PROPERTY SEARCH
HOME > MURCIA REGION > REGION OF MURCIA
Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia: Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia
The Region of Murcia is the 9th largest autonomous community in Spain by size, covering an area over half the size of Wales, and the tenth most populated with 1,474,449 inhabitants (national statistics institute, Jan 2013) of whom 22,000 are British.
It is formed by a single province, and governed by the autonomous regional government, based in the Palacio de San Esteban in Murcia City, and the regional Assembly, the regional parliament, in Cartagena.
The region is further broken down into 45 individual municipalities, each with their own municipal government and Mayor. These are then further subdivided into local pedanías, or diputaciones.
There are three major cities in the Region: the capital City of Murcia, with 441,354 inhabitants (Jan 2013), the historic port of Cartagena which is an important naval base and Mediterranean cruise ship destination with a population of 216,655, and Lorca with 92,865 residents.
The economy of the Region has traditionally relied on agriculture: it is often referred to as the market garden of Spain, and is a major exporter of fruit, salad and vegetables to most European countries, including the UK.
In the 20th and 21st century Cartagena has become a major centre for petroleum and energy production with the Repsol refinery and surrounding developments in the valley of Escombreras and its container port.
In the past there were important mineral mines in the Region, and over the centuries significant contributions to the economy have also been made by the furniture industry in Yecla, various traditional crafts such as esparto grass weaving and of course, being a coastal region, fishing (and, in recent times, fish farming).
There are also many new technological parks, notably the one in Fuente Álamo, and in the last twenty years international tourism has begun to develop.
Murcia is a popular Spanish tourist destination but remains largely unknown outside of Spain. UK tourists make up the largest group of foreign visitors to the region, accounting for more than 50% of tourists, however, many of these either own, are renting or visiting, properties on the 6 residential tourism developments built by the Polaris World Promotor and a number of other residential tourism developments including the luxurious La Manga Club, Camposol in Mazarrón, and Hacienda del Álamo in Fuente Álamo.
These are serviced by an airport at San Javier, shared with the Spanish Air Academy, and El Altet at Alicante (about a 1-hour drive from the region), and an opening date is still awaited for the new International airport at Corvera, near to Murcia City.
Murcia enjoys a warm climate, with 300 days of sun and clear skies a year and an average temperature of 21 degrees. The region is fringed by the Mediterranean Sea, its coastal area known as the Costa Cálida, with 250km of coastline. Murcia also has the Mar Menor, technically an inland saltwater lake separated from the Mediterranean by La Manga, a 22km long sandy strip with high density tourist occupation. This has 73km of internal beaches with a maximum depth of just 7 meters in the centre, making it a major focal point for watersports, with no tidal currents or waves, but having salt water, sandy beaches and steady sailing winds.
The region also has hotspring spas, mountainous interior areas, forested areas and stone fruit growing river valleys, offering a wide range of landscapes, and a rich offering of cultural monuments and historical sites.
Municipalities of the Region of Murcia
The municipalities of the Region of Murcia are Abanilla, Abarán, Águilas, Albudeite, Alcantarilla, Los Alcázares, Aledo, Alguazas, Alhama de Murcia, Archena, Beniel, Blanca, Bullas, Calasparra, Campos del Río, Caravaca de la Cruz, Cartagena, Cehegín, Ceutí, Cieza, Fortuna, Fuente Álamo de Murcia, Jumilla, Librilla, Lorca, Lorquí, Mazarrón, Molina de Segura, Moratalla, Mula, Murcia, Ojós, Pliego, Puerto Lumbreras, Ricote, San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar, Santomera, Torre Pacheco, Las Torres de Cotillas, Totana, Ulea, La Unión, Villanueva del Segura and Yecla.
Where is the Region of Murcia?
Click for map, Region of Murcia
Autumn breaks, winter sun and trips home: Getting to Corvera Airport made easyFrom Torrevieja and La Zenia to La Manga, Mazarrón and Mojácar, Airport Buses offers convenient connections to Murcia International Airport The suitcases might only just have been unpacked after the summer holidays, but for many people.. 09/09/2026
Spain is failing its own recycling laws and the figures make uncomfortable readingOnly four regions are meeting legal targets, Murcia is near the bottom of the table, and a bottle deposit scheme is now being forced into law Every year, Spain generates more than 20 million tonnes of rubbish. More than half of it ends up in landfill.. 09/09/2026
Show-home standard apartment for sale at Terrazas de la Torre for €158,950A fully renovated south-facing property with high-end finishes, stunning views and a turnkey finish, exclusively listed with Simply Spanish Homes If you’re looking for a home in Spain where the hard work has already been done, this exclusive.. 09/09/2026
Murcia pupils sent home on the first day of school because classrooms hit 32 degreesParents are demanding "classrooms, not saunas" as the back-to-school heat crisis exposes the gap between government promises and reality The new school year in the Region of Murcia got off to a difficult start, on Tuesday, when a primary school in..
Eight out of ten new self-employed workers in Murcia over the past four years have been foreign nationalsNew figures show foreign entrepreneurs are driving almost all of the region's self-employment growth, while Spanish registrations have barely moved Something quietly significant has been happening in Murcia's economy. The number of self-employed.. 09/09/2026
Indefinite doctors' strike could begin in Spain in OctoberDoctors are stepping up their opposition to the Government's proposed health service reforms, with unions warning that the dispute is far from over Doctors in Spain could launch an indefinite strike from October in a move that could put further.. 09/09/2026
San Javier road closures as new Cuatro Picos roundabout works beginThe Ayuntamiento has set out alternative routes for traffic travelling between San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, which will also impact bus routes Traffic around San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera should expect some changes this week.. 09/09/2026
Holiday rental licences on the Costa Cálida: What buyers need to know in 2026Spainora explains what buyers need to know before investing in a holiday rental in the Region of Murcia and beyond By Spainora On May 21, 2026 the Spanish Supreme Court (ruling 620/2026) annulled the national short-term rental registry.. 09/09/2026
Murcia recorded the second-highest rise in road deaths this summer as Spain's overall toll climbs to 240Twelve people died on the region's roads in July and August, eight more than last year, as Interior Minister calls it "a bad summer" for road safety Spain's roads claimed 240 lives during July and August 2026, twelve more than the same.. 09/09/2026
Back to routine: September activities return at Caser ResidencialFrom cognitive workshops to exercise sessions, residents are getting back to their regular activities September is a time for getting back into a familiar routine, and that is just as important for older people living in residential care as it is.. 09/09/2026
Murcia opens its first 5-star hotel this weekThe 70-room Royal Hideaway hotel will open during the Murcia Fair Murcia is about to get something the city has never had before: its first five-star hotel. The Palacio de San Juan, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, will open its doors on Wednesday.. 08/09/2026
More than 8% of working time lost to absenteeism in MurciaMurcia's absenteeism rate is well above the national figure of 7.62%, according to new figures More than 8% of working time was lost to absenteeism in the Region of Murcia during the first three months of this year, putting it among the worst-.. 08/09/2026
Orange alert for Cartagena with torrential rain and storms forecast on WednesdayThe alert will run from Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning, while residents and drivers are being urged to take extra care as torrential rain could cause flooding Aemet has issued an orange weather warning for Cartagena on Wednesday September.. 08/09/2026
More than 2,200 new homes planned to ease shortage in the Region of MurciaThe programme will include homes in Murcia, Alcantarilla, El Palmar, Churra, Lo Pagán, Santiago de la Ribera and Águilas More than 2,200 new homes are set to be developed across the Region of Murcia over the next three years in a major.. 08/09/2026
Los Alcázares announces new flood guidance as weather warnings are issuedParents are being asked not to travel to schools to collect children during orange or red alerts, while residents are warned about flooded roads and garages Los Alcázares is stepping up its preparations for heavy rain, with the Ayuntamiento.. 08/09/2026
How to Get Around the Region of Murcia: A Practical Guide for TravellersMurcia is the kind of place that pays you back for a little effort. Spend a few days here and you can move between Mediterranean beaches, the strange, calm waters of the Mar Menor, the old streets of Murcia city and Cartagena, quiet coastal towns, natural parks..
