Lorca
Encyclopedia
Lorca (ˈlorka) is a municipality and town in the autonomous community of Murcia
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....

 in southeastern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

, 36 miles southwest of the city of Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...

. It had a population of 92,694 in 2010, up from the 2001 census total of 77,477. Lorca is the municipality with the second-largest surface area (after Cáceres
Cáceres, Spain
Cáceres is the capital of the same name province, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. , its population was 91,131 inhabitants. The municipio has a land area of 1,750.33 km², and is the largest in geographical extension in Spain....

) in Spain with 1675.21 km² (646.8 sq mi). The main town is home to Lorca Castle
Lorca Castle
Lorca Castle in Lorca, Murcia, Spain, is a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It consists of a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula...

 and the Collegiate church dedicated to St. Patrick.

In ancient times Lorca was the frontier town between Christian and Muslim Spain. Even earlier to that during the Roman period it was ancient Ilura or Heliocroca of the Romans.

The town was seriously damaged by a magnitude 5.1 earthquake
2011 Lorca earthquake
The 2011 Lorca earthquake was a moderate magnitude 5.1 Mw earthquake that caused significant localized damage in the Region of Murcia, Spain. Centred at a very shallow depth of 1 km near the town of Lorca, it occurred at 18:47 CEST on 11 May 2011, causing panic among locals and displacing...

 on 11 May 2011, killing at least nine people. The earthquake was so superficial that the magnitude was equivalent to a magnitude 8 normal earthquake.

History

Archaeological excavations in the Lorca area have revealed that it has been inhabited continuously since Neolithic times, 5,500 years ago. The earliest permanent settlement is in the Guadalentín River valley, likely because of its presence of water sources, mineral resources, and lying along a natural communication route in Andalusia. On the hillside below the castle and the town archaeological digs have revealed the remains of an important population of the El Argar
El Argar
El Argar is the type site of an Early Bronze Age culture called the Argaric culture, which flourished from the town of Antas, in what is now the province of Almería, south-east of Spain, between c. 1800 BC and 1300 BC....

culture during the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...

. During the Roman period a settlement here was called Eliocroca, detailed in the Antonine Itinerary
Antonine Itinerary
The Antonine Itinerary is a register of the stations and distances along the various roads of the Roman empire, containing directions how to get from one Roman settlement to another...

 and located right on Via Augusta
Via Augusta
Via Augusta was a Roman road crossing all the Hispania Province, from Cádiz in the southern tip of current Spain, to the Coll de Panissars, where it crossed the Pyrenees close to the Mediterranean Sea, and joined the Via Domitia...

.

In 713, the Teodomiro Pact was signed, referring to the place with the name "Lurqa". Under this pact, the population was integrated into an autonomous territory, along with six other cities, governed by Theudimer (Teodomiro). This lasted until his death when a Muslim reorganization of the state occurred, carried out by Abb-al-Rahman II, who turned the territory into a Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...

 dependency. It led to the formation of the Taifa kingdoms, with the Taifa of Lorca
Taifa of Lorca
The Taifa of Lorca was a Muslim medieval taifa kingdom in what is now southern Spain.The taifa was first created in 1042, when Lorca declared its independence from the emirate of Valencia. Its first governor was Ma'n Ibn Sumadih, its power exending from the city to Jaén and Baza.The taifa was...

 as one of these kingdoms, first created in 1042, when Lorca declared its independence from the emirate of Valencia
Taifa of Valencia
The Taifa of Valencia was a medieval taifa kingdom which existed, in and around Valencia, Spain during four distinct periods: from 1010 to 1065, from 1075 to 1099, from 1145 to 1147 and last from 1229 to 1238 when it was finally conquered by Aragon....

. Its first governor was Ma'n Ibn Sumadih, its power extending from the city to Jaén
Jaén, Spain
Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia....

 and Baza
Baza, Granada
Baza is a town in the province of Granada in southern Spain. It has 21,000 inhabitants . It is situated at 844 m above sea level, in the Hoya de Baza, a valley of the Sierra Nevada, not far from the Gallego River. This town gives its name to the Sierra de Baza...

. During the Arab period it was known as Lurka and the old part of the town, made up of narrow streets and alley-ways, achieved its present shape under Moorish rule.
The taifa was shortly recreated in 1228, after the fall of the Almoravids
Almoravids
The Almoravids were a Berber dynasty of Morocco, who formed an empire in the 11th-century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Their capital was Marrakesh, a city which they founded in 1062 C.E...

 until it conquered by the Taifa of Murcia
Taifa of Murcia
The Taifa of Murcia was one of the Taifas of medieval Al-Andalus, in what is now southern Spain. It became independent as a taifa centered on the Moorish city of Murcia after the fall of the Omayyad Caliphate of Córdoba...

; in 1244, Fernando III, King of Castilla y León and his son and heir, Prince Alfonso, the future Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...

, conquered Lorca. The main tower of the fortress of Lorca was named Torre Alfonsina in honour of the King. The city continued to grow, as in Arab times, and became the main town in an emerging rich agricultural region, although the border hindered economic development.

Lorca, known as the city of 100 Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

, is where the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...

 and the Visigoths battled for control of the land; initially they both controlled the land up to the border on the north including the city of Larcia while in later years, the Christians and the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...

 controlled the city and the land up to the southern border.

During the late Middle Ages, Lorca was a dangerous border town, spearhead of the Christian kingdom of Murcia (belonging to the Spanish crown) against the Moorish Kingdom of Granada. Lorca served as a base for launching raids into enemy territory. The Battle of Alporchones, took place here in 1452, during the reign of Juan II of Castile, who ten years earlier had granted the Lorca the title of "ciudad". The Kingdom of Murcia took Granada in 1492.

After the War of Granada and the Muslim threat disappeared, the city changed in appearance, carrying out a series of urban reforms and developing trade. The numerous public works to be carried out attracted labourers from elsewhere, resulting in an increase in the population to 8,000 people. Among the new buildings include the Colegiata de San Patricio, erected in 1553, which is the religious centre of the city, as well as numerous convents of La Merced, Santo Domingo and San Francisco.
In the seventeenth century, Lorca took shape as a modern city, but still had defensive duties due to the Ottoman threat along the coast.
This century witnessed the expulsion of the Moors, the plague, which killed half the population, and droughts and locust plagues. Nevertheless, from 1660 a spectacular recovery and development began; amongst the construction of new buildings was the Palacio de Guevara, built in 1694 and a fine example of baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...

. The eighteenth century is of vital importance for the city, being one of the regions favoured by the Bourbon reforms. Lorca truly became a modern city, losing its medieval character. The population grew, and urban sprawl began as immigrants settled in the suburbs of San Cristóbal and San José. The defensive wall disappeared, which is indicative of the greater security of the times. The city became a haven for painters, sculptors and engravers.

On 30 April 1802, a great calamity struck the town of Lorca. The walls of a nearby reservoir gave way, flooding the town and destroying many buildings and killing up to 700 people. In the nineteenth century, the War of Independence and yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....

 epidemics and recurring droughts brought famine to the region and brought about the emigration of more than twelve thousand people. By 1845 Lorca had become the largest and most populous municipality in Murcia. Trade declined during the first half of the century, although in 1865 it received its first steam engine, the Sewer-Lorca railway opened in 1885 and the Baza-Lorca railway opened in 1890, bringing integration of the region in the domestic market, enabling the movement of mineral deposits and people. Restoration in the late 19th century brought with it a period of prosperity and political calm, the roundabouts of San Vicente, the Teatro y Colón, the Casino Artístico y Literario in 1885, the Teatro Guerra in 1861, and the Plaza de Toros in 1892, etc. were amongst the notable building developments of this time. The 1878 edition of The Globe Encyclopaedia of Universal Information described Lorca (spelled as 'Liorca') thus:
a town of Spain, province of Murcia, on the Sangonera, 50 miles (80.5 km) W. of Carthagena. It has an old Moorish castle, and manufactures of silks, soap, dye-stuffs, leather, paper, etc... Near Liorca are important lead mines. Pop. 40,000.


In the early twentieth century, intensive exploitation of mineral deposits of the coastal zone meant a revival of economic life in the region. The Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...

 paradoxically brought about the beginning of population recovery, but in the post-World War II years the population stagnated as a result of emigration. But today the flow has been reversed: the leather, pottery, cement and butcheries make the municipality an agricultural and livestock industrial tone, involving a large percentage of the population. The twentieth century in Lorca has been a technological take-off, with slow and gradual change of social structures, the specialization of the productive sectors, etc.

On October 19, 1973, Lorca, along with Puerto Lumbreras, suffered a terrible flood that took more than 50 lives.

On January 29, 2005, an earthquake of 4.6 magnitude on the Richter scale with epicentre in the districts of La Paca (1,068 inhabitants in 2005) and Palm Zarcilla (1,077 inhabitants in 2005), caused damage especially in the structure of various buildings, and in Aviles
Avilés
Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than...

, Coy
Coy, Spain
Coy is a town within the municipality of Lorca, in the Spanish province of Murcia. It has a population of 511 and is located 22 miles north of Lorca...

, Doña Inés
Dona Inês
Dona Inês is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil.-References:...

, Don Gonzalo, El Pardo
El Pardo
The Royal Palace of El Pardo is a historical building near Madrid, Spain, in the present-day district of Fuencarral-El Pardo. Owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency, the palace began as a hunting lodge.-Overview:...

, La Canaleja and Zarzadilla de Totana.

In 2008, Lorca received the annual Honorary Diploma of Europe Awards from the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...

.

2011 earthquake

The town was seriously damaged by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake
2011 Lorca earthquake
The 2011 Lorca earthquake was a moderate magnitude 5.1 Mw earthquake that caused significant localized damage in the Region of Murcia, Spain. Centred at a very shallow depth of 1 km near the town of Lorca, it occurred at 18:47 CEST on 11 May 2011, causing panic among locals and displacing...

 on 11 May 2011, killing at least nine people.
The United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...

 (USGS) said the larger earthquake had a preliminary 5.3 magnitude ,it was so superficial that the magnitude was like a 7 magnitude normal earthquake, and struck 220 miles (350 km) south-southeast of Madrid at 6:47 p.m. (1647 GMT, 12:47 p.m. EDT). The quake was about 1 mile (1 km) deep, and was preceded by the smaller one with a 4.5 magnitude in the same spot.

The quakes occurred in a seismically active area near a large fault beneath the Mediterranean Sea where the European and African continents brush past each other, USGS seismologist Julie Dutton said. The USGS said it has recorded hundreds of small quakes in the area since 1990.

Ironically, it struck on the same day many residents stayed away from work in the Italian capital Rome fearing a supposed prophecy of a devastating tremor by a self-taught Italian seismologist who died in 1979.

Lorca Castle
Lorca Castle
Lorca Castle in Lorca, Murcia, Spain, is a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries. It consists of a series of defensive structures that, during the Middle Ages, made the town and the fortress an impregnable point in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula...

, a fortress of medieval origin constructed between the 9th and 15th centuries suffered serious damages to its walls and the Espolón Tower during this earthquake.

Geography and climate

The town is situated at an elevation of 1200 feet (365.8 m) in eastern Spain between Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...

 and Murcia. It was part of the hura of Tidmir in the Muslim period when it became well known for its fertile soil and subsoil, and for its strategic location. It is situated on the southern slopes of the Siera del Cano mountains. The Guadalentín River flows through the town.

The municipality of Lorca is bound by Caravaca de la Cruz
Caravaca de la Cruz
Caravaca de la Cruz is a town and municipality of southeastern Spain in the province of Murcia, near the left bank of the River Argos, a tributary of the Segura. This city is the capital of the northwest Region of Murcia. It has a population of 26,449 as of 2010...

 and Cehegín
Cehegín
Cehegín is a town and municipality in the province and autonomous community of Murcia, Spain, situated some 66 km from the city of Murcia. It has a population of approximately 16,200 . It is crossed by the rivers Argos and Quipar....

 to the north, Mula, Aledo
Aledo, Murcia
Aledo is a municipality in the Region of Murcia, southern Spain.It is home to a castle built in the early Middle Ages by the Moors, to command the Guadalentín valley. When the Taifa of Murcia was conquered by the Kingdom of Castile, it was assigned to the Order of Santiago, which renovated it and...

, Totana
Totana
Totana is a municipality of the Region of Murcia province in Spain. It has a population of about 25,000 people.- External links :***...

 and Mazarrón
Mazarrón
Mazarrón is a municipality in the autonomous community and province of Murcia, southeastern Spain. The municipality has an area of , and a population of more than 34,351 inhabitants...

 to the east, Águilas
Águilas
Águilas is a municipality and seaport of southeastern Spain, in the province of Murcia. It is situated at the southern end of Murcia's Mediterranean coastline, otherwise known as the Costa Cálida, near the border with the Province of Almería....

 to the south and Pulpí
Pulpí
-Largest salad:On September 29, 2007, Pulpí tossed the world's largest salad, with 6,700 kilograms of lettuce, tomato, onion, pepper and olives, supervised by 20 cooks over 3 hours. A Guinness World Records judge was present to confirm the new record...

, Puerto Lumbreras
Puerto Lumbreras
Puerto Lumbreras is a Spanish municipality in the autonomous community of Murcia. It has a population of 12,881 and an area of 139 km² .-External links:* *...

, Huércal-Overa
Huércal-Overa
-External links: - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía - Diputación Provincial de Almería - Visita toda su gastronomía, fotos, foros deportes...

, Vélez Rubio and Vélez Blanco to the east. The town of Lorca itself is located 36 miles southwest of the city of Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...

  and roughly 25 miles (40.2 km) north of the coastal town of Aguilas
Águilas
Águilas is a municipality and seaport of southeastern Spain, in the province of Murcia. It is situated at the southern end of Murcia's Mediterranean coastline, otherwise known as the Costa Cálida, near the border with the Province of Almería....

. Lorca is connected to Puerto Lumbreras
Puerto Lumbreras
Puerto Lumbreras is a Spanish municipality in the autonomous community of Murcia. It has a population of 12,881 and an area of 139 km² .-External links:* *...

 in the southwest by European Route 15 (Route A-7) and the village of Barranco del Prado just to the north. Beyond this the C-3211 road connects it to the city of Caravaca de la Cruz
Caravaca de la Cruz
Caravaca de la Cruz is a town and municipality of southeastern Spain in the province of Murcia, near the left bank of the River Argos, a tributary of the Segura. This city is the capital of the northwest Region of Murcia. It has a population of 26,449 as of 2010...

 much further to the north.
Several towns and villages lie in the municipality, including La Paca, Palm Zarcilla, Aviles
Avilés
Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than...

, Coy
Coy, Spain
Coy is a town within the municipality of Lorca, in the Spanish province of Murcia. It has a population of 511 and is located 22 miles north of Lorca...

, Doña Inés
Dona Inês
Dona Inês is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil.-References:...

, Don Gonzalo, El Pardo
El Pardo
The Royal Palace of El Pardo is a historical building near Madrid, Spain, in the present-day district of Fuencarral-El Pardo. Owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional agency, the palace began as a hunting lodge.-Overview:...

, La Canaleja and Zarzadilla de Totana.

The municipality is very large at 1676 km² (647.1 sq mi) and has a range of geographical features, extending from the coastline to the mountainous areas of the northwest and northeast of the municipality. Lorca formed around the Guadalentín River (in Arabic "mud river") in an arid valley. In fact, agriculture heavily depends on water transferred from the Tagus
Tagus
The Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It is long, in Spain, along the border between Portugal and Spain and in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. It drains an area of . The Tagus is highly utilized for most of its course...

 river in Central Spain. Irrigation channels were laid out all over the country by the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...

 during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

. These agricultural plains lie to the south of the main town in the valley, a strip which expands into the western part of the municipality. The area to the north is mountainous; to the northeast is the Parque Natural Sierra Espuna.

Barrios of Lorca

Lorca is divided into different barrios:
  • Alfonso X El Sabio.
  • Calvario.
  • La Viña.
  • Los Ángeles.
  • San Antonio.
  • San Cristóbal.
  • San Fernando.
  • San José.
  • San Juan.
  • Santa María.
  • San Pedro.
  • Santiago.

  • Beaches of Lorca

    The municipality of Lorca extends to the Mediterranean. There are many beaches in its 8 km littoral stretch of the coast line surrounded by hills with coves with sparse to dense vegetation. Some of the popular beaches are: The Calnegre, a sand beach, 1200 m long and 20 m wide, is peaceful with the calm sea; Cala Leña, part of the Blana Cove with backdrop of hills covered with good vegetation and facing crystal clear sea water; El Ciscar, a gravel beach surrounded by low hills; El Muerto beach with volcanic black sand and rock faces; La Galera gravel beach in the backdrop of a cove and rock cliffs covered by vegetation; Los Hierros, a gravel beach; Larga beach, a 500 m wide gravel beach; and La Junquera, a small gravely beach with rocky landforms.

    Climate

    Lorca has a warm climate, typical of southeast Spain, with an average annual temperature between 17 and 18 °C. The characteristics of this climate are due to the situation of the municipality, sheltered from the Atlantic storms. Western wet fronts release water when it hit the Betic Cordillera, which separates the Lorca area of depression of the Guadalquivir, which penetrate the winds off the Atlantic. Rainfall usually occur in torrents, falling mostly in a few days of the fall or spring, with very dry summers. The winters are usually mild with mean temperatures below 9 °C. Summers are hot, 36 °C is the common maximum temperature in July and August, although it sometimes reaches more than 40 °C. Due to the size and topographical fluctuation of the municipality, not all areas report the same rainfall and temperatures.

    Lorca Castle

    The Lorca Castle, which overlooks the city of Lorca from a strategic location, was built by the Moorish inhabitants during the 13th century. It is distinctly visible from a distance. Castle is distinctly visible from a distance . Its history dates back to the Islamic period when it was built between 8th and 12th centuries; some remnants of which are still seen in the form of water systems in the older part of the castle. The Alfonsí Tower is of a rectangular shape which is built in the castle. The castle has a polygonal floor plan. The tower has three sections. Gothic vaulted ceilings are seen in its three sections. It also has the Espolón Tower. During the final stages of Christian reconquest, the Moors had taken refuge in the castle. Alphonse tower was added to the fort defences when Alfonso X had retaken the city in 1243 provided security to the turrets and crenels of the fort. The castle is now a popular place for holding fiestas and civic functions. The castle is also transformed into a theme park with fine display of "dioramas, actors in costumes and various gadgetry".

    Plaza de España

    The Plaza de España (Spanish Square) is one of the most emblematic monuments of the city, located in the heart of Lorca's historical centre. Containing the Collegiate San Patricio and the Chambers of the Collegiate members, the Casa del Corregidor and Posito, the granary of 16th century, amongst others They were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Plaza has been declared a Cultural Monument.

    Colegiata de San Patricio

    The Collegiate Church of San Patricio is a Renaissance-style building situated on the Plaza de España. It was declared a National Historic-Artistic site by decree of January 27, 1941. The Collegiate is the only one in Spain which is under the patronage of St. Patrick. The dedication to the Irish saint, has its origins in the Battle of Alporchones, fought on March 17, 1452 (St. Patrick's Day) against people of the city of Granada.
    The church began construction in 1533 under Pope Clement VII
    Pope Clement VII
    Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...

     on the spot of the old church of San Jorge. Construction, however, was delayed until 1704. The church features a baroque façade with Renaissance interiors.

    Museums

    The city has many museums of which the Museo de Arqueologico Municipal maintained by the Plaza de Juan Moreno is popular. There is also an embroidery museum. The city hall has many paintings of battles that were fought in and around Lorca. Paintings of local artists are also on display here.

    Museo Arqueológico

    The Archaeological Museum of Lorca
    Archaeological Museum of Lorca
    The Archaeological Museum of Lorca is an archaeological museum in Lorca, Spain, located in the renovated "House of Salazar" which had been built in the early 17th century....

     is located in the renovated "House of Salazar" which had been built in the early seventeenth century. The museum is a store house of all the archaeological antiquaries found during excavations in several historical areas of Lorca and from other regions in Spain. Limestone statues made in the Lavant area of Lorca decorate the façade. These statues carved are of Mary Natareloo Salazar flanked by figures of two naked female torsos. Inside the museum exhibits are in several sections arranged in a sequence. In the lobby and the first section of the museum the exhibits are: Prehistoric Palaeolithic (95000-32000 BC) and chalcolithic period (32,000 to 9000 BC) finds seen in the flint section consist of antiquaries of scrapers, knives and points used by the hunters and gatherers who lived in Black Hill of Jofré and the Correia in Lorca; utensils arrowheads, axes, polished piece, handmade pottery, beads of people who lived in the region of Lorca during the late Neolithic period (3500 BC); the Copper Age (3000 BC) findings of funerary objects found in the caves of the hills in Lorca; stone architecture of the megaliths of the Black Hill in Lorca; the later part of the third millennium idols made from clay, bone and stone from the excavations from the Glorieta de San Vicente (Lorca city), one particular item of display is the triangular plate of stone painted in black with schematic rock art painting and other animal on the shoulder blade; the two columns of Emperor Augustus (8–7 BC) and Emperor Diocletian; and the Roman period mosaics, faces of Venus and the nine females of the period.

    Other monuments

    Lorca is studded with ancient monuments built in baroque architecture, Roman villas, palaces, unique works of art.
    In the central part of the town, La Casa de Guevara is one of the ancient baroque buildings built between 16th and 18th centuries by the Guevara family. Another historical monument is the Iglesia de San Mateo, which has an impressive vaulted interior.
    • A Roman Milepost of 10 BC of Emperor Augustus period over which a statue of San Vincente erected in the 15th century is an important landmark on the Columnia Milenaria". It is located on the located on the Calle de la Corredera
    • Lorca City Hall, built in the 17th–18th centuries, initially as a prison
    • Medieval walls and gate or porch of San Antonio (13th-early 14th centuries) of Arabic origin was the main entrance gate then.
    • Monumental complex of Santo Domingo (16th–18th centuries), formed by the namesake church, the Capilla del Rosario and remains of a convent's cloister.
    • Iglesia de San Francisco (Lorca) (1561–1735), also known as the temple of San Francisco, is a national monument. It was first built by the Franciscan Order in the middle of 16th century which was later totally rebuilt in the 17th century. It has many baroque altar pieces made by Ginés López in 1694. In 18th century, Jerónimo Caballero added two high altarpieces of the transept
      Transept
      For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...

       that are dedicated to the Saint Antonio and to Vera Cruz
      True Cross
      The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...

       and to the Blood of Christ
      Blood of Christ
      The Blood of Christ in Christian theology refers to the physical blood actually shed by Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the salvation which Christianity teaches was accomplished thereby; and the sacramental blood present in the Eucharist, which is considered by Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and...

      . In 1941, the ‘Virgin de los Dolores’ altarpiece made by José Capuz was added.
    • Palace of the counts of San Julián, in Baroque-Neomudéjar
      Mudéjar
      Mudéjar is the name given to individual Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus who remained in Iberia after the Christian Reconquista but were not converted to Christianity...

       style (17th century)
    • Huerto Ruano Palace, an urban villa from the 19th century
    • Casa del Corregidor, house built in the 18th century
    • Pósito de los Panaderos, granary house, built in the 16th century
    • Columna Miliaria, Roman structure
    • Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Franciscan convent destroyed during a raid in 1653 and rebuilt
    • Convento de las Mercedarias (16th century)
    • Palacio de Guevara  (17th–18th century)
    • Antiguo Convento de la Merced
    • Antiguo Colegio de la Purísima (18th century), now housing the Conservatorio de Música Narciso Yepes.
    • Iglesia del Carmen, 18th century church
    • Iglesia de San Cristóbal (17th–18th century).
    • Iglesia de San Diego (17th century).
    • Iglesia de San Mateo (18th–19th century).
    • Casino Artístico, Andalusian-style building, designed by Manuel Martínez Lorca.
    • Teatro Guerra  is the oldest theatre in the Murcia Region, inaugurated in 1861.
    • Cámara Agrícola (early twentieth century), Art Nouveau
      Art Nouveau
      Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...

       building, unusual in this part of the Region of Murcia, designed by Mario Spottorno,
    • Puente de Piedra (19th century), bridge
    • Puente de la Torta (1910), bridge built in 1910 from concrete
    • Plaza de Toros (1892).

    Economy

    After most of the land and water supplies had been held for centuries by a minority of landowners and by Roman Catholic religious orders, Lorca began a period of sluggish economic growth during the 1960s.

    Still today, its economy is largely based on agriculture and stock breeding (pigs and brown cows), although its service industries make it the commercial capital of the surrounding area. The economy of the town is thus dependent largely on export of pork products and textiles. It also has saltpetre, gunpowder, and lead-smelting works. In recent years, Lorca has experienced a population growth because of peasant immigration, mostly coming from Ecuador
    Ecuador
    Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

     and Morocco
    Morocco
    Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...

    .

    Lorca has launched a programme to boost its economy by attracting local, national and international industrial houses to set up base in the city and its precincts by identifying land for allotment to set up industrial parks, Research and Development (R&D) projects. Some of the important recent actions taken by the Lorca City Hall relate to allotment of 52 hectares (128.5 acre) of land for development through 60 local entrepreneurial projects, 77 hectares (190.3 acre) to promote investments that would create employment and maximize the Lorca economy, 130 hectares (321.2 acre) allotted to Turkish
    Turkey
    Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

     investors to develop corporate projects, approval of land programmes for development of Serrata Industrial Park by the Lorca Land and Housing firm (SUVILOR) to develop five parks, setup Health Sciences University Campus for the 2010–2011 under agreements with Israel
    Israel
    The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

    i firms. Further advantages cited for firms to set up their establishments in Lorca are the approved plans for the allotment of land of 100000 m² (119,599 sq yd) in Hoya
    Hoya
    Hoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical plants in the family Apocynaceae , fomerly considered to be in the Asclepiadaceae...

     800000 m² (956,792 sq yd) in Purias and the identification of land for Zarcilla de Ramos, Zarzadilla de Totana, La Paca and Almendricos for development of industries.

    The Region of Murcia
    Region of Murcia
    The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....

    , the City Council of Lorca, the Chamber of Commerce of Lorca and the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of the Region of Lorca (Ceclor), as a consortium, have formed the LORCATUR to develop cultural tourism of Lorca. The emphasis is on promoting urban tourist circuits and thematic itineraries. To this end, plans have been taken up to conserve, preserve and restore the built heritage of the city, regenerate urban areas for residents and tourists, and diversify the historical and cultural heritage.

    Cultural activity

    Cultural activity in Lorca is the Easter celebration, the Holy Week celebration popularly known as the Semana Santa. Semana Santa festival has been popularised since 1855. It is said to be the best festival held anywhere in Spain where two brotherhoods vie with each other to display two colours namely the Azul (blue) and Blanco (white) for the highly competitive festive display of cloaks. Each of the brotherhood in Lorca, on this occasion, carries an image of Virgin Mary – one draped in a blue cloak and another in white cloak with a banner and a museum. Music played on this occasion is of a different rhythm is reverential and vigorously mixing the story of Old Testament
    Old Testament
    The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

     and the New Testament
    New Testament
    The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

    . Apart from this annual festival, there are four small museums where exhibits of Semana Santa costumes are on display. These costumes are finely embroidered on silk and depict historical and religious scenes; some of these cloaks are as long as 5 metres (16.4 ft). Fiesta celebration for La Virgen de Las Huertas is held on 8 September every year.

    Education

    Centres of educations in Lorca:
    • Colleges
      • Colegio San Francisco de Asís
      • Colegio Madre de Dios
      • Colegio "Ciudad del Sol"
      • C.P. Alfonso X El Sabio
      • C.P. Almendricos
      • C.P. Andrés García Soler
      • C.P. Andrés Manjón
      • C.P. Casa del niño
      • C.P. Comarcal Marchena
      • C.P. Comarcal Pasico-Campillo
      • C.P. José Robles
      • C.P. Juan González
      • C.P. Juan Navarro
      • C.P. La Torrecilla
      • C.P. Las librilleras
      • C.P. Muñoz Barberán
      • C.P. Narciso Yepes
      • C.P. Ntra. Sra. De La Asunción
      • C.P. Pasico Campillo
      • C.P. Pérez de Hita
      • C.P. Petra González
      • C.P. Preescolar Muñoz Barberán
      • C.P. Purias
      • C.P. Sagrado Corazón
      • C.P. San Cristóbal
      • C.P. San Fernando
      • C.P. San José
      • C.P. Villaespesa
      • C.P. Virgen de las Huertas
      • C.P. Zarzadilla de Ramos
      • C.P. Zarzadilla de Totana
      • C.P. Zona Calvario
  • Institutes
    • Instituto José Ibánez Martín
    • Instituto Príncipe de Asturias
    • Instituto Ramón Arcas Meca
    • Instituto Ros Giner
    • Instituto San Juan Bosco
    • Instituto Sierra Almenara de Purias
    • Instituto La Paca
    • Instituto nº 6

    • Libraries
      • Biblioteca Municipal Pilar Barnés
      • Biblioteca Príncipe de Asturias
      • Biblioteca De la Paca
      • Biblioteca de La Hoya
      • Biblioteca de Almendricos
      • Biblioteca de Zarcilla de Ramos
      • Biblioteca de Purias
      • Biblioteca Marchena-Aguaderas
      • Biblioteca Infantil
      • Centro Cultural

    • Others
      • Escuela Oficial de Idiomas
        Escuela Oficial de Idiomas
        A ' is a Spanish language school. Each autonomous community controls its language schools. The schools teach foreign languages as well as Spanish for non-Spanish speakers...

      • Escuela de Capacitación Agraria
      • Centro Público de Educación Especial Pilar Soubrier
      • Centro de Educación Temprana
      • Centro de Educación de Personas Adultas "Alto Guadalentín"
      • Centro Integrado de Formación Profesional, rama sanitaria.

    • Universities
      • Campus Universitario de las Ciencias de la Salud

    Healthcare

    The public health system that exists in Lorca is managed by the Servicio Murciano de Salud (SMS). In February 2010, Rafael Mendez Hospital was accredited University General Hospital.

    Health centres

    • Centro de Salud Lorca-San Diego
    • Centro de Salud Lorca-Sur
    • Centro de Salud Lorca-Centro
    • Centro de Salud La Paca
    • Centro de Salud Sutullena

    Clinics

    • Consultorio La Torrecilla
    • Consultorio Morata
    • Consultorio Coy
    • Consultorio Zarzadilla de Totana
    • Consultorio Las Terreras
    • Consultorio Tova-La Parroquia
    • Consultorio Campillo
    • Consultorio Escucha
    • Consultorio Ramonete
    • Consultorio Cazalla
    • Consultorio Zarcilla de Ramos
    • Consultorio Doña Inés
    • Consultorio La Campana / Pozo Higuera
    • Consultorio Aguaderas
    • Consultorio Campo López
    • Consultorio Avilés
    • Consultorio La Hoya
    • Consultorio Marchena
    • Consultorio Puente La Pía
    • Consultorio Purias
    • Consultorio Tercia
    • Consultorio Consejero
    • Consultorio Almendricos
    • Consultorio Torrecilla


    Sports teams

    Athletics
    • Atletismo Eliocroca, an athletic club participating at the regional level (cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, route, half marathon, marathon
      Marathon
      The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...

      , 100 km).


    Football
    • Lorca Deportiva CF (2002–2010)
    • Lorca Atlético CF
      Lorca Atlético CF
      Lorca Atlético Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Lorca, in the Region of Murcia. Founded in 1996, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco, with a capacity of 8,120 seats.-History:...

      , a newly created team that plays in Segunda División B
      Segunda División B
      Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...

    • La Hoya Lorca Club de Fútbol, soccer team in the hamlet of La Hoya which is active in the Third Division.
    • Unión Deportiva Zarcilla, football team which is active in the Preferente Autonómica de la Región de Murcia.


    Rugby
    • Club Rugby Lorca


    Futsal
    • Ciudad de Lorca Fútbol Sala


    Basketball
    • Indigo Química, basketball team that plays in the Primera Autonómica.


    Handball
    • Club Balonmano Lorca, team that plays in the Segunda División Nacional Masculina y Femenina.
    • Asociación Deportiva Eliocroca, team that plays in Segunda División Nacional.


    Vollyeball
    • Asociación Deportiva Eliocroca, team which plays in the Liga FEV.


    Swimming
    • Club Natación Lorca.

    Sports stadiums and venues

    • Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco
      Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco
      Estadio Francisco Artes Carrasco is a multi-use stadium in Lorca, Spain. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the former home ground of Lorca Deportiva CF. Since 2010 it is the home ground of the new founded club Lorca Atlético CF. The stadium holds 8,120.-External links:*...

    • Complejo deportivo Europa
    • Ciudad deportiva de La Torrecilla
    • Pabellón municipal de San José
    • Pabellón municipal San Antonio
    • Pabellón municipal de Almendricos
    • Pabellón municipal de Las Alamedas

    Notable people

    • Antoñita Peñuela (1947–1975), musician
    • Bartolomé Pérez Casas, composer and conductor (1873–1956).
    • Domingo Sastre Salas (1889–1982), banker
    • Eliodoro Puche, (1885–1964), poet
    • Francisco José Barnés y Tomás, historian
    • Joaquín Arderíus
      Joaquín Arderíus
      Joaquín Arderíus y Sánchez Fortún was a Spanish experimental and political novelist.Arderíus studied in Madrid before taking engineering courses at the University of Liège...

    • José Luis Munuera
      José Luis Munuera
      José Luis Munuera is a Spanish comics artist. Along with writer Jean-David Morvan, he was in charge of the classic Spirou et Fantasio series from 2004 to 2008....

      , (1972–), historian
    • José Musso Valiente, writer and politician (1785–1838).
    • Juan de Toledo, painter
    • Juan Gérvas
      Juan Gérvas
      Juan Javier Gérvas Camacho born in Lorca in 1948, is a general practitioner, teacher and researcher in primary care and public health.- Personal :...

       (1948–), general practitioner and educationer
    • Juan Martínez Casuco (1955–), football coach
    • Juan Moreno Rocafull (1820–1892), engineer
    • Juan Zurano, (1948–), retired professional cyclist
    • Manuel Muñoz Barberán (1921–2007), painter
    • Manuel Pascual Soler, (1969–), retired professional cyclist
    • Narciso Yepes
      Narciso Yepes
      Narciso Yepes was a Spanish guitarist.-Biography:Yepes was born into a family of humble origin in Lorca, Region of Murcia. His father gave him his first guitar when he was four years old. He took his first lessons from Jesus Guevara, in Lorca...

      , guitarist
    • Pepín Jiménez, (1961–) bullfighter
    • Rafael Maroto, military figure
    • Rafael Méndez Martínez, (1906–1991), cardiologist

    External links

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