Happy New Year! Enjoy the Three Kings celebrations and make 2019 the year you explore and discover what’s so great about NW Murcia.
Stay informed online with the Chronicle website www.costacalidachroncle.com and blog and the relevant tourist office websites.
BULLAS
www.bullas.es
T: 968 652 244 Market Saturday
Sunday 6th January – Artisan Market
Bullas is renowned for its heritage of wine production and there are a couple of museums which illustrate and inform the development over the years. The Casa-Museo Don Pepe Marsilla has authentic furnishings and décor and guided tours (in English) for only 2 persons are available on 968 657 211 (around 5€ pp), or there is an audio guide system in English to explain each room. Wine cannot be bought here, but you can arrange to combine a visit to one of the two urban bodegas or a choice of bodegas in the nearby countryside. The Museo del Vino is the other museum which also has a shop with prices to match the bodegas. To visit either, telephone the above number or the Tourist Office or email casamuseodonpepe@bullas.es
CALASPARRA
www.turismocalasparra.es
T: 968 745 325 Market Friday
Continue your support for the Royal British Legion established in Calasparra. Email:Murcia.Secretary@rbl.community
Thursday 3rd January – Children’s Musical – Plan B Teatre present ‘The Grinch and How He Almost Stole Christmas’ @ The Municipal Auditorium. Tickets 10€ in advance/12€ from box office.
Three Kings Celebrations
Saturday 5th January – Grand Procession from 5pm
Sunday 6th January – Traditional Roscon Cake at the OAP’s Club with traditional songs from Paco Morales. 6pm
CARAVACA
www.turismocaravaca.org
T: 968 702 424 Market Monday
Art Exhibition @ former church of the Compania de Jesus (until 6th January)
For your culture-fix, visit a prominent exhibition tracing 500 years of religious mysticism through works of art. The renowned sculptor Francisco Salzillo exhibits his restored figure of the Virgen del Carmen and Santiago Ydanez displays an impressive 14-metre canvas painting.
CEHEGÍN
www.turismocehegin.es
T: 968 723 550 Market Wednesday
Sunday 20th January – Car Boot Sale @ Park Ginés Paco at the end of the Gran Via. Plenty of parking. Take your own tables. Charge is 1€ per metre. Book at Tourist Office.
Sunday 27th January – El Mesoncico Market in Plaza del Castillo. More than 60 craftsmen of the area will be displaying products such as cured meats, hams, pottery, cakes, wines, cheeses, etc. Free parking at the Marble Technology Centre situated in Carretera Murcia, approached from the West.
Sunday 27th January – Guided Tour from the Begastri Archaeological Site. 11.15am. 2€ pp. Wear comfy walking shoes! Reservation by telephoning 968 723 550
The Archaeological See of Begastri is open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 10.10am/11.15am and 12.20pm. 2€ pp. The tour begins with a video presentation followed by a guided tour to see the remains of the Iberian culture before the IV century BC.
The Eco Park (Tourism Activity Park) ‘Coto de las Maravillas’ has activities for all the family and all ages, including zip lines, archery, nature walks and many other organised outdoor activities. They can also host any type of event. There is a campsite, BBQ area and kiosk-bar offering a great menu. The park is open each weekend 10am-5pm; weekdays prior booking required. For info and bookings telephone 968 069 202 Mon to Fri 9am-3pm, email info@conexioncultura.es or visit www.cotodelasmaravillas.com
JUMILLA
www.jumilla.org
T: 968 780 237 Market Tuesday
Saturday 5th January – Cabalgata of 3 Kings
11am – 3 Kings at Town Hall
5.30pm – Parade from Calle Trabajo
The renovated hilltop 15th century castle is open to explore every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am-2pm until the end of February 2019 for only 1€. Access to the castle is on foot (or bike) up the Camino del Subidor or by bus when you park at the gate to the castle road at the eastern end of the hill – bus times: 10.30am, 11.35am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm. Return times are on the hour 11am-2pm, or you can bus from the Tourist Office in town at 11.30am, returning at 1pm.
When you prefer to be indoors, check out the Archaeological Museum (tel: 968 757 379) and the Ethnography and Natural Sciences Museum (tel: 968 780 740) which can inform and educate and also offer various workshops for all the family at various times.
MORATALLA
www.ayuntamientomoratalla.net
T: 968 730 208 Market Saturday
Tours to the Rock Art of Moratalla are available encapsulating prehistoric to medieval styles and worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage status. There are several routes and modes of transport – for more info and cost, contact www.turismomoratalla.com or email info@turismomoratalla.com or tel 696 807 037
MULA
www.mula.es
T: 968 661 501 Market Saturday
Sunday 13th January – Artisan Market 10am-2pm in Las 4 Plazas.
Check out the El Cigarralejo Museum and the Casa Pinatada which have several new exhibitions – info at the Tourist Office.
MURCIA
www.turismodemurcia.es
T: 968 358 749
The wonderful Christmas Artisan Fair will delight you until the Three Kings on 5th January – gorgeous hand-made items, foods and traditional craft items from over 70 stands including overseas guest stands. Located in the central pedestrian walkway of the Gran Via Alfonso X El Sabio, between Plaza Circular and Plaza Santa Domingo, 11am-2pm & 5pm-9pm. Closed 1st Jan.
Look out for the Nativity Scenes (Belenes) on display in and around the city until 6th January. More info from the Tourist Office.
Free Monthly Organ Recitals in selected cathedrals and churches until June 2019.
Thursday 20th January – @ The Iglesia del Convento de Dominicas de Santa Ana hosts Carlos Arturo Guerra playing the 1763 instrument.
The Auditorio Victor Villegas hosts the following during January. More info/booking available 9am-2pm at the box office or tel 968 343 080:
Friday 4th – New Year Concert – The OSRM and resident conductor Virginia Martinez. 8pm. Tickets 12€-22€
Tuesday 8th – The Brentano Quartet – Haydn, Beethoven and Mendelssohn. 8pm. Tickets 15€
Thursday 10th – The very talented pianist, Alexander Malofeev (aged 17), will amaze you with performances of Tchaikovsky’s 1st Piano Concerto and Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony, accompanied by the OSRM. Alexander has graced the stages of La Scala, the Bolshoi, the Kremlin, the Mariinsky among other venues. 8pm. Tickets 8€/11€/13€.
Friday 11th – Brothers in Band bring their European tour to Murcia. This renowned Dire Straits Tribute Act perform over 20 favourites from 1979-1991. With 9 musicians on stage, your senses will be maxed out! 9.30pm. Tickets 22€-36€.
Saturday 12th – Seize the chance to enjoy a live performance of Luis Cepeda’s debut album ‘Principios’. This young singer who found fame on TV talent shows, ‘Operacion Triunfo’ and ‘La Voz’. 9.30pm. Tickets 25€-50€.
Sunday 13th – A lunchtime concert features Banda Escuela de la Agrupacion Musical Sauces & Banda Escuela de la Agrupacion Musico-Cultural Las Musas from Guadalupe. 12pm. Tickets 3€.
Thursday 17th – Immerse yourself in the music of Borodin, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Kodaly as the pianist, Paris Tsenikoglou, performs with the OSRM under the baton of guest conductor Mario Ortuno. 8pm. Tickets 20€.
Friday 18th – Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Adam Fischer as they perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 9; his last. 8pm. Tickets 25€/30€/35€.
Sunday 20th – Brothers Grimm tale ‘El Sastrecillo Valiente’ (The Brave Little Tailor); music by Tibor Harsanyi, performed by the OSRM under the baton of Virginia Martinez. Performers explain to young concert-goers about their lifestyle and the music they will hear. Includes elements of fun and audience participation. 11.15am. Tickets 10€
Friday 25th – Violinist, David Grimal, a seasoned performer with top orchestras around the world, enlists the OSRM to entertain you with two pieces by Beethoven; his Concerto For Violin and Orchestra & Symphony No 5. 8pm. Tickets 8€/11€/13€
Saturday 26th – Enjoy the spectacle of the Russian Imperial Ballet under the artistic direction of Gediminas Taranda as they perform to music by Chopin, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Glazunov, Minkus and Offenbach, including two works entitled ‘Bolero & Chopiniana’. 8pm. Tickets 18€/24€/27€.
Sunday 27th – Film buffs will not want to miss this! The Film Symphony Orchestra is touring Spain offering over four hours of music composed for the movies by John Williams. Spread over two concerts, the second in Murcia on 17th March, you cannot fail to recognise and appreciate the many award-winning and classic scores. 7pm. Tickets 35€/40€/50€.
A heads-up for Abba fans!
1st/ 2nd & 3rd February – The musical ‘Abba Live TV’ where a special show of hits is to be filmed. 1st – 9pm; 2nd – 6pm & 10pm; 3rd – 5pm- Ticket price on enquiry.
Several cycles of musical events are held at the Auditorio throughout the year: for only 36€ you can enjoy six fun musical events for the family; one per month on a Sunday at midday which started on 14th October. Detailed ticket information from the box office or tel 968 343 080.
YECLA
www.turismo.yecla.es T: 968 754 104