Crossed by the River Segura and set in the centre of its farmland, between lemon trees and vegetable gardens, the town of Murcia is the capital of a single-province autonomous community that covers an area of 11,313 km² and has a population of 1,470,069 inhabitants (figures from 2011). The region has a wide variety of tourist attractions. Cultural and city tourism focus on its four main historical centres: Caravaca de la Cruz, Cartagena, Lorca and Murcia. The Mediterranean coast of the Region of Murcia is known by the name of Costa Cálida.
It has a length of 170 km and alternates between large white-sand beaches, other smaller beaches and coves protected by cliffs. These natural conditions make it ideal for sunshine and beach tourism. The coast has the largest natural lake in Spain: the lagoon of El Mar Menor. It is a saltwater lagoon next to the Mediterranean and is the largest of its kind in Europe. It is separated from the sea by a strip of sand that is 22 km long and called La Manga del Mar Menor. Thanks to its exceptional climate, this large coastal lagoon is ideal for water sports all year round.
