Location
Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares is a coastal spa town and former fishing village on the western side of the Mar Menor in the province of Murcia, south-eastern Spain. The Mar Menor (little sea) belongs to three other municipalities: San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar and Cartagena and is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon. Connected to the Mediterranean Sea by several channels, it has a surface area of almost 20 km² and the fact that it is typically 2 to 4 degrees warmer than the Mediterranean, makes it a very popular destination for sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and other water sports.
Los Alcázares has some of the best beaches in the Murcian region, many of which have been awarded "Blue Flag Status" from the Spanish Tourist board based on their cleanliness, safety and atmosphere. The promenade in Los Alcázares is especially worth visiting.
The beaches on the Los Alcázares side of Mar Menor stretch from Los Alcázares to San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar. With warm and clear water no more than 7m deep it is "the largest swimming pool in the world", in the opinion of famous swimmer and Hollywood actress Esther Williams. It is very popular with families from Murcia and Cartagena at the weekends.
Autonomy: On 13 October 1983, the town was granted municipal autonomy, and to mark this every year it holds a week-long celebration featuring live music, shows, windsurfing competitions and firework displays.
Probably the most prominent of the numerous local attractions is the Promenade. - Los Narejos. Walking along, you will find all the shops, bars and restaurants you could wish for. It is also well-known for people setting up little market stalls in the evenings.
100 or so meters from the Murcia San Javier Airport there is a go-kart track that features 100, 200, 300 and 400cc karts. The historic Roman town of Cartagena is only a 25-minute drive away with a bus route just outside the apartment, and there is also a water park and zoo in the regional city of Murcia.
Movie locations: Los Alcázares was one of the locations for the 2008 movie of Ernest Hemingway's posthumous novel The Garden of Eden. A partly disused historic military air-base at the southern end of the town was also used for location filming for the 2010 war movie, Green Zone.
The Los Alcázares area is rapidly developing into one of the major golf destinations in south-eastern Spain, thanks to its warm winter climate and variety of golf courses. There are over 30 within an hour’s drive, all of which are open all year round. Most have some form of Bermuda grass mixtures. Among the several high-quality courses close by are Roda Golf (18 holes), La Serena Golf, the five-star Intercontinental Mar Menor Golf and Spa resort, and the five-star La Manga Club – both championship venues.
Mar Menor
Mar Menor is Europe's biggest salt-water lagoon and is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by La Manga, a strip of land 22 kms long. Its natural setting has an idyllic micro-climate and perfect conditions to enjoy nautical sports. Many people think that it’s the combination of such modernity with the old fishing traditions that gives Los Alcazares its unique charm.
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If you have a hire card, the 22km drive along the La Manga is well worth travelling. There are beaches along the way, lots to see, shops, bars and restaurants and a little bridge at the end, before returning back. It's a delightful and pleasant drive.
Golf Courses
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La Serena Golf - built in 2006.
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Roda Golf - situated between Los Narejos and Roda.
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Intercontinental Mar Menor Golf and Spa, a resort and golf course. (18 holes Nicklaus design)
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La Torre Golf - in the popular Polaris World. (18 holes Nicklaus design)
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Torre Pacheco Club de Golf - located in Torre Pacheco.
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La Manga Club - within 20 minutes drive from Los Alcazares
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Las Colinas Golf & Country club is also relatively close to the town. (voted Spain's best course in 2017)
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Las Terrazas de la Torre is a fine location close to the town of Roldan.
Cartagena
Cartagena (the Carthage of old) with more than 2,500 years of history, and plenty of archaeological sites and cultural attractions, is a striking contrast to the modern appeal of Los Alcazares.
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Click HERE for more information about Cartagena. Visit the Millenary City to see the Roman Theatre and learn about the Sea Treasures, the Festivities and the Festivals in the region - all this right on the doorstep of our apartment.
