Welcome January 2020! Whatever your vision for this coming year – make sure to enjoy the wonders of NW Murcia. Stay informed online with the Costa Cálida Chronicle website and blog and the relevant Tourist Office websites.
For information on each town’s Three Kings programme, look on Tourist Offices’ websites as listed below.
BULLAS
www.bullas.es
T: 968 652 244 Market Tues
Sunday 5th January – Artisan Market
Visit Casa-Museo Don Pepe Marsilla. Guided tours (in English) for only 2 persons (5€ pp) or there is an audio guide system in English. Museo del Vino has a shop with bodega prices. To visit either/info, tel 968 657 211, Tourist Office, or email casamuseodonpepe@bullas.es
CALASPARRA
www.turismocalasparra.es
T: 968 745 325
Support the Royal British Legion established in Calasparra.
Murcia.secretary.rbl@gmail.com
Visit the Christmas Belen @ Casa de Exposiciones, Calle Mayor (until 4th January)
Mon-Fri 5.30pm-7pm
Sat/Sun 12pm-1.30pm
Sunday 5th January – Three Kings’ Procession 5pm
CARAVACA
www.turismocaravaca.org T: 968 702 424 Market Mon
Sunday 19th January – Artisan Market
A museum gem explores Caravaca’s history of skilled craftsmanship and remarkable engineering. An amazing collection of miniatures portray these skills, including Caravaca’s manufacture/export of espadrilles. Located at Calle Puentecilla No 3, Bajo.
Tel 968 795 620 for opening times.
The Carlos Blanco Fadol Museum of Ethnic Instruments in Barranda is signposted and easy access for mobility issues. 5% of his 4,000-piece collection rotates in the space available. 3€ (reduced 2€/child 1€). Check opening times with Tourist Office.
CEHEGÍN
www.turismocehegin.es
T: 968 723 550 Market Wed
Saturday 4th January – The Cehegin Philharmonic Orchestra perform in the Adolfo Suarez Cultural Centre. 8pm; 3€.
Sunday 5th January – From 10am in the Adolfo Suarez Cultural Centre, children’s wish letters are delivered to the kings. At 6pm The Three Wise Men, Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar bring thousands of presents for children on a parade of floats.
Friday 17thMonday 20th January – Enjoy the Fiestas of San Sebastian in the old town.
Sunday 26th January – Antiques and collectables second-hand market at the Explanada of the old train station in the Via Verde opens at 10am. Easy parking. Stallholders can seek a pitch for 2€ via Tourist Office.
The Archaeological See of Begastri open Saturdays & Sundays for tours: 10am-2pm. A video presentation is followed by a guided tour to see the remains of the Iberian culture before the IV century BC. 2€ pp.
Eco Park ‘Coto de las Maravillas’ for family activities including zip lines, archery, nature walks and many other organised outdoor activities. They can host any type of event. Campsite, BBQ area and kiosk-bar offering a great menu – and you can book.
Open weekends 10am-5pm; weekdays prior booking.
Tel 968 069 202 Mon-Fri 9am-3pm
Email info@conexioncultura.es
www.cotodelasmaravillas.com
JUMILLA
www.jumilla.org
T: 968 780 237 Market Tues
Until Sunday 5th January – Entertainment for all ages, including cinema and music, leading up to the Three Kings parade on the 5th January.
Until Tuesday 7th January – Collect a printed route from Tourist Office of the nativity scenes (belenes) located in public venues and private homes (with varied opening times).
Lovers of art should visit the Saorin Painting Museum, a small museum of works by the local artist, Jesus Lozano Saorin and others from the area. Includes sculptures and canvases.
Reserve guided visit on 660 959 631.
The Convent of Santa Ana del Monte in the mountains south of Jumilla is worth a visit for the history and stunning views over town and landscape. Follow the RM-714 south-west and signposted – 5km from town centre. Check with Tourist Office for opening times.
Check out the Archaeological Museum (tel 968 757 379) and the Ethnography And Natural Sciences Museum (tel 968 780 740) which also offer various workshops for all the family at various times.
Wine buffs can contact a choice of 15 bodegas affiliated to the Ruta del Vino for guided visits for small groups or individuals and to buy produce. Liaise with bodegas as most will attempt to coordinate groups and provide a relevant language-guide; or enquire through Tourist Office. In particular visit Bodega Delampa (see page 65)
MORATALLA
www.ayuntamientomoratalla.net
T: 968 730 208 Market Sat
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 – details on www.turismomoratalla.com,
info@turismomoratalla.com, or tel 696 807 037
MULA
www.mula.es
T: 968 661 501 Market Sat
Sunday 12th January – Artisan Market
El Cigarralejo Museum and Casa Pinatada with relatively new exhibitions may have escaped your attention to-date – info from Tourist Office.
MURCIA
www.turismodemurcia.es
T: 968 358 749
Plenty of free concerts, markets and events to entertain you, by the cathedral and in Plaza Circular, leading up to the Three Kings parade.
Enquire via Tourist Office for a guide to best city nativity scenes (belenes) which can be enjoyed by all the family. Some charge a few euros entry.
Discover the contemporary arts centre Centro Parraga in the city centre.
Tel 968 351 410
info@centroparraga.com
Catch the following in December:
Until 12th January – The artist Angel Haro from Valencia exhibits abstract paintings and sculptures: ‘Escenografias’ contains stage designs for works such as La Casa de Bernarda Alba, Antigone, La Folie, Sleeping Beauty and El Sueno de la Razon.
Free entry Mon-Fri 9am-8pm.
2nd & 3rd January – 5-day workshop of dance, meditation, improvisation and yoga offered by Trinidad Martinez with Ingo Reulecke and Selu Herraiz, aimed at people with artistic and corporal arts experience. Maximum 25 participants; 260€ pp.
More info at https://www.entre-lineas.net/en/reflexion-en/
The Auditorio Victor Villegas hosts the following:
Sunday lunchtime ‘Family Concerts are back! Performed by the Region of Murcia Symphony Orchestra, six events are scheduled between September and March – book early as very popular.
More info/booking 9am-2pm at box office
Tel 968 343 080
Season tickets for 2019-20 are on sale, featuring 24 concerts and dance performances. Tickets for individual events are also available – booking early is recommended.
Tuesday 7th January – The Saint Petersburg Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty (named as the best dance spectacle of 2018 at the Premios Teatro de Rojas). 8pm; 18€-27€.
Saturday 11th January – Pop and funk rock band Morgan hit the stage. 9.30pm. 20€ in advance/24€ on the day.
Monday 13th January – Cuarteto Brentano perform works by Mozart and Beethoven in this fourth of the ten-event cycle. 8pm. 20€ excluding season ticket holders.
Wednesday 15th January – Javier Negrin plays Beethoven piano sonatas, the fourth of nine scheduled concerts to celebrate 250 years since Beethoven’s birth. 8pm. 10€ for individual concerts.
Friday 17th January – Coque Malla, front man of Spanish rock group Los Ronaldos in the 80s/90s, is back on the scene with his ¿Revolucion Tour? More info at box office.
Saturday 18th January – The OSRM are joined by flautist Juan Antonio Nicolas and harpist Jose Antonio Domene to perform music by Lutoslawski, Bartok and Beethoven under the baton of guest conductor Georg Mark. 8pm. 9€-15€.
Saturday/Sunday 25th/26th January – Magic and music combines illusionist Jorge Blass with the OSRM and involves participation from the audience and musicians. The focus is on family and especially youngsters; Sunday 11.15am with an info presentation for young concertgoers. Tickets 10€ Saturday 6pm and Sunday 12pm
Monday 27th January – Violinist Fumiaki Miura (playing a 1704 Stradivarius) accompanies the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra to perform works by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Strauss. 8pm. 25€-35€
Thursday 30th January – Works by Beethoven and Chopin are performed by Classical Pianist Gabriel Escudero. 8pm. 12€
YECLA
www.turismo.yecla.es
T: 968 754 104 Market Wed
Visit Deortegas Almazara to learn about their olive oil production. Limited places – they will try to fit you in with a group or accommodate your group. 8€ pp includes a blind tasting of various oils, a healthy breakfast and a comprehensive guide to the nutritional benefits, origins, production techniques and much more. English-speaking staff has to be pre-booked on request.
Tel 968 969 644
Email info@deortegas.com
www.deortegas.com