The neighbouring villages & towns. many lifestyle and holiday worlds all available from Los Urrutias.
One way of looking at a holiday in Mar Menor and its immediate vacinity is that there are many different holiday worlds in the region. Probably the most obvious differences exist between the Spanish holiday world and the cosmopolitan/expat holiday world.
Our visitors can have the best of both: sunshine, sand, sea and a Spanish holiday experience or sun shine, sand, sea and a good English breakfast in the ex-pat areas – with some tourism thrown in. However you decide to spend your Los Urrutias holiday, the choices are yours.
In the Los Urrutias area and the nearby towns and villages there is the following mix:
Los Urrutias: Mostly Spanish.
Estrella del Mar: A development on the edge of Los Urrutias approximately half a mile from the house. Mixed: British, German and Spanish residents.
Los Nietos: Mostly Spanish (4Km) and also has ex-pat community.
Los Bellones: Strong ex-pat community (6Km).
Mar de Cristal: Cosmopolitan (8Km). 20 mins by bus down coast. Wonderful clear water and excellent for snorkelling, sailing lessons etc. Good beach bars.
La Manga golf resort: Strong ex-pat resident community (15Km).
La Manga Strip: Spanish and international holiday area (20 km).
Los Alcazares: The nearest town (6 Km) and mostly Spanish holiday makers.
Los Narejos: Strong ex-pat community (9Km) to the north of Los Alcazares.
Cartagena: The biggest town locally. A university town and historic port, about 22Km from Los Urrutias. Cartagena has a very interesting history. It was founded by Hanibal’s people and has Punic architectural remains in the old town. It was conquered by Scipio in the Punic wars. (The Romans built an amphitheatre which was “lost” for perhaps 1500 years and only rediscovered in 1988 when a house fire necessitated some excavations which in turn exposed the amphitheatre itself. Now restored, and a major attraction.) Later it was conquered by the Moors, who were driven out in the late 1200s by the Catholic kings. Rumour has it that Cartagena was the last major town to surrender to Franco’s troops in the Spanish Civil war. Today, Cartagena is the home port for Spain’s naval fleet and a large fishing fleet and marina and has a number of excellent fiestas throughout the year, the most notable being The Holy Week at Easter and Carthaginians and Romans at the end of September. Each last 7 days long at least.
There are buses at least twice daily to/from Cartagena (much increased during July & August) and a local train to Cartagena from the Los Nietos station, 4 Km from the house.
Cabo de Palos: Internationally famous diving “reserve”/ sea-life / fishing & leisure port / gastronomy with very extensive, varied and popular Mega Sunday market.
San Pedro del Pinatar: Smart Spanish seaside town at the top end of Mar Menor – some 15K from house.
La Manga: Means “The sleeve” in Spanish. The “strip” runs the length of the outside edge of Mar Menor, separating Mar Menor from the Med and is on average some 300 meters wide. Despite the high-rise apartments and hotels, the Med beach is uncrowded even in the height of summer.
Los Alcazares, Lo Pagan and Cartagena: All have either thermal baths and/or health spas in San Pedro, Los Alcazares, La Manga, Cartagena, using the scientifically proven and beneficial properties of the Mar Menor waters and mud.
Murcia: Some 35 miles away. A university town and the capital of the province of Murcia. The centre is small but has some very interesting places to visit. The centre of Murcia has a large number of varied and excellent Tapas bars.
Lorca:
A beautiful city about an hours drive away – a real must for people interested in history. On the front line of the fight against the Moors in Andalucia. The old town is full of churches, old squares and other interesting buildings where one could spend many hours just marveling at it all. At the hill on the top above the town is a very intersting castle/fort which has parts dedicated to the spanish reconquest of Spain and parts dedicated to the Moorish times. Well preserved. A must to visit, explore and enjoy.
Sadly Lorca suffered a seruous earthquake a couple of years ago and there was some serious damage, but the town is worth a visit regardless.
Oriheula:
Another town well worth a visit, some 45 minutes drive away. The town’s location is fantastic, built under and nestling up against a rugged mountain. Oriheula has at least 35 points of interest to visit. These include a “gipsy” bario, a museum dedicated to Hernandez (Spanish poet of the “left”) and many churches including: (1) Santo Domingo – Church and school. The church is renaiscance on the exterior, baroque on the interior and has a most unusual baroque tower. On the ceiling near the alter is one painted figure representing the devil in female form. (2) The Cathedral – which is the smallest Cathedral in Spain, but very beautiful despite being compact and unusual.
Another feature if Oriheula is that despite the fact that the population is for the most rather conservative, at the top of the town, under the mountain is a bario with narrow streets and alleys which have all been decorated with ( mostly political) pictures. A very interesting area to visit.
Cafes and restaurants in the area offer an exciting range of Murcian foods……a real foodie adventure. Orihuela is a great day out.
Caravaca de la Cruz;
Another town with a marvelous history and lots to see. A hill town with a wonderful church at the top of the town. Fantastic history and myth about the church and miracles associated with it. Old and beautiful squares oozing history. A bullring with a pure ’20′s facade. About an hour’s drive from Los Urrutias. And on the way you drive through the Bullas wine producing region where you can stop off to sample and buy from the many bodegas.
Again, another great day out.
One way of looking at a holiday in Mar Menor and its immediate vacinity is that there are many different holiday worlds in the region. Probably the most obvious differences exist between the Spanish holiday world and the cosmopolitan/expat holiday world.
Our visitors can have the best of both: sunshine, sand, sea and a Spanish holiday experience or sun shine, sand, sea and a good English breakfast in the ex-pat areas – with some tourism thrown in. However you decide to spend your Los Urrutias holiday, the choices are yours.
In the Los Urrutias area and the nearby towns and villages there is the following mix:
Los Urrutias: Mostly Spanish.
Estrella del Mar: A development on the edge of Los Urrutias approximately half a mile from the house. Mixed: British, German and Spanish residents.
Los Nietos: Mostly Spanish (4Km) and also has ex-pat community.
Los Bellones: Strong ex-pat community (6Km).
Mar de Cristal: Cosmopolitan (8Km). 20 mins by bus down coast. Wonderful clear water and excellent for snorkelling, sailing lessons etc. Good beach bars.
La Manga golf resort: Strong ex-pat resident community (15Km).
La Manga Strip: Spanish and international holiday area (20 km).
Los Alcazares: The nearest town (6 Km) and mostly Spanish holiday makers.
Los Narejos: Strong ex-pat community (9Km) to the north of Los Alcazares.
Cartagena: The biggest town locally. A university town and historic port, about 22Km from Los Urrutias. Cartagena has a very interesting history. It was founded by Hanibal’s people and has Punic architectural remains in the old town. It was conquered by Scipio in the Punic wars. (The Romans built an amphitheatre which was “lost” for perhaps 1500 years and only rediscovered in 1988 when a house fire necessitated some excavations which in turn exposed the amphitheatre itself. Now restored, and a major attraction.) Later it was conquered by the Moors, who were driven out in the late 1200s by the Catholic kings. Rumour has it that Cartagena was the last major town to surrender to Franco’s troops in the Spanish Civil war. Today, Cartagena is the home port for Spain’s naval fleet and a large fishing fleet and marina and has a number of excellent fiestas throughout the year, the most notable being The Holy Week at Easter and Carthaginians and Romans at the end of September. Each last 7 days long at least.
There are buses at least twice daily to/from Cartagena (much increased during July & August) and a local train to Cartagena from the Los Nietos station, 4 Km from the house.
Cabo de Palos: Internationally famous diving “reserve”/ sea-life / fishing & leisure port / gastronomy with very extensive, varied and popular Mega Sunday market.
San Pedro del Pinatar: Smart Spanish seaside town at the top end of Mar Menor – some 15K from house.
La Manga: Means “The sleeve” in Spanish. The “strip” runs the length of the outside edge of Mar Menor, separating Mar Menor from the Med and is on average some 300 meters wide. Despite the high-rise apartments and hotels, the Med beach is uncrowded even in the height of summer.
Los Alcazares, Lo Pagan and Cartagena: All have either thermal baths and/or health spas in San Pedro, Los Alcazares, La Manga, Cartagena, using the scientifically proven and beneficial properties of the Mar Menor waters and mud.
Murcia: Some 35 miles away. A university town and the capital of the province of Murcia. The centre is small but has some very interesting places to visit. The centre of Murcia has a large number of varied and excellent Tapas bars.
Lorca:
A beautiful city about an hours drive away – a real must for people interested in history. On the front line of the fight against the Moors in Andalucia. The old town is full of churches, old squares and other interesting buildings where one could spend many hours just marveling at it all. At the hill on the top above the town is a very intersting castle/fort which has parts dedicated to the spanish reconquest of Spain and parts dedicated to the Moorish times. Well preserved. A must to visit, explore and enjoy.
Sadly Lorca suffered a seruous earthquake a couple of years ago and there was some serious damage, but the town is worth a visit regardless.
Oriheula:
Another town well worth a visit, some 45 minutes drive away. The town’s location is fantastic, built under and nestling up against a rugged mountain. Oriheula has at least 35 points of interest to visit. These include a “gipsy” bario, a museum dedicated to Hernandez (Spanish poet of the “left”) and many churches including: (1) Santo Domingo – Church and school. The church is renaiscance on the exterior, baroque on the interior and has a most unusual baroque tower. On the ceiling near the alter is one painted figure representing the devil in female form. (2) The Cathedral – which is the smallest Cathedral in Spain, but very beautiful despite being compact and unusual.
Another feature if Oriheula is that despite the fact that the population is for the most rather conservative, at the top of the town, under the mountain is a bario with narrow streets and alleys which have all been decorated with ( mostly political) pictures. A very interesting area to visit.
Cafes and restaurants in the area offer an exciting range of Murcian foods……a real foodie adventure. Orihuela is a great day out.
Caravaca de la Cruz;
Another town with a marvelous history and lots to see. A hill town with a wonderful church at the top of the town. Fantastic history and myth about the church and miracles associated with it. Old and beautiful squares oozing history. A bullring with a pure ’20′s facade. About an hour’s drive from Los Urrutias. And on the way you drive through the Bullas wine producing region where you can stop off to sample and buy from the many bodegas.
Again, another great day out.