LOCAL CULTURE
Business hours
As in the rest of Spain, most of the shops and businesses are opened from 10am to 2pm, then close until 5pm, then open again until 8pm. Closed on midday.
Holly Week
The Region Murcia is well known by its Holy Week, Easter week is celebrated throughout most of Spain with religious processions, and the cities of Murcia and Cartagena no no exception. In fact it is distinguished by several variations on the usual theme, including nocturnal processions and the custom of handing out sweets, boiled eggs and buns. Easter in Murcia has been described as an explosion of beauty, passion and Baroque. The night sky illuminated with candles and lanterns; the mingling scents of orange blossom and incense; the colour and the music - all these things combine to create a very atmospheric effect. Through the afternoon of Ash Wednesday, the red cloaked and hooded attendants of Aurora parade the streets. On Thursday night the city lights are switched off and the procession passes in a silence broken only by the choirs of the different brotherhoods. Good Friday morning sees the procession of 'Los Salzillos'. Members of the Nazarenes brotherhood begin their march at dawn dressed in purple gowns. In Cartagena, the Holly Week processions are named as "International Touristic Interest"
320 days of sunny days per year
Mar Menor is sunny an average of 320 days a year and the average temperature is 21ºC. Summers are very warm, Winters are mild and a little humid.
DID YOU KNOW ?
Mar Menor
Mar Menor is the largest and biggest salt-water lagoon in Europe. The therapeutic properties of its mud and clay have been prized for centuries. Five degrees hotter than the sea, swimming in Mar Menor feels like taking a warm bath. Mar Menor (little sea or small sea) is a salty lagoon, in the south-east of the autonomous Community of Murcia, in Spain, separated from the Mediterranean sea by La Manga, a sandbar 22km in length and with a variable width from 100 to 1200m. It is part of the Campo de Cartagena comarca and belongs to four municipalities: Cartagena, Los Alcazares, San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar. With a surface area of nearly 170km², a coastal length of 70km, and warm and clear water which does not exceed 7m in depth, it is "the largest swimming pool in the world" according to the opinions of the famous swimmer and Hollywood actress Esther Williams. Its relatively high salinity, which aids flotation, and remarkable sporting infrastructures make this one of the most popular places in Europe for the practice and training of all kinds of water sports. Phoenicians initially, then the Moorish Kings, chose this "small sea" to install their summer residences here. Today, this place attracts all those who seek a quiet place to rest and relax, with ideal climatic conditions all year round.
Market Garden of Europe
The area of Murcia is known as 'la Huerta de Europe' (the Market Garden of Europe) and its fruit and vegetables are known for their rich flavours. Various types of tomatoes, olives, peppers, lemons, almonds, artichokes and saffron are grown year round and exported all over Europe. Don't miss the local grilled vegetables.
Region of Murcia
The Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia (Spanish: Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia, IPA: [ˈmurθja] Valencian: Comunitat Autònoma de la Regió de Múrcia, [ˈmursja]) is one of Spain's seventeen autonomous communities. It is located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast. The autonomous community consists of a single province (region), unlike most autonomous communities, which have several provinces within the same region. Because of this, the autonomous community and the province are operated as one unit of government. The city of Murcia is the capital of the Region, and seat of government organs, except for the parliament (Regional Assembly), which is in Cartagena. The autonomous community and province is subdivided in municipalities. The Region of Murcia is bordered by Andalusía (the provinces of Almería and Granada); Castile-La Mancha (the province of Albacete), which was historically connected to Murcia until 1833; the Valencian Community (province of Alicante); and the Mediterranean Sea. The highest mountain is Revolcadores (2,015 m). The community measures 11,313 km² and has a population of 1.4 million, of whom one-third live in the capital. The region is a major producer of fruits, vegetables, and flowers for Spain and the rest of Europe. Excellent wineries have developed near the towns of Bullas, Yecla, and Jumilla, as well as olive oil near Moratalla. Murcia is mainly a warm region which has made it very suitable for agriculture. However the precipitation level is low and water supply is a hot subject today since, in addition to the traditional water demand for crops, there is now also a demand of water for the booming tourist developments which take advantage of the mild weather and beaches. Water is supplied by the Segura River or Río Segura and, ever since the 70's, by the Tajo transvasement, a major civil engineering which, under some environmental and sustaintibility restraints, brings water from the Tajo into the Segura.
WHAT TO PACK
Comfortable shoes¡
If you plan to go walking on the unspoilt beaches of Calblanque or in the rugged national park of Sierra Espuna, bring sturdy and comfortable walking shoes.
Golf shoes¡
There is nowhere to rent golf shoes, although they can be bought at the Proshop in the hotel. Bring them if you've got them.
Sun block
Mar Menor has an average 320 sunny days per year. Be ready for the best sunbathing¡
Swimwear
Whatever the weather, there's always the chance of a swim at either our indoor or outdoor pool. Also, if you prefer something more natural, remember that you can swim in the warm Mar Manor during the hole year. On the summer, you can also enjoy of the Mediterranean Sea.