb modern promenade which runs along the entire length of the Los Alcazares coastline. The promenade is home to plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars which offer the perfect venue to sit and watch the world go by and enjoy the spectacular views across the Mar Menor and out to the Mediterranean.
Entertainment wise, Los Alcazares offers all of the facilities and amenities you’d expect of a resort as popular as this one, catering to clients of all nationalities. The ‘525’ strip is named after the hotel around which it has been built and is a particularly popular area with expats and tourists. Another hotspot is around the ‘Arches’ in Los Narejos where you can find plentiful options for a drink or meal whilst enjoying the entertainment.
There’s also a street market in Los Narejos every Saturday morning and another in Los Alcazares on a Tuesday where you’ll find everything from fresh local produce to locally made leather goods and arts.
Weather
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History of Los Alcazares
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