Foto de Luigi Mateos
FACTS ABOUT MAZARRON Situation: In the south-east of Spain, in the region of Murcia, on the Mediterranean sea. Geographical co-ordinates: 1-20 "West and 37-40" North. Area: 318 square kilometres. Population: About 30.000 inhabitants. Climate: Mild winters and warm summers.
Landscape/Relief: Mazarron is a dry plain, crossed by low mountain ranges and a wide dry river bed. Agriculture: Talking advantage of the gentle climate, the principal source of wealth are vegetables. The water for irrigation is extracted from underground and from the most modern plants for desalination of sea water. Fishing: Coastal fishing (sardines, anchovies, shellfish.)
Tourism: Is the second source of wealth. excellent value for money.
Places to visit: 16th Century castle and churches. (paintings, Mudejar crafted). Watch-out towers against piracy. Set itineraries exist. Transport communications: Local buses, as well as connections with the regional cities (Murcia, Cartagena, Lorca, etc.) Gastronomy : based on local products, like fish and shellfish on the coast and rabbit, tomatoes and pepper inland.
Leisure activities, culture and free time: Parachuting, climbing, horse-riding, cycling, archery, skating, aerobics, go-karting, tennis, fronton, bowls, sauna, squash, athletics. Martial arts; various workshops, dances, public library, performances, concerts, theatre.
(Festivals) Fiestas: Carnival, St. Joseph, Easter, St. Anthony , the Assumption, local pilgrimage (November), town festival. (first week in December). Story competition "Cut from the Elm" Segado del Olmo (Information at the Universidad Popular).
Short history. Prehistoric: Several mineral deposits until 35,000 BC. Copper Age: Some mineral deposits. The most famous is the one at Cueva del Plomo the first with walls. (can be visited). 7th Cent. B.C.: First Phoenician boat discovered. 3rd Cent. B.C.: Carthaginous. 12th Cent A.C.: Arab traces in exploitation of red-ochre mines. 1462 A.C.: Intensive exploitation of the red-ochre and alum mines.
1572 A.C.: Felipe II concedes the title of Villa de Almazarron which signifies the segregation of Lorca. 19th Cent. A.C.: head-mining, abandoned since Roman tuines, is recommenced. 2Oth Cent A.C.: In the 1950's the extraction of red-ochre and alum and its industry disappears and tourist development commences. new intensive, irrigated agriculture emerges. At present, the population reaches 31.000 inhabitants attracted by tourism and agriculture. CELEBRITIES Painters: Domingo Valdivieso, Agustín Navarro, Vivancos. Interestins contacts local: Town Hall: 968 50 01 19
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