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Until April 5 Special 2-day tourism packages in Lorca
The visitors’ centre, the Palacio de Guevara and the magnificent castle of Lorca all in one easy-to-manage package!
While Lorca celebrates its famed Easter Week parades other tourism opportunities are plentiful in the city, and this year a special 2-day tour package has been put together so that you can see the true historic significance of the city as well as the colour and splendour of the Semana Santa processions.
Available until 5th April these packages consist of two days of visits taking in both the castle and the magnificent Palacio de Guevara, as well as allowing you plenty of time to explore the historic centre at your own pace. The key elements are admission to the La Merced visitors centre, where you can discover the history of Lorca, a guided tour to the Palacio de Guevara, a jewel of the baroque period which illustrates perfectly the lifestyle of the rich noble families who governed in Lorca for centuries, and the castle of Lorca, which remained impregnable throughout the conflicts with the neighbouring Moorish kingdom of El Andalus during the Middle Ages.
Visits usually last around 45 minutes at the visitors’ centre, three and half hours at the castle (with a free audio guide available in various languages) and an hour or so at the Palacio de Guevara.
If you’re planning to stay in the city rather than travelling in from elsewhere, don’t forget special accommodation discounts are also available due to a Town Hall initiative announced earlier this year!
Bookings for the 2-day package are available here: select your dates and then indicate whether you wish to visit the castle on the first day (starting at 10.00) or the visitors centre (10.30) and the Palacio de Guevara (12.30).
The cost of the package is just 22.50 euros for over-13s and it is free for younger children!
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist office at the Palacio de Guevara (telephone 968 441914) or go to the home page of Lorca Today.
Address
Calle Lope Gisbert, 12, LorcaTel: 968 441914
Oficina de Turismo de Lorca
The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern city has built its tourism industry. Among these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish quarter of the castle and synagogue, Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.
Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011, claiming 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.
The tourist office relocated for 14 years to Calle San Patricio, near the church, but has now returned to its former premises alongside the Palacio de Guevara in the Plaza Concha Sandoval, or Plaza de la Bordadora (click for map).
Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only along difficult tracks or by boat!
However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a series of processions in which the Whites (Paso Blanco) and Blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.
Lorca also has a Parador hotel, located within the historic castle.
Opening hours for Lorca tourist office:
Every day of the year apart from 1st and 6th January and 25th December, 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 18.30 (except Sunday afternoons).
These opening times are often extended and other information points created during the Semana Santa celebrations.
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today
See what's on in Lorca:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
