The story of Murcia has been a interesting history of agriculture, commerce and INVASION. Looking back to the primitive times (500+ B.C.) Murcia's initial citizens - Iberian tribes - had already time-honoured trading relationships with Phoenicians and Greeks. Then Hannibal Barca and his multitudes from Carthage subjugated the region founding Carthago Nova, which nowadays is the popular sea port of Cartagena.

Then, inevitably came the Romans and in the 5th Century the Visigoths (German) who subjugated all of Spain under Euric only to be taken over by the Moors in 711.

The historical city of Murcia (then called Mursiya) was founded in 825 A.D by The Caliph of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman II. Founded on the site of an ancient Roman Colony there are still lots of Moorish influences there not least in the towering City walls.

Then came the civil war & the Caliphate was overthrown by native Spaniards to make an independent kingdom, which included (at its height) part of the modern counties of Alicante & Almeria. Quieter times followed until 1243 when Alfonso X of Castilla & Leon re-conquered Murcia and the surrounding localities. Savage oppression forced the largely Moslem community to become Christian. All 20 mosques were 'rehabilitated' into Christaian churches.

Under the new rule from Central Spain the tale of Murcia took a quieter turn and the province of Murcia prospered and grew into one of Spain's architectural treasures by the start of the 18th century.

At the height of Murcia's good times and influence Napoleon Bonaparte spoiled things by sacking and looting the County in 1810. Then came an pandemic of plague and Cholera.. Then Murcia fell into gradual decline until the 20th Century when Murcia could only claim to be a minor city. There was intense fighting during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and tragically many stunning monuments and churches were lost forever. Financial Deteriation also occurred as the lucrative silk market couldn't maintain it's competitiveness against the offensive of man made fibres such as nylon.

The city is very much an attractive and beautiful destination having recently become a University City with a modern pulsating mood but not losing lots of architectural features.

It would appear that the next chapter in the saga of Murcia has started, the latest invasion of Murcia is on and will again be from Northern Europe but this time in the form of golf resort dwelling residents.

The financial welfare of Murcia County is assured.