This guided tour is an opportunity for Spanish speakers to see and learn about the recent completion of one of the phases of restoration planned at Alhama de Murcia castle, and begins at 11am on Saturday May 24 at the Tourist Office Repair and restoration work at the castle of Alhama de Murcia has meant that the fortress has been closed to the public for quite some time this is your chance to step into the rich history of this majestic Islamic fortress which has stood guard over the Guadalentín Valley since the late 11th century Entitled ‘Encuentros en el Castillo’ this visit will allow visitors to learn about the history of the town’s emblematic monument you can visit the old defensive enclosures This experience is not recommended for those with limited mobility as the climb up th ecastle hill is a  fairly taxing one The tour on May 24 is conducted entirely in Spanish and lasts for approximately two hours The cost of registration is just €3 for adults and €2 for children aged 3-12 Booking is compulsory as places are limited For more information about Alhama, including news and upcoming events, visit the local tourist office or go to the home page of Alhama Today Alhama de Murcia Tourist information office is located on the edge of the Plaza de la Constitución just a few metres away from the underground car park and the Town hall of Alhama de Murcia The tourist office offers free guided audiotours in English which take visitors around the historical sites of interest in Alhama although allow an hour and a half to complete the tour and when loaning the audio equipment visitors are asked to leave passports or ID cards with the tourist office The tourist office also carries leaflets for the many cultural events and fiestas which take place in Alhama throughout the year Christmas,the Romería of La Candelaria and the Auto de los Reyes Magos in El Berro For more local information, including news and forthcoming events, visit the home page of Alhama Today.  and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article The town of Alhama de Murcia in south-western Murcia travels back in time to the 70s and 80s on Saturday May 17 when the Teatro Cine Velasco welcomes the show “Essencial A whole load of your old favourites are included Dancing Queen and Chiquitita in the course of a 2-hour spectacle which has received wide acclaim wherever it has travelled Tickets are priced at just 5 euros and are available from the the Los Baños archaeological museum (telephone 968 630776) – or at the box office in the 2 hours before the curtain rises at 20.00 This tour is an unusual opportunity to see and learn about the Las Paleras archaeological site which has been discovered behind the castle on the hill behind Alhama de Murcia and begins at 9am on Saturday May 17 at the Tourist Office Las Paleras was a fortified settlement in the Moorish administrative area of Tudmīr and ítems found there show that it was inhabited between the 8th and 10th centuries It is quite common for this type of location to have been used for early settlements as the site is strategic and offers protection as well as good visibility of the surrounding area would have been built beneath the existing mediaeval castle as is the case in several other areas of the region offering protection for livestock and residents should danger threaten The settlement of which the remains have been found occupied an area of around 20,000 square metres and was surrounded by a wall with defensive towers In the highest part was a fortified castle which seems to have been among the first built by the Muslim conquerors of southern Spain after the year 712 and is influenced by the building style of the Middle East The town was destroyed by fire in the second half of the 10th century and was abandoned but Las Paleras will now form a part of the “Islamic Route” of Alhama de Murcia which links the Ibn Al-Jatib rout with the European itinerary of Almoravid and Almohad Culture in the Legacy of Al-Andalus between Murcia and Granada NOTE: The tour is being held in Spanish on the same day, 2 hours later and group bookings can be made on other dates through the tourist office.  Please consult the tourist office about the possibility of arranging group visits on other dates if required One of the main events during the 2025 Los Mayos fiestas in Alhama de Murcia is the 24th annual folk festival which features a concert by Cabra and Tribal Son on Friday May 2 at the church of San Lázaro Obispo Cabra take their repertoire from all over Spain including not only Murcia but also Extremadura are a local group who blend folk with other styles including ska and last year took part in the Voces del Mar Menor festival The concert on May 2 begins at 21.30 and admission is free of charge Alhama de Murcia celebrates its annual Los Mayos fiestas at the beginning of May combining local traditions with entertainment and fun for the whole family and this year once again a full version of events is scheduled and the atmosphere is guaranteed to be as festive as ever May Day is celebrated to herald the arrival of spring and of a period of fertility and abundance although it was gradually absorbed into the Christian faith as it became more widespread and many of its rituals were adapted to Christianity The May celebrations in Alhama de Murcia are called Los Mayos and were declared as being of National Tourist Interest in 2019 due in part to the unique traditions at their core There are three distinct elements of the celebrations in Alhama which have evolved to become a singular fiesta within the region one which not only attracts thousands of visitors from the Spanish community but is also very popular with expat visitors on account of its vibrancy and range of activities The roots of these traditions can be found in Pagan rituals which focused on the feminine and the female figure of fertility Flowers represent fertility and abundance and were used to adorn sacred places where people made offerings and gave thanks for the fruitfulness of the earth As Christianity spread these traditions were adapted to celebrate the Virgin Mary and in many parts of Spain she is honoured today with the Cruces de Mayo This is an important part of the Alhama celebrations and decorated floral crosses are proudly displayed in homes and public places throughout the town.  The Crosses remain in place until the end of the fiestas Representative figures are made of a variety of materials and messages are added which can be ‘cleansed" at the end of the festival as an act of renewal and regeneration This is common worldwide and in Alhama the act of creating figures evolved into a tradition which dates back at least to the early 20th century and probably much further dressed and set in scenes which represent everyday life and all around the town displays are created which show residents involved in traditional activities; sitting sewing outside their houses These homely and often satirical tableaux often poke fun at local political figures confront topical issues and put across a point of view about social subjects airing them in a way which makes an otherwise uncomfortable subject a point of discussion The displays are hidden away from the public until the day of the "Plantá" on the Saturday and then Sunday is dedicated to visiting them on foot on board the tourist train or even by bicycle Maps can be picked up from the tourist office where tickets are on sale for just 1 euro for the tourist train (which runs in a continuous loop from outside the tourist office) Tickets can only be purchased on the day of the Mayos and the train stops running for lunch A third pagan element:the young men of a town used to go out early and dress the homes of the girls with flowers tending to roam around together on May Day causing havoc In Alhama this tradition has evolved into the Corremayos who dress in harlequin jester costumes as they visit the “planted” figures they carry out a “Pasacalles” musical parade although in this case there are two, on the Saturday night and the Sunday morning It’s well worth going along to see the explosion of colour as they fill the streets with noise and celebration Don’t worry about costumes - there are usually a few on sale for those who don´t have one in the centre of which is the Auditorio Municipal (an open-air auditorium) The main fairground is now located on in the western edge of Alhama in the Nueva Espuña area: click for map There is parking beneath the Plaza del Ayuntamiento but it’s likely to be busy: often it’s easier to park behind the Parque de la Cubana and walk through it The full program of events during the 2025 Los Mayos fiestas in Alhama de Murcia is as follows: 19.00: Opening of MAYOS BURGER FEST in the Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña musical performances: taste all kinds of hamburgers and enjoy music Sunday 12.00 to 16.00 and from 19:00 to midnight 18.00: The fairground attractions open in the Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña until midnight (late opening until 3.00 am on the eve of major events) 19.30: Opening of the exhibition “Mayeando con los Corremayos Mayores” at the Casa de la Cultura displaying all of the honorary “Corremayos Mayores” of recent times and photographs of the festivities The exhibition can be visited until May 5 on weekdays from 17.00 to 21.00 and at weekends from 11.30 to 14.00 and from 17.00 to 21.00 Nacho Villar/Yllana Company in the Plaza de la Constitución 18.00: Street theatre/circus entertainment Circuspunto Teatro Company in the Plaza de la Constitución 20.00: Official reception at the Los Baños Archaeological Museum for the folk music and dancing groups taking part in the 41st Festival Nacional de Folklore Los Mayos 21.30: The 41st National Folk Music Festival itself begins at the church of San Lázaro Those taking part are the Asociación Cultural Coros y Danzas El Trillo from Albacete Agrupación Folklórica San Cristóbal from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the local Grupo Folklórico Villa de Alhama 23.00: Concert by the band The Tracks at the Mayos Burger Fest in the fairground Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña starting from the church of San Lázaro Registration at Óptica Alcón and the church 11.00: Performance by the folk group Agrupación Folklórica San Cristóbal from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Parque La Cubana 10.00: The jury tour the town to judge the street balcony and window decorations competing for prizes 12.00: Children’s puppet show ‘LOS COLORES DE ZOE’ in the Plaza de La Concepción 21.00: “Canto a la Cruz de los Mayos” Traditional musical tribute to the May Crosses performed by the Grupo Folklórico “Villa de Alhama” at Calle Alfonso X el Sabio 17.00: The Los Mayos Artisan Market opens in the Plaza de la Constitución “Aladdin” at the Auditorio Municipal 21.30: The 24th annual Alhama en Concierto folk music festival features the groups Cabra Tribal Son at church of San Lázaro Children’s judo display and children’s regional competition at the Pabellón Adolfo Suárez 10.00: The jury visit the May Crosses competing for prizes Crosses can then be visited during the afternoon 10.30: Free guided tour of the competing May Crosses on the tourist train Prior booking required at the Oficina de Festejos in the Casa de la Cultura (968 631985) 11.00: The Mayos artisan market continues The Mayos tableaux are set up in the streets See them while they are being created and enjoy the tradition first hand or leave it till later – they’re there all evening and all night The tourist train rides also begin at 15.00 18.30: Latin rhythms masterclass in the Plaza de la Constitución with Cristina from Paso a Paso dance academy: dress up in Corremayo costume to add to the fun 18.30: Corremayo make-up and balloon twisting workshops for children in the Plaza de la Constitución 18.45 to 20.45: Mayos 2024 badges are given out outside the tourist office 20.00: Dance performances by the Paso a Paso dance academy in the Avenida de la Constitución 21.00: Presentation in the Plaza de la Constitución of the Corremayo Mayor (the head Corremayo) an award given this year to the “Colegio Ginés Díaz – San Cristóbal” (low-intensity fireworks will be set off 21.15: The first Corremayos parade is accompanied by live music from MALVARICHE with thousands of people dressed in their colourful jester outfits Colón and the fairground Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña 23.45: Los Mayos concert by “Boikot” at the fairground Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña Los Mayos DJ festival at the fairground with two stages: This is the day on which all of the tableaux are already “planted” in the squares 10.00: THE MAYOS TRAIN: the tourist train offers tours of the Mayos around the town throughout the day from 10.00 to 20.00 starting at the Auditorio Municipal entrance 10.00: The tourist office opens until 18.00 to provide information 10.00: The judges tour the MAYOS to decide on the winners 10.30: The Los Mayos Cuadrillas (folk music and dancing groups) arrive and set out from the Plaza de la Constitución to visit the Mayos during the morning The groups taking part are from La Costera La Albatalía-Arboleja and Fuente Álamo 11.00: The Corremayos set off for another parade around the Mayos accompanied by the musical charangas of “El Escabeche” and “La Hucha” The parade starts in Plaza de la Constitución and along the route invitations will be handed out to Corremayos dressed in costume to be given priority during the scrum for free paella at lunchtime 12.00 and 13.00: Children’s dance performances 14.30: A giant paella is prepared and consumed in the Parque de la Cubana with priority being given to those in Corremayo costume during the parade 16.00 to 18.00: Bouncy castle and inflatables in Plaza de Las Américas 17.00: The Cuadrillas Festival begins in the Plaza de la Concepción with performances by Cuadrilla de La Albatalía – La Arboleja at 17.00 and Cuadrilla de El Berro at 17.30 18.00: Prizes are awarded for the best Mayos May Crosses and streets and balcony decorations organized by the Club Ciclista Sierra Espuña starting in the Plaza de la Constitución Get in the saddle and enjoy a healthy end to the fiestas From 18.00 to midnight the price of fairground attractions at the Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña is just 1.50 euros 10.30: Healthy children’s ciclyng route starting from the Plaza de la Constitución Includes a healthy snack courtesy of El Ciruelo and children’s games at the end of the activity in the Plaza de la Constitución 17.00: Official reception at the Town Hall for the traditional folk music groups taking part in the Los Mayos Auroros Meeting Each group will visit some competing May Crosses Those taking part are the Campana de Auroros from Javalí Viejo the Campana de Auroros del Rosario from Rincón de Seca and the Aurora from Alhama 20.00: Holy mass sung by the Auroros in the church of San Lázaro The weekend of the 33rd ANNUAL LOS MAYOS CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE RALLY begins at the fairground Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña Admission to the event and concerts are free of charge Registered participants receive a series additional elements Click here for the full programme The 33rd ANNUAL LOS MAYOS CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE RALLY continues at the fairground Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña The final day of the ANNUAL LOS MAYOS CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE RALLY at the Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña This guided tour is an opportunity for Spanish speakers to see and learn about the recent completion of one of the phases of restoration planned at Alhama de Murcia castle, and begins at 10.00 at the Los Baños archaeological museum This experience is not recommended for those with limited mobility as the climb up th ecastle hill is a fairly taxing one The tour on March 22 is conducted in Spanish and lasts for approximately two hours The cost of registration is just 3 euros for adults and 2 euros for children aged 3 to 12 The annual Matanza (or pig killing and pork eating event) is taking place in Alhama de Murcia on February 15 and 16 after returning to the calendar after a four-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.  This is a great chance for expats to learn more about how the traditional meat products of the region are made Although the matanza traditionally begins with the killing and bleeding of a pig (or various pigs) in this case the slaughter is carried out beforehand in a commercial abattoir sparing the more squeamish visitors an experience which could otherwise put them off their food Throughout the weekend a marquee will be in place in the Parque de La Cubana and there is usually musical entertainment on offer as well It is probably fair to say that as modern-day city dwellers from a country in which meat is "processed " for our consumption the British are used to the idea that meat and meat products are sold ready-processed and sanitised in our supermarkets and never pause to consider how it reaches the supermarket shelves But in the Region of Murcia meat is viewed almost with reverence: an animal is not a bland piece of meat in a supermarket packet it represents many months of work and care to bring it to the table and a great deal of work and skill to convert a pig into food for the months ahead In the past rural families would rear and grow their own food and the annual matanza was the day on which the family pig was killed and the work undertaken to convert it into products which could be stored and eaten over a period of months Processing a pig is a skilled and labour-intensive job as not a scrap of the animal is wasted every tiny part processed into sausages or cured: "the only part of a pig which can’t be eaten is its squeak" The process traditionally involves several people and in days gone by either skilled professionals were called in to do the job or the entire family gathered to do the work together with food and drink the centre of the occasion The program of events scheduled over the weekend in Alhama includes the following: 9.30: The marquee opens in Parque de La Cubana and at 10.00 work begins to slice up the carcasses The products then prepared include morcillas and salchichas 10.30: The opening of the exhibition “La Fiesta de la Matanza en Alhama” a retrospective over the first ten years of this event 10.45: Music and traditional dancing by the Cantores de Alhama 11.30: Music and traditional dancing by the Cuadrilla de El Berro 11.55: Work begins to prepare a large paella containing meat from the matanza who won the paella prize during the Los Mayos festivities in Alhama in 2019 12.30: Free tasting of morcillas and sausages 13.00: Music and traditional dancing from the Cuadrilla de La Costera. 14.00: The “Manita Dorada” award for collaborating in and promoting the Matanza is given to Manuel Gambín.  14.15: A chance to taste fresh "magra con tomate" 14.30: The giant paella is distributed among attendees 18.15: Work starts on preparing “migas con tropezones” containing meat from the matanza 19.05: Tasting of “morcón” sausage and sobrasada 19.30: Music from Finos..20.15: The migas are handed out among attendees 8.00: Work begins to prepare a giant “olla fresca” stew dish 10.00 and 11.30: Children’s workshops to prepare sausages: Registration is open at the Concejalía de Festejos in the Casa de Cultura in Alhama: further information from the tourist office (telephone 968 633512) 10.30: Professional ham slicer David García demonstrates his skill and prepares rations for tasting 11.45: Traditional music and dancing begins 14.30: A tradition dessert of paparajotes (sweet battered lemon leaves) For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today In anticipation of the annual Los Mayos fiestas in Alhama de Murcia the town is hosting the second edition of the Mayos Burrger Fest at the Recinto Ferial Nueva Espuña (click for map) from 24th to 27th April with gourmet food trucks offering special hamburgers and hot dogs to everyone as they whet their appetites for the fiesta days ahead Alongside the food and drink there are also children’s play areas DJ music and other entertainments planned throughout the weekend including a live concert by The Tracks at 23.00 on Saturday Saturday April 26: 12.00 to 16.00 and 19.00 to 2.00 Sunday April 27: 12.00 to 16.00 and 19.00 to midnight The Nacho Villar theatre company performs this crazy comedy “Olympics” in the Plaza de la Constitución in the centre of Alhama de Murcia telling the story of four athletes who fail to qualify for the “real” Olympic Games but instead hold their own competition in which some pretty surreal events are featured begins at 20.00 and all are welcome – this is entertainment for all the family and begins at 11am on Saturday May 17 at the Tourist Office NOTE: The tour is being held in English on the same day, 2 hours earlier and group bookings can be made on other dates through the tourist office.  The Casa de la Cultura in Alhama de Murcia is holding a seasonal exhibition illustrating through miniature models the “Encuentro de Resurrección” which takes place on Easter Sunday and is one of the highlights of the Semana Santa processions in the town The different sculpted figures being paraded in the streets meet in the centre of the town and as the tomb of Jesus opens a white dove flies out into the sky: Jesus is resurrected the pasos file back to San Lázaro together accompanied by music as onlookers throw flowers and petals into their path It’s a particularly special morning for which Alhama is justifiably famous Through the models on display you can learn in detail about the event and its symbolic significance knowledge which no doubt helps you to enjoy the joyful Easter Sunday procession in the town centre The figures have been created by Simón García in an effort to reproduce as faithfully as possible the actual scenes which occur every Easter in Alhama The exhibition is open to visitors (free of charge) every weekday from 9.00 to 14.00 and on Tuesdays from 16.30 to 19.00 For the full program of events during Semana Santa 2025 in Alhama, click here Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  This unusual tour takes visitors to the snow wells near the highest point of the Regional Park of Sierra Espuña centuries-old structures which were used in the past to supply ice to the cities of Murcia The wells have been declared an Item of Cultural Interest and this route is a relatively easy one at only 3 kilometres: it is categorized as being suitable for anyone aged 6 and over Some of the curious dome-like structures have now been restored and they stand as monuments to the ingenuity of the Murcianos in the past as they strove to thrive in the sometimes hostile climate The snow wells were in use from the 16th century to the early 20th and were used in the summer to preserve food and to make ice-cream They are located at altitudes of 1,400 metres and over where in the past there were frequent and heavy snowfalls in winter and on the northern side of the mountains so as to minimize exposure to sunlight Here they functioned as a factory for ice until the year 1926 when the first ice factory was built in Totana and for many generations workers flocked to the wells as soon as the first snow fell collecting ice and transporting it on the backs of mules to the wells for storage and then to the towns and cities of Murcia for sale travelling by night when possible to avoid melting Trade was so busy that it is known that in 1794 as much as 450,000 kilos of ice were sold in the city of Murcia The walk begins at 11.00 and is expected to last until around 13.00 with registration available online here 7 euros each for groups and large families as well as retirees and those with minor disabilities and 5 euros for children up to the age of 12,  Further information is available from the Totana tourist office (968 418153 weekdays 9.00 to 14.00) and by email at reserva@idiarta.es For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today Singer Pablo Varona is currently celebrating 40 years in show business with his “Punto y Seguido” tour and comes to Alhama de Murcia on Sunday September 28 for a one-off concert at the Casa de la Cultura Over his 4 decades in the music business Pablo Varona has been the constant sidekick of Joaquín Sabina co-writing over 100 songs with him and performing at his side in over 2,000 concerts all over the world He has also worked with some of the greats of Spanish popular music Tickets for this “unplugged” concert are on sale at Sonata and at giglon.com for 15 euros and the concert begins at 21.00 This puppet play for infants begins at the Teatro Cine Velasco at 18.00 with tickets available in advance at 5 euros from the Los Baños archaeological museum in Alhama (telephone 968 630776) For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today Images: Ayuntamiento de Alhama de Murcia  An exhibition tracing the history of the Guardia Civil in Alhama de Murcia going right back to the beginning of the Guardia presence in 1845 is being held at the El Pósito venue in the town centre Among the items on display are documents from the Municipal Archive of Alhama photographs and various others from the 19th Opening hours at El Pósito are Tuesday to Saturday 16.30 to 19.30 the afternoon opening hours of the Condado de Alhama chemist’s shop will change shifting to open half an hour later and close half an hour later too The Condado de Alhama pharmacy is located just outside the gates of Al Kasar Commercial Centre The pharmacy is operated by Luís Montalbán Soler as an annex to his main pharmacy in Alhama de Murcia which is located opposite the Mercadona supermarket on Calle Fuente del Ral Mornings: Monday to Saturday – 10.00 am to 2.00 pm Afternoons: Monday to Friday – 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm To see property for sale or rental on Condado de Alhama Golf Resort, visit Condado Invest, or for more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Condado Today Condado Invest have the largest portfolio of properties for Condado de Alhama They offer the best choice of property and price so whether you are buying or selling Condado Invest is the first port of call to satisfy your requirements with an expertise in sales and after sales care that is second to none for Condado de Alhama Golf Resort Condado Invest was recently acquired by Denise Devlin who has 15 years’ professional experience in the property business. On-site specialists for Condado de Alhama and unrivalled for their honest and ethical approach registered and insured company and a member of the Association of International Property Professionals AIPP so you can rest assured you are dealing with a well-established and professional company The focus at Condado Invest is on offering full services in finding the right property for clients searching for their dream home in Spain over 1,000 properties have been found for clients who have become friends With Condado Invest’s experienced and dedicated team pre-sales and most importantly after sales service are second to none and have earned them the highest reputation in the region taking the stress out of entering a property market and system you may not be familiar with Their dedicated staff will help and guide you to acquire your new home in the Murcia sun Condado Invest can deal with your lawyer and even advise or appoint one for you The services of a lawyer are strongly recommended to take care of the various administrative and legal elements of the sale ensuring the correct searches are carried out and representing you at the Notary when the change of ownership takes place power of attorney can be arranged so the lawyer can act on your behalf in your absence To ensure your purchase or sale progresses smoothly Condado Invest will appoint a dedicated member of staff with the expertise to oversee the transaction from start to conclusion making the process and easy and painless as possible keeping you informed at each stage and helping with information and guidance based on unique knowledge and experience of the individual sale having all the contacts and resources necessary to ensure your property transaction is legally safe To further take the stress out of buying a property in Spain Condado Invest can open a bank account for you arrange NIE numbers for you (Tax number in Spain necessary for your purchase) arrange connections of water and electricity set up services for the payments of community fees and anything else that is necessary to ensure that your experience with us is always a pleasant one If it’s local information you're looking for Condado Invest staff will be glad to help you with facts and advice regarding the area and further afield Plans have been made public this week to transform the former tuberculosis sanatorium in the mountains of Sierra Espuña into a hotel although many would think at least twice about spending the night in a building reputed to be one of the most haunted in the Region of Murcia Two years ago Murcia Today published a selection of the spookiest locations in the Region and the old sanatorium was placed at number 1 reflecting the fame (or infamy) it has acquired since it was built over 100 years ago Throughout the western world in the early years of the 20th century many sanatoria were built to house and treat orphans people suffering from mental illnesses and those with tuberculosis and many of them have been the focus of eerie stories since they fell into disuse One of these was the Sanatorio de Sierra Espuña which was built in the mountains of Alhama de Murcia in 1913 to offer a rest cure for sufferers of TB and even leprosy In 1963 it became an orphanage and then later on a youth hostel but its doors were closed in 1995 and it has remained empty since (despite plans announced in 2019 to convert it into a hotel) the sanatorium has been surrounded by rumours of a paranormal nature with various unexplained sounds and sightings of ghostly figures in the building itself and the weeds around it Reports include the experiences of guests at the youth hostel who were terrified by doors opening and closing “on their own” and by the sight of a woman abruptly appearing and disappearing in the corridors The sanatorium is close to the village of El Berro, in the foothills of Sierra Espuña (click here for map) We wrote in 2023 that “the reputation of the building would surely make any hotel chain think twice before venturing into business here” but this week it seems that some people at least have overcome their trepidation and view the opening of a hotel as a viable option Trade and Toursim in the regional government unanimously approved a motion presented by PSOE member of parliament Lola Jara to rebuild and refurbish the sanatorium with the aim of using it for leisure and rural accommodation purposes Sra Jara says that the “iconic building” deserves a new life in keeping with its privileged natural surroundings If this initiative goes ahead it will mark the end of a long period of inactivity at the former sanatorium The shutters finally went down over 30 years ago albeit it was under vigilance until 1997 and although in 2008 there were proposals to turn it into a hotel complex that plan never flourished It remains to be seen whether this latest move meets with more success but in the meantime that it should be demolished And how many intrepid guests a would be tempted by a night in what would inevitably be known as the “haunted hotel” of Sierra Espuña As we tread the same paths and visit the same places day by day the Region of Murcia becomes ever more familiar to us but do you realize how easy it is to stray off the map and lose yourself in the wonders of Nature Sometimes we really need to disconnect and change our surroundings get away from the noise and frustrations of everyday life and enjoy the silence and unknown quantities of places we have never seen before where it seems no-one would be able to find and disturb us That might seem difficult as we trudge around the supermarket or stride down shopping streets but the Regional Tourist Board of Murcia (ITREM) suggest the following destinations to break the routine for a few hours and come back refreshed and ready to face life anew We begin our tour at the gorge known as the Estrecho de Arboleja, an impressive natural canyon sculpted by the force of the water over the millennia just a few kilometres from the charming hilltop town of Aledo The limestone walls of the gorge and the native plant life endow the spot with a magic of its own inviting us to enjoy a moment of calm reflection in the pure making it accessible to the almost all rather than only to specialized rock climbers Just in case anyone imagined that the beaches in Murcia were only for the summer, the “Cuatro Calas” in Águilas Together they form a true natural paradise where the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean are flanked by an unspoilt landscape which exudes calm and tranquillity Of course they become more crowded during the summer but in the off season they are a haven of peace To visit this fairy-tale grotto scene all you have to do is make your way to Bullas a little over half an hour by car on the motorway from the regional capital As the water which eventually reaches the River Segura emerges from the rocks it forms a waterfall and a cold pool which is immensely popular among bathers during the summer – in winter bathing is not permitted (and neither is it particularly appetizing as the water temperature is close to freezing!) but it remains a charming place to stroll around in the country and shed the worries of everyday life The mountains of Sierra Espuña are better-known than some of the places in this list – after all they are hard to miss as you drive around south-west Murcia – but there are still some hidden corners within the forests of the protected area which escape the notice of most visitors One of the these is the pass called the Senda de Las Alquerías which winds through the pine groves offering occasional spectacular views of the Region through the trees the coastline of Calblanque and the mountainous terrain behind it between Cartagena and Cabo de Palos are another of the jewels of the Spanish Mediterranean coast During the winter the almost-deserted beaches and dunes provide a unique backdrop for walkers and hikers – and who are drawn here by the clarity of the light and the wild and unspoilt scenery the diversity of the native flora and fauna make this a perfect spot for nature pictures and of course many other nature enthusiasts are drawn by the same attractions A fascinating combination of nature and adventure, the Cueva del Puerto in the municipality of Calasparra is the perfect destination for many visitors and there are guided tours during which the history and geology of the cave system are fully explained Returning to the foothills of Sierra Espuña, we now enter the “Badlands” of the Barrancos de Gebas These incredible landscape features are sometimes referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Murcia” and consist of a barren landscape eroded by wind and water The views here are stunning all year round and in winter the shadows created by the low sun make a breathtaking sight especially in contrast with the sharp blue of the reservoir in sunlight El Berro and Fuente Librilla to sample the atmosphere of what may be considered the “heart” of the Region of Murcia This is just a short eye-opener to let you know about a few of the lesser-known treasures of Murcia fill your lings with the clean air of the countryside open your eyes and don’t be afraid to explore the area this winter Images: www.Turismoregiondemurcia.es www.wikiloc.com (Murciapie) After severe drought and other unavoidable problems resulted in the La Isla lakes all but drying up on Condado de Alhama, a solution may be at hand with the help of Alhama de Murcia Council. The following announcement has been issued by INMHO, the Urbanisation administrators on July 23 2024: The purpose of this communiqué is to try to explain the current irrigation problems as well as the reason for the current water level of the ornamental lake the maintenance and management of both lakes on La Isla is the responsibility of the Conservation Urban Entity of Condado de Alhama The following information on water resources has been extracted from the monthly report of the company STV Taking into account the difficult climatic situation of the last two years in which there has been a reduction in rainfall and an increase in minimum temperatures The need to establish an Irrigation Plan that identifies both the water needs and the available water resources of the Resort was highlighted The following table specifies the water needs of the Resort obtained from the average monthly consumption recorded between 2019 and 2023 the water resources from which the Resort starts in January 2024 are specified the resulting water balance taking into account both in each of the months of the year it can be said that the water available to the Resort is not sufficient to cover the water needs for the whole year In order for the owners to be aware of all the available information all the water resources from which the Urban Development Entity and the Community can be supplied are detailed below Desalination plant: This is the main source of irrigation water supply for the Resort We have a concession from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation of 180,000m3 which does not cover the annual water needs With the current restrictions we can only have 58% of this concession the 180,000m3 was available and could be purchased as needed The desalination plant has never worked at 100% after the works that are being carried out and it is possible that this will have a positive consequence and the restrictions will be lifted Normally there are restrictions in summer every year but what was done was to buy and store water in the months of lower consumption (January-March) in order to get through the summer without problems The problem and the difference this year has been that at the end of April 2023 (last year) the restrictions began and have not been lifted throughout the winter and the problem has even been exacerbated by the breakdown and maintenance work at the desalination plant this winter Wastewater treatment plant: All of the water that is disposed of from Condado de Alhama homes and businesses goes to the Condado de Alhama wastewater treatment plant (EDAR) where it is treated and reused for irrigation The concession agreement that was initially made with the Segura Hydrographic Confederation establishes that approximately 25% of the treated water that is produced corresponds to the Urban Entity and 75% to the golf course This was initially established by Polaris together with the Segura Hydrographic Confederation and it is very difficult Rainwater: Condado de Alhama has two rainwater ponds or storm tanks which are the property of the Alhama Town Council and their management and maintenance has been ceded (given) to the Urban Entity so that rainwater can be used for irrigation we are living in a period of drought in which there has been little or no rain In Condado de Alhama hardly any rainfall has been recorded throughout 2024 despite the DANA that occurred in June of this year where abundant rainfall was recorded for different parts of the Region of Murcia and that could have ‘saved’ the summer The difference with previous years is mainly that we have not been able to stock up during the winter and there has been practically no rain in Condado de Alhama Ornamental lake: The ornamental lake had an average depth of 180 cm in January 2023 which due to evaporation has been decreasing to the 25 cm average depth reported at the end of June 2024 No water has been taken from the ornamental lake for irrigation the decrease is exclusively due to evaporation With the actions to be carried out in the next few days it is hoped that the lake will not dry up completely and that there will be no odour problems In October 2023 and some other month in both 2022 and 2023 the Urban Entity raised the possibility of introducing the desalinated water available for that month into the ornamental lake was raised this option was declined by the Management Board because it would further increase the salinity of the water in the ornamental lake increasing the risk of midge flies (rantelles) pests This decision was based on trying not to increase the problem of midge flies (rantelles) and conditioned to the fact that if it rained the water from the rainwater ponds would be taken directly to the ornamental lake Lake and irrigation water: At no time have the gardens of Condado de Alhama stopped being watered although it is true that the times and frequencies have been reduced in order to adapt them to the current water resources it is not enough to keep the grass in its best condition With the work that will be carried out in the next few days it is hoped to be able to increase the frequency of watering The water issue is a very complicated matter in the Region of Murcia has created a way for water to be transferred between concessionaires without affecting the concessions of any of the parties This spring a pre-agreement was reached with a company in the area in which they were going to give us enough water to be able to spend the summer without irrigation problems or in the ornamental lake but in the end it has not been possible to carry it out We have contacted almost all the farmers in the area but they also have difficulties to be able to supply all the water they need so it has not been possible to reach any agreement with them During the last month several meetings and conversations have been held with the Town Hall of Alhama de Murcia they are going to help us with an emergency water supply and thanks to them we will be able to have water both for irrigation and to prevent the ornamental lake from drying up The relevant arrangements are being made and in the next few days this additional supply will be available This supply will be industrial water and at a similar cost to the water we purchase from the desalination plant New meters have been installed in La Isla to control this consumption and the cost of the water will be assumed by the Urban Entity water will be supplied to both the irrigation lake and the ornamental lake We have been working on the solution to the problem for several months but we have not been able to provide all the information previously so as not to interfere in the negotiations with the different parties In the next few weeks the improvement in both the ornamental lake and the gardens of the Community will be noticeable For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Condado Today Building on the reputation forged over the last two decades in the Mazarrón area PALS Solicitor has opened a new branch office in Condado de Alhama extending the benefits of their experience knowledge and expertise to residents and visitors in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia For non-Spaniards with property or other interests in the Region of Murcia the need for trustworthy professional and reliable solicitors’ advice is unquestionable and with their long experience in the field assisting both residents and non-residents PALS Solicitor has become one of the most respected and widely used firms in the Costa Cálida The multi-lingual team offer their services not only to those purchasing or selling homes in Murcia but in a wide range of other specialities which are almost certain to become necessary to home-buyers and others at some point these include help in finding the right property arranging finance‚ securing an NIE number and opening a Spanish bank account performing due diligence checks and overcoming the host of potential pitfalls for buyers including the requirement for British nationals to obtain a military permit if buying certain properties in the Costa Cálida all tax and accounting needs are provided by specialized professionals the vital task of drawing up a will covering assets in Spain is made simple and quick Power of Attorney can be granted in order to do away with much of the stress of buying and owning property in Spain Other legal advice covers areas such as General Contracting all of the services are tailored to the needs of each individual client: at PALS the first stage in giving advice is to listen rather than to automatically embark on procedures which may not be necessary The office in Condado de Alhama is located in the Al Kasar commercial centre and the telephone number is the same as for the Puerto de Mazarrón office (968 595826) as calls are diverted when the caller selects whom they wish to speak to. Similarly, the email address is info-mazarron@palsolicitor.com and opening hours are as in Puerto de Mazarrón (Monday to Friday 9.00 to 15.00) Contact PALS Solicitor now and make an appointment to discuss how they can help you to enjoy your property and your life in Spain With over 20 years of experience in helping both residents and non-residents in the Costa Cálida with all of their conveyancing the team at PALS Solicitor have become one of the most trusted and reliable in the Region of Murcia The multi-lingual staff at the offices in Puerto de Mazarrón bring a wealth of knowledge and the wisdom which can only be gained through years of experience to the task of assisting you in a precise completing the sale or purchase of a property ensuring that you have a valid will to cover your assets in Spain or any other of the numerous obstacles and hurdles that living in Spain sometimes seems to entail The vision of PALS (Professional and Legal Solutions) is to offer the most inclusive tax and law services in Murcia always providing clear and affordable advice in order to take the hassle out of what could otherwise be daunting paperwork and bureaucracy The languages spoken by the experts at PALS include not only Spanish and English but also French making them accessible to the vast majority of non-Spaniards with interests in the Costa Cálida The main services offered include the following: PALS accompany you to the notary to check the deeds before signing make all the arrangements for tax obligations to be correctly met The team also have experience in dealing with the controversial mortgage rate “floor clauses” which were included in many loan conditions in the past protecting clients’ interests against lending banks if you plan to rent out your Spanish home it is vital to make sure you do so legally and again PALS can help you to put everything in place quickly and at a time when the current Spanish tax system is regularly subject to review on issues surrounding Brexit it is especially important to make sure that your affairs are up to date with the latest requirements PALS will take care of all the legalities regarding fiscal residence in Spain legal tax obligations for both residents and non-residents and property taxes guaranteeing that tax declarations are filed on time and no surcharges or other unpleasant surprises are incurred Arranging a will and inheritance for your estate in Spain is of the utmost importance but many people fail to make proper provision for the distribution of their assets making a will could not be easier: simply explain your preferences to the staff and they will produce the necessary document – in two languages if required – leaving you with nothing more to do except sign it before a notary If you plan to be absent from Spain for long periods of if you simply want to do away with much of the stress of buying and owning property in Spain Many clients take advantage of PALS’ "Power of Attorney," allowing them represent their interests fiscal and labour relation services including but not limited to General Contracting All of the above services are tailored to the needs of each individual client: contact PALS now and make an appointment to discuss how they can help you to enjoy your property and your life in Spain The RFEF also confirmed the 11 stadiums that will host matches in the tournament. Unfortunately, the Real Murcia, Enrique Roca Stadium was finally left out The Condado de Alhama venue is a joint venture with Alhama de Murcia Council and the firm Alhama Nature and subsidiary company Alhama Healthy Living who will invest 2.5 million euros for the construction of the 'Alhama Arena' football complex with five training fields to provide for more than 100 teams a year and 30,000 players contesting fifty games in addition to a main stadium with capacity for 3,500 spectators Alhama Arena and Pinatar Arena are both controlled by companies run by Mariano Sánchez and Fran de Paula who also manage the football facilities at La Torre Golf After the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the USA the 2030 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain complying with FIFA's regulations of presenting a maximum of 20 stadiums The stadiums that will host matches of the 2030 World Cup will be Anoeta (Donostia-San Sebastián) San Mamés (Bilbao) and Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid) Although RFEF has chosen the training camps the venues will have to go through a direct evaluation process by FIFA and it is then up to the qualifying country's football associations to select which venue it wishes to use To see property for sale or rental on Condado de Alhama Golf Resort, visit Condado Invest, or for more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Condado Today The tourist office in Alhama de Murcia is holding a guided walking tour of the town centre in English for the benefit of both residents and visitors at 11.00 on Saturday June 17 starting at the Los Baños archaeological museum where remains of Roman baths later reused by the Moors can be seen An official guide will conduct the 90-minute tour in English and tickets cost just three euros for adults and two euros for children up to 12 years old Payment should be made at the museum when the tour party convenes NOTE: The tourist office can also organize other group tours in English on different dates if required: contact them to enquire For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today Lords Removals is a UK-registered international removals and storage company specializing in routes between Spain and the UK with special relevance to customers looking to transport their household furniture to the Costa Blanca and the Costa Cálida from Great Britain With offices and storage facilities in England and the Region of Murcia ( Costa Cálida) Lords removals is ideally placed for transport to and from the south-east of Spain offering a highly efficient service tailored to suit the individual requirements of customers in Murcia and all amounts of furniture from single items to full loads can be arranged throughout Spain The advantage of transporting a full load is that a vehicle is allocated only to one customer’s requirements whether the journey is from the UK to Murcia or vice versa This allows a specific delivery date to be agreed in advance whereas if a vehicle is shared with other customers a wider delivery window period is specified The actual delivery date is then confirmed a few days in advance so that arrangements can be made and this service works out as more cost-effective and is preferred by many customers especially those transporting single items or part loads Both domestic and commercial moves between the Costa Cálida Costa Blanca or any of the other Spanish costas and the UK are catered for and Lords removals have years of experience in the special needs for transporting such diverse items as motorcycles To make life easier Lords provide an online calculator which will provide you with an estimate of how much your move will cost reaching an estimate of how many cubic metres your shipment will occupy and the approximate associated costs but the estimate will supply a ballpark figure to work with before making the move from the UK to Spain or in the other direction In order to make moving house as stress-free as possible Lords also offer a fully professional packing service Customers can of course opt to pack their own items and Lords will provide materials if required but you need to be aware that most insurance companies will not provide cover for objects not packed by the removals firm During their years of providing transport between Murcia and the UK the Lords staff have gained experience in packing all kinds of items so for peace of mind the recommendation is to leave the job in the hands of the professionals but they can also help advise and organise pet travel and vehicle transportation to and from Spain Just ask them about their competitive rates and expertise today to get started Apart from their competitively priced and fully professional removals service Lords also provide storage at their secure clean and dry premises in Alhama de Murcia within easy reach of the whole of the Region of Murcia and the Costa Cálida area secure and is located on a privately owned industrial estate The storage service is available to anyone not only customers who also contract moving or removals with Lords so if you have storage needs for whatever reason you can contact them.  Stored items are palleted and/or placed in large storage containers and are wrapped in protective materials as and when required The premises are covered by 24-hour security and surveillance and full insurance is in place for fire and theft taking away the worry of leaving your private possessions in the care of others: the company can also pick up and deliver stored items and a full packing service is also offered throughout the Region of Murcia and south-eastern Spain The storage service offered by Lords is priced competitively based on the number of cubic metres your possessions occupy with standard pick-up and packing charges added when appropriate Insurance costs are included in the quoted price and for large volumes discount rates can be applied Over the weekend of June 21 to 23, the new project of the Al Kasar Shopping Centre was reopened and inaugurated, with an exciting Ibizan Fair including music they have plans to use the central lagoon and turn it into a Caribbean-style space with sun loungers to relax and enjoy dancing and the “Moonlight” concert in Clover Condado A quote from Alhama de Murcia Council added “We support this initiative which is much needed to bring life to this urbanisation.” For more local news, events and visiting information you can go to the home page of Alhama Today A demanding guided hike is being held on June 4 in the village and outlying district of Las Cañadas in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia featuring various stops to appreciate the importance of esparto grass to the local economy in the past This is quite a tough 16-kilometre route to the hilltop antennae and should not be attempted by anyone other than regular hikers The walk begins at 7.30 in the morning and is expected to last approximately 4 and a half hours Registration is free of charge: contact Paco Robles of the Grupo Senderista Fuente Álamo on 659 608965 For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Alhama Today Yesterday (August 6) water began to be received from the desalination plant and is being poured into the ornamental lake Around 11,500 cubic meters will be received corresponding to the quota for the month of August taking into account the restrictions The supply will be completed on Thursday afternoon and will result in an increase in the level of about 12-15 centimetres considering evaporation Unless the restrictions are lifted during the month of August it will not be possible to supply water from the desalination plant to the ornamental lake again until September The quota for September and the coming months will be used entirely for the ornamental lake this month they have slightly alleviated the restrictions 9,500-10,000 cubic meters were available and this month about 11,500 cubic meters will be available medium and long term in the ornamental lake The Urban Planning Entity has undertaken to carry out the following actions: all the available water quota from the desalination plant will be used to increase the level of the ornamental lake This will be possible if the additional supply provided by the City Council is maintained to be able to irrigate the Resort with this water contribution - Some companies have been found capable of cleaning the lake with different means One of them has made a firm and closed offer It would do this by sucking and draining the bottom of the lake to extract all the mud To carry out the solution proposed by this company it is necessary for it to be around one metre deep (75,000 cubic meters) although ideally there would be a safety margin of an additional 20 centimeters - More companies have been contacted with whom the lake has been visited to try to find alternative solutions At the moment one of them would have the means to do so without having to raise the level so much but we do not have a firm offer and commitment from them As some companies and technicians have already indicated since manual or mechanical means cannot be used to prevent damage to the waterproofing fabric and generate an even greater problem - Look for a technician to design a global project for the improvement of the current state and future maintenance of the lake A roadmap is needed to determine what the ornamental lake needs to be sustainable in the future and what annual budget is needed to achieve both goals attempts have been made to contact universities and private companies that have only provided individualized proposals (floating islands negotiations will be held again with farmers and companies in the area to try to get water from their concessions As they usually reduce their water needs after the summer there is a possibility that some kind of agreement can be reached the water that is stored will be transferred to the ornamental lake - Present the progress and the project at the Ordinary General Meeting so that it can be voted on by owners as well as decide on its implementation and financing The Bokao Bar, Al Kasar Commercial Centre Condado de Alhama Golf Resort has introduced two summer menus with new items added and popular favourites remaining there are tasty treats like chicken goujons or southern fried chicken goujons with a choice of sweet chilli or garlic sauce Cod fish cakes with sweet chilli sauce and side salad scrumy Whole garlic prawns served with French bread (subject to availability) choice of sweet chilli or garlic sauce and a side of chips or if you like Indian cuisine there are Vegetable or chicken samosas with sweet chilli Bombay potatoes or Bombay and Onion Bhajis check out the other delicious options on the full snacks and tapas menu below there are favourites like Horseshoe Gammon with pineapple or egg Chilli con carne with rice and garlic bread also available with veggie chilli Beef or vegetable Lasagne with side salad & garlic bread or if you prefer a salad there are Chicken Caesar or Tuna salads there ia also a Greek salad with feta cheese Or if you are hankering for a burger the Bokao Bar has a range to choose from even its very own “Bokao Bar Burger” with bacon there is something for every taste including Indian cuisine every night except Friday Check out the evening menu below and don’t forget to look out for weekly and early bird specials there are also regular entertainment nights to look forward to To book, telephone 0034 968 409 947 or 0034 658 062 761, email BokaoReservations@gmail.com or call in at the Bar to make a reservation and avoid disappointment is open from 10am until late, 7 days a week and can be found in the Al Kasar Commercial Centre Since Amanda and Paul took the reins in 2021 the Bokao Bar has quickly established a reputation as the place to go for a quiet drink to watch the world go by or a delicious meal or an entertaining night-out with live music and acts arranged regularly Bokao Bar offers draught and bottled beers tea and choice of coffees and for that special occasion Cava or exotic Cocktails As well as mouth-watering everyday breakfasts daytime meals including daily chef’s specials and snacks the Bokao Bar has authentic Indian Cuisine every night (except Friday) with dishes to satisfy every palate and when Friday night comes around it’s time for the famous Bokao Bar Steak Night with rib-eye steak cooked to your preference and accompanied by mushrooms chips and peas and a choice of Diane or Peppercorn sauce Another favourite at the Bokao Bar is the “Sunday Lunch” with 3 courses available succulent Main Course with choice of carved roast meats alternative dishes and vegetarian option all served with seasonal vegetables and don’t forget to leave room for one of the lip-smacking desserts and to cater for every size of appetite you can choose a single The Bokao Bar serves meals from three regular menus lunch and snacks from 12 noon until 3pm and an evening dinner menu from 6pm (except Steak Nights) the menus are changed seasonally to view the current menus see the menu gallery below Then there are the evening entertainment spectaculars on a regular basis performed either inside on the stage or outside on the terrace overlooking the lagoon featuring live music acts of various musical genres and tunes from 60’s 80’s to Karaoke and Glamrock to Ed Sheeran that are so popular even the bar staff join in the dancing Coyote Ugly style and watch out for Bachata and Salsa dancing classes where you can let your hair down move to the rhythm and get fit for those big football and sports events Bokao Bar has them on big screen See the modification of the bus schedules on the regular line Lorca - Alhama - Totana - Camposol - Mazarrón - Puerto de Mazarrón - Bolnuevo from October 1 The transport company that operates the regular line Lorca - La Hoya - Alhama - Totana – El Paretón - Camposol - Puerto de Mazarrón has announced a modification in the schedules of its services which came into force at the beginning of this month Users of this bus service are recommended to consult the new schedules to properly plan their journeys and avoid inconveniences For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Murcia Today Semana Santa (Holy Week or Easter) is probably the most important few days in the religious calendar of the Region of Murcia and is full of processions commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection Far removed from the world of chocolate and bunnies Semana Santa in the Region of Murcia is a week of colourful processions rows of penitents accompanying the “pasos” representing the last days in the life of Jesus throughout the streets of each town carrying enormous “tronos” bearing sculptural representations adorned with flowers to the beat of drums as the parades pass through the crowds Semana Santa in Alhama is a relatively intimate event with over 50 impressive “pasos” (the figures and tableaux paraded through the streets) belonging to 5 Cofradías (brotherhoods) and the streets are the perfect width to create an intimate and spiritual atmosphere comfortably accommodating the passing tronos without crushing the onlookers Alhama possesses some truly beautiful sculptures and great care is taken of them so that they are among the best-dressed in the Region The floral decorations are spectacular and throughout the week the atmosphere is warm and welcoming The flowers are especially prominent on Easter Sunday joy and scent at the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ Although the atmosphere of each day is slightly different should you wish to choose just three events a good selection would be those on Tuesday night Another large procession is held in the evening of Good Friday The program for the Semana Santa events in Alhama de Murcia in 2024 is as follows: (NB Images do not necessarily correspond to specific day.) 23.30: Serenata a Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Just before midnight the figures of Jesus and Mary meet at the entrance of the church prior to Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows) 18.00: Procession of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legions to the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y la Soledad 22.00: Procession of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Route: Iglesia de San Lázaro Obispo Participants: Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad and the Drums & Trumpets Band of the Legionnaires of the Base Álvarez de Sotomayor of Viator (Almería) This procession features the figure of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (1949) which resides in the chapel of the church of San Lázaro all year round 11.30: The Blessing of the Palms from the Church of La Concepción to the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo 18.30: Palm Sunday procession of La Verónica Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly on a donkey with participants carrying palm decorations Participants: Hermandad de La Santa Mujer Verónica 22.00: A procession held by the Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno Route: Parroquia de La Concepción (Huerto de los Olivos) church of San Lázaro Obispo (Palacio de Pilatos) 21.30: The first of the major Semana Santa processions in Alhama de Murcia in which all aspects of the first part of the Passion are shown from the betrayal of Judas to the denial of Peter and the crucifixion of Christ All five of the Cofradías of Alhama take part in the event which begins at the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo 22.00: Procession of the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena The love of Mary Magdalene shines out in white and light Route: Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo 18.00: Holy Mass in the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo 19.00: Holy Mass in the Parroquia de la Concepción starting at the Parroquia de San Lázaro Obispo Participants: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno A solemn and reverential procession featuring four “pasos” to mark the last night of Jesus’ life Having seen the disciples dining together at the Last Supper in the 7.30 procession at 10.15 the mood changes to shame and silence following his arrest The lights are turned off in the town and the procession files past in silence the atmosphere tinged with shame and betrayal Participants: Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista with all the Cofradias participating in both morning and evening events Today is the day to contemplate the crucifixion of Christ and the sacrifice he made so that we might live Each Cofradía sets out from its own starting point heading towards the Plaza de la Concepcion Route of the Hermandad de la Santa Mujer Verónica: La Feria Route of the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena and the Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: La Feria Route of the Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista and the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad: La Feria 22:00: the Procesión del Santo Entierro (the Holy Sepulchre) This event commemorates the burial of Christ and is the largest procession of the week in Alhama de Murcia Corredera, church of San Lázaro Obispo.  the figure of Christ is taken from the Church to Calvary with members of the public welcome to join the processional entourage Main participants: Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno 19.00: The figure of Christ is carried on the shoulders of the “Armaos” (Roman soldiers) from the Iglesia de San Lázaro to the Parroquia de la Concepción 19.45: Procession of the 7 words and the Holy Sepulchre (the denial of Peter and the tomb of Christ) 23.00: Easter Vigil in the Parroquia de San Lázaro and the Parroquia de La Concepción Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) The Easter Sunday procession in Alhama features another Encuentro of different pasos carried by different groups a joyous moment in celebration of the Resurrection. As the pasos meet in the centre of the street the tomb of Jesus opens and a white dove flies out into the sky: Jesus is resurrected 10.00: The Cofradias take 3 different routes leaving from the church of San Lázaro before meeting in the Jardín de los Patos at 11.00 Route of the Cofradía de San Juan Evangelista and the Hermandad de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores y de la Soledad: Virgen del Rosario Route of the Hermandad de la Santa Mujer Verónica and the Cofradía de Santa María Magdalena: La Feria Route of the Archicofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno: La Feria 11.00: The Encuentro in the Jardin de los Patos before the return to San Lázaro along the following route: La Feria (Images: Ayuntamiento de Alhama de Murcia) Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology an international group of researchers have analysed the most recent history of the Alhama de Murcia fault They discovered that it has experienced six major earthquakes above 7 on the Richter scale this provides "convincing evidence" that the maximum earthquake magnitudes in the area are higher than originally thought researchers from the Universities of Barcelona Aahus (Denmark) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico have been working on the Alhama de Murcia fault in order to identify those high magnitude earthquakes that have occurred during the Quaternary period – the most recent of geological ages up until just ten years ago there were no geological data on paleoseismic activity for the active faults in Spain and very little had been invested in studying their geology The evidence used to understand active faults came merely from historical seismic records that hardly collected data on the largest of earthquakes related to these faults As geology can go even further back in time the earthquakes that we have found are bigger and of a greater magnitude," as explained to SINC by Jose J researcher at the UCM and coauthor of the study published in the journal 'Geological Society of America Bulletin' This fault is a fracture plane of the land that crosses the entire earth's crust to identify the prehistoric earthquakes in its walls scientists had to make surface excavations perpendicular to the fault (trenches of between 20 and 30 metres long and 4 metres deep) This allowed for them to take an exceptionally extensive paleoseismic record "when large earthquakes exceed magnitude 6 they usually break at the surface and as a result we have been able to identify this in their walls." These tectonic deformations were dated using carbon-14 and infrared stimulated luminescence techniques In order to understand the behavioural patterns of the Alhama de Murcia fault the researchers had to reconstruct hundreds of thousands of years "much more than the Americans or the Japanese who can understand their fault patterns by studying just 10 thousand years." This is because faults in Spain are slow-moving and there is therefore much more time between major earthquakes (to the tune of thousands of years) compared to much faster-moving faults like San Andreas in California the Alhama fault would be created more than 9 million years ago and would have caused earthquakes from the outset thus shaping the landscape of the region "It was in our interest to detect the seismic activity from the Quaternary period earthquakes that occurred more than 1.8 million years ago we have identified a minimum of six earthquakes of high magnitude during the period studied (more than 300,000 years) but we know that the real number is actually much higher sedimentary evidence could have disappeared or maybe they can be found in parts of the fault that have yet to be studied," outlines the researcher Another revelation according to the article is that the area could suffer from a stronger earthquake than originally thought the entire length of the fault does not break We have proven that this fault could break at once at the two western segments from Góñar (Almería) to Totana (Murcia) causing at the same time an earthquake of a magnitude above 7," explains Martínez "This fault has already produced an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or 7 thousands of years ago it is vital to bear in mind the earthquake risk calculations and building codes on the area," outline the researchers The seismic hazard map forming the basis of the Spanish Seismic Resistance Construction Standard assigns the area of Lorca with a maximum acceleration for construction design of 0.19 g the recent earthquake reached a magnitude of 5.2 and generated a much higher acceleration of 0.36 g "The area's hazard level was underestimated because until now estimations have been based on the historical earthquake catalogue which only records events from the last 2000 years," points out Martínez The researcher believes that the fault activity parameters obtained through paleoseismic studies like this can help to improve risk calculations But will they be capable of predicting the next high magnitude movement The authors stress that it is indeed possible to determine the maximum magnitude as well as the location of the earthquake at present there is still no way of predicting the moment it will strike as this involves a complex geological phenomenon governed by non-linear physical processes "Earthquakes like the one in Lorca and ones before produce fault stress changes which increase in certain points of the fault We know this thanks to models and results that we have published from previous studies The next earthquake is more likely to occur in these areas estimating when is impossible," ensures the scientist With regards to the study recently published in the 'Nature Geoscience' journal that alludes to water extraction being the possible cause of the 2011 earthquake in Lorca "There is much scientific discussion on the matter we are part of various groups that have been working in the area for some time and I am not the only one who is sceptic of the idea The 2011 earthquake in Lorca was similar to those that took place in 1674 and 1818 at a time when aquifer exploitation was not practiced I believe that there is no need to search for any unusual reason behind the earthquake It was down to the fault's natural tectonic evolution It was a completely normal earthquake from a geological point of view – the small magnitude kind which occurs on a fault every so often," concludes Martínez "An exceptionally long paleoseismic record of a slow-moving fault: The Alhama de Murcia fault (Eastern Betic shear zone Geological Society of America Bulletin 1474 – 1494 are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Amongst the issues which were discussed at the meeting were the future of the golf course and other plans that Alhama Nature have for the future of Condado de Alhama The company also stated that it will share more plans as more information becomes available the companies requested that the following communication be made available to all property owners in Condado de Alhama and interested parties: “In view of the news that has circulated in recent days in social networks has the obligation to show its deep rejection to the accusations made as well as to make the following clarifications: That this controversy has its origin in the absolute loss of confidence in the managers of the golf course based on the discrepancies in the management entrusted as well as in a multitude of contractual breaches in addition to an evident concealment of information among a multitude of issues and as a clarification of such discrepancies the managers have been neglecting the maintenance needs of the field (Course) with the sole purpose of limiting the necessary costs and expenses in such work thus obtaining an extraordinary profit and producing in turn a fatal damage to the course itself damage that has been verified by the agronomic technicians in charge of monitoring the field This is conditioning the owner to make a large investment in its recovery the owner made every effort to negotiate an agreed solution between the parties with any proposal being rejected outright by the club managing the course and only making an unacceptable counter‐proposal with the sole aim of obtaining unjust enrichment at the expense of the owner granting a period of five days to abandon the facilities in an orderly manner with the intention of limiting the possible damage to both the users of the course and the employees as much as possible the representatives of Club de Golf Isla del Fraile continue to illegitimately occupy the facilities of the clubhouse and the restaurant‐cafeteria which has also been reported to the Guardia Civil We remain at the disposal of any interested person assuming the commitment to make our maximum effort in the recovery of normality to keep making use of the extraordinary facilities that we are fortunate to be able to enjoy.” residents and golfers alike will look forward to a speedy resolution to the dispute and the timely implementation of the proposed plans ARCHIVED - New Alhama spa project to provide mineral-medicinal hot springs for public use" style="margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; float: left" width="100%" />The council of Alhama de Murcia has presented a building project for spa facilities in the new La Cubana park complete with various swimming pools and treatment areas distributed throughout its 2,500 m2 as well as a 340 m2 restaurant The presentation of the project on March 20 represents a re-opening of mineral-medicinal hot springs for residents and visitors a feature which is deeply rooted in the history of the town the name of the town is derived from the Moorish word for "bath" and there was still a popular spa resort at the site of Los Baños in the early 20th century The new project has been prepared by the architects of Grupo Aranea and Emac studios responsible  and it was first unveiled on January 30 of 2023 ARCHIVED - New Alhama spa project to provide mineral-medicinal hot springs for public use" style="margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; float: left" width="100%" />The building has a floor area of ​​2,445.84 m2 and will be integrated into La Cubana park as an underground extension to maintain the public space of the park itself above and Access to the Spa will be from the centre of Parque de La Cubana "where the façade of the facility disappears in favour of some skylights as a prelude to the experience it offers" It descends gently around an outdoor raft to the entrance hall where the reception area leads to changing rooms On one side of the changing rooms is the 'dry feet' and sports area fitness and soft activities and administration (management office) the 'wet feet' area begins in an impluvium (rainwater basin) illuminated with overhead light - An individual thermal zone around a patio - A Hamman area (Arab bath) consisting of three different and interconnected spaces in turn made up of a heater area (with rest area This last area is presented as a series of flooded spaces that follow one another among other vaulted ones with light coming in from above in each of them and that finally lead to an outdoor pool surrounded by a patio that frames the views towards the hill and the Castle of Alhama which makes this place a unique experience The spa is completed by other spaces such as a medical office and treatment rooms next to the spa and under the eucalyptus trees of La Cubana there is a 339-square-metre restaurant which enjoys views of the park and the Castle ARCHIVED - New Alhama spa project to provide mineral-medicinal hot springs for public use" style="margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; float: left" width="100%" />Location The site on which the building object of this project is located is part of Parque La Cubana in the centre of Alhama de Murcia and this is a project that does not require the acquisition of land or other assets as these are carried out in the public domain having been acquired in the 1960s by the municipal council For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Alhama Today During the first two weekends of March Alhama de Murcia is holding its 7th annual Tapas offering locals and visitors a chance to sample some of the finest bar snacks cocktails and desserts presented by vars and restaurants in the town 2 desserts and 4 special cocktails on sale for just 4 euros