Alcantarilla
Guide to the town of Alcantarilla, located to the west of Murcia city in south-eastern Spain.
Alcantarilla - Murcia - Spain
A town and municipality located in the region of Murcia, Alcantarilla is situated 7 kilometres from the city centre of Murcia and has a population of about 40,000. Alcantarilla lies in the low-lying fertile plain known as the “Huerta”, an area of orchards and gardens including the valleys of the River Segura and the River Guadalentin.
There have been human settlements in and around Alcantarilla since prehistoric times, artefacts have been found from Iberian and Roman settlements including a Greek vase now on show in the Archaeological Museum in Murcia. The first historical reference to the town dates from the 12th century when the Arab geographer Al-Idrisi refers to the town of Qantara Asquaba (“The Nearest Bridge”), which corresponds to present day Alcantarilla. Arab rule ended in 1243 after Ferdinand III of Castile accepted the submission of the Moorish King of Murcia, control later passed to the Kingdom of Aragon. A strong impression was left on Alcantarilla by the existence of the Inquisition in the town during the 18th and 19th centuries, based in what is now known as the Casa de Cayitas, these events are still reinacted during the May Festival. During the second half of the 19th century, Alcantarilla underwent considerable redevelopment and as a result grew from a small village to a sizeable town with its own industrial sector.
Alcantarilla has a number of interesting historical monuments including the Rueda o Noria (Medieval Water Wheel), part of an irrigation system originally put in place by the Romans and later developed by the Moors. The first modern water wheel was constructed from wood in 1457, during the 19th century the first iron wheel was built, the current wheel dates from 1956 (based on a model from 1890) and measures 11 metres high and 1.9 metres wide. Also of interest is the previously mentioned Casa Cayitas de la Inquisición (also known as the Casa de Santo Officio or House of the Holy Office), built in the 18th century, it held the local Inquisition Tribunal. Worth a visit is the Museo Etnologico de la Huerta de Murcia, with indoor and outdoor displays, it houses collections of tools and implements traditionally used in the Murcian Huerta (orchards). Other monuments include the Convento de los Padres Minimos (1699-1704), the Iglesia de San Roque (17th - 18th century) and the Iglesia Parochial de la Asuncion (20th century).
Alcantarilla’s many fiestas and celebrations include the May Festivities (Fiestas de mayo) which are held during the last 2 weeks of May and attracts visitors from all over the region of Murcia, festivities include a Folklore Festival, live concerts, the Ofrenda Floral (floral offering) and also features the “burning of the witch”, representing the towns impression of the Inquisition.
Alcantarilla is located on the N-340a and the N-344, just 7 kilometres west of Murcia city centre, it can easily be accessed from the AP-7 motorway and from the MU-30.
Alcantarilla Weather - Alcantarilla enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with more than 2,800 hours of sunshine each year, the average annual temperature is around 18° C and rainfall is usually less than 200mm per year.
Alcantarilla Links: Alcantarilla Map
Nearby Places: Mula - Totana - Jumilla - Lorca
Golf Courses: Roda Golf Resort - Mar Menor Golf Resort - Spain Golf Courses
Related: Murcia - Cartagena - Los Alcazares - Mar Menor - San Javier - La Manga - Mazarron - Murcia Airport Transfers - Builders
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