Looking at Spanish investment properties?
Then you're bound to be considering Murcia as your main destination. From the
Paramount Theme Park to La Manga's world-class golf resorts, the region has
everything a buyer could wish for, including beaches, sports, culture and nightlife.
Don't know much about the area? Read MoveWorldwide.net's guide to buying property in
Murcia:
Climate
Mild winters, warm summers, Murcia benefits from its
location near the Mediterranean Sea, clocking up over 300 days of sunshine
every year. The record temperature for Murcia is 46.1°C, close to the record
for the whole of South Europe, making the area the perfect place for holiday
home buyers and summer-loving tourists and, as a result, buy-to-let investors.
Lifestyle
Seafood and wine can while away the hours on the coast, with
beaches, clubs and tapas bars the order
of the day. But away from the sea, Murcia has enough to suit more sophisticated
residents. From the city's Calle de la Traperia to the region's old silk
workshops, Murcia has a reputation for shopping - only beaten by its famous
plethora of high-end golf courses.
Geography
The Cordilleras Béticas mountains loom over Murcia's
landscape, located in the east of the range. But between the peaks and the
coast, Murcia boasts Spain's largest natural lake: Mar Menor. Separated from
the Mediterranean by a 22km strip, La Manga del Mar Menor, the 170km lake and
its sandy spit is now home to some of the country's most popular resorts.
Economy
Murcia houses some of Spain's most well-known resorts, with
Costa Cálida and La Manga heavily developed and tourist-driven, yet the
region's economy is surprisingly independent of the travel industry. Indeed,
many areas are unknown to foreign visitors, leaving the region's economy to
depend upon agriculture, such as tomatoes and lemons, factories and wines.
Attractions to look
out for
Santa Maria Cathedral
Jaime I the Conqueror transformed Murcia's Great Mosque from
a Moorish place of worship into a Roman Catholic cathedral in the 14th Century.
With a Gothic interior surrouneded by a Baroque facade, the striking mix of
architecture includes the second tallest campanile (bell tower) in Spain at 93
metres high, behind the Giralda in Seville. The cathedral contains the remains
of King Alfonso I The Wise under the main altar, which he requested in his will
as an offering of love to Murcia. A visit to the region's main city and you may
want to do the same.
Mar Menor
Spanning 130 square kilometres in total, the Mar Menor is a
stunning strech of inland water. The lagoon is separated from the Mediterranean
Sea by La Manga, but the strip of land
is broken by several natural channels. The combination of beaches and
double-sided coastline (with waters at two different temperatures) has given
rise to numerous developments, villages and high-end tourist resorts - 50 per
cent of the region's hotels are located here, along with water sports
facilities and an ample supply of Murcia's famous golf courses .
Paramount Theme Park
La Manga and the Mar Menor are the in-demand tourist
hotspots, but for many years the talking point of Murcia has been the Paramount
Theme Park - and it doesn't even exist yet. Announced in 2010, the
movie-inspired theme park will be built to the North-West of Cartagena, just 25
miles from San Javier airport. It is predicted to generate 20,000 jobs and
attract 3 million visitors to Murcia every year; those two statistics alone
already justify its reputation as a major boost to the region's post-recession
recovery.
Getting around Murcia
Planes
San Javier airport is the main gateway for air passengers
heading directly to Murcia (although Alicante is a common point of entry for
tourists), but not for much longer: Murcia's International Airport is finally
complete and will take on all overseas traffic to the area. The airport, which
caters for 3 million passengers per year, will open in October 2012. Test
flights are now underway.
Trains
Murcia is well connected to all the other major towns and
regions in Spain thanks to the country's reliable inter-city train network.
Within the region, the Cercanías Murcia/Alicante commuter lines provide a
frequent service of trams and trains that covers the coastline. Line C-1
connects Murcia to nearby Alicante, while C-2 reaches out in the opposite
direction to Águilas.
Automobiles
Murcia's motorways make up a wide-ranging and convenient
travel network. Indeed, the high quality of Murcia's travel infrastructure is
one of the reasons the region was chosen for the Paramount Theme Park. New
roads will connect Paramount directly to the new Corvera airport, as well as
boosting the profile and investment potential for many previously
under-developed locations.
Latbus is Murcia's regional bus service, ranging from
Archena and Ricote to San Javier and Molina de Segura. For those in La Manga,
ALSA provides local bus routes, as well as connections to cities along the Costa
Calida.
For more property advice and investment tips, tried
Moveworldwide's guide to buying property
in Florida:
http://www.moveworldwide.net/blog/blog/2012/a-guide-to-buying-property-in-florida/