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Map of  Mazarron/Murcia Region

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 kilometers.

Population  : 
19.100 inhabitants.

Traveling Times from the Airports:
Alicante - 1 hour 10 mins,
Murcia - 55 mins,
Almeria - 1 hour 50 mins

Climate : 
Mild winters and warm summers.
Mazarron boasts approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
Autumn is the wettest season (October)

Landscape: 
Mazarron is a dry plain, crossed by low  mountain ranges and a wide dry river bed.
Vegetation: esparto, thyme, rosemary, agaves, fig trees, carrasco pine (reforested).
Fauna: rabbit, hare, partridge.

Agriculture  :
Taking advantage of the gentle climate, the principal source of wealth is vegetables.
They are cultivated in the open air and in greenhouses, both sorts using the latest technology. 
The main types grown are:-
Tomatoes: Mazarron is one of the most important producers.
Secondary crops:  melon, cucumber and  peppers.
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.
The hotels are in general, clean and well equipped,  and excellent  value for  money. 
Flats & Villas are on offer to rent.
High season: July, August, September and Easter.

Places to visit:
16th Century castle and churches. (Paintings, Mudejar crafted). 
You can visit the ancient Watchtowers, which were built to warn of Pirate Invasion .
Mazarron is an enchanting Town with a 19th Century town hall, 
old mines, and coves which are of high geological interest. 
There is also a desalination plant and local fish auction.

Transport Facilities:
 There are local buses, as well as long connections with the regional cities 
(Murcia, Alicante, Cartagena, Lorca, etc.)
Buses travel directly to Madrid in the summer and they also travel directly 
to Granada, Malaga and Almeria  throughout the whole year.

Gastronomy: 
Food is based on local products, like fish and shellfish on the coast 
and rabbit, tomatoes and pepper inland.

Leisure activities, culture and free time:
Maritime club, regattas, diving, fishing, water-skiing, canoeing, jet-skiing and windsurfing.
Parachuting, climbing, horse-riding, cycling, archery, skating, 
aerobics, go-carting,  tennis, fronton, bowls, sauna, squash, athletics.
Martial arts, various workshops, dances, public library, performances, concerts, theatre.

Fiestas:
 There is the Local Carnival, Feast of St. Joseph, Easter, 
feast of St. Anthony and the Assumption.
 There is also the Local Pilgrimage in November and the Towen Festival in December.

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 and can be visited.

7th Cent. B.C.: 
First Phoenician boat discovered.

3rd Cent. B.C.: 
Carthaginian Era. The Romans exploited the iron and silver mines,
 introduced irrigated agriculture, fishing and fish salting .
They remained until 5th Cent. A.D.

12th Cent A.D.:
 Arabians influence he exploitation of red-ochre mines.

1462 A.D.:
 Intensive exploitation of the red-ochre and alum mines. 
There is also the danger of North-African piracy.

1572 A.D.:
 Felipe II concedes the title of Villa de Almazarron which signifies the segregation of Lorca.
During the following centuries the history develops round piracy  (until 18th Cent), 
irrigated  crops, fishing and the ups and downs in the exploitation of red-ochre and alum.

19th Cent. A.D.: 
lead-mining, abandoned since Roman times, is recommenced.
The high-point is reached in 1900. 
In fifty years the population has quadrupled,  reaching 23.000 inhabitants.

2Oth Cent A.D.: 
In the 1950's the extraction of red-ochre and alum and its industry disappears
 and tourist  development commences.
The population is reduced to a little more than 9.000 inhabitants.
In the 60s, the rest of the mining industry, (lead, silver, zinc and iron) disappears  
and the new intensive, irrigated agriculture emerges.
At present, the population reaches 17.000 inhabitants
 attracted by tourism and agriculture.

The City of Murcia offers excellent shopping facilities.
 Photographed here is the Super Store Corte Ingles all lit up at Christmas.

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