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The saga of Murcia

Article

The past of Murcia has been a fascinating tradition of farming, business and RAIDS. In the very early days (500+ B.C.) Murcia's earliest inhabitants - Iberian tribes - had clearly time-honoured commercial links with the Greeks and Phoenicians. Then Hannibal Barca and his masses from Carthage conquered the region founding Carthago Nova, which nowadays is the stylish sea town of Cartagena.

Then, inevitably came the Romans and in the 5th Century the Visigoths (a German race) who conquered all of Spain under Euric then to be replaced by the Moors in 711.

The lovely 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 many Moorish features there not least in the impressive City walls.

The 11th century brought civil war & the Caliphate was overthrown by local Spaniards to found an independent kingdom, including (at its height) part of the modern provinces of Alicante & Almeria. Peaceful times ensued until 1243 when Alfonso X of Castilla & Leon re-subjugated Murcia and the surrounding localities. Religeous oppression forced the majority of the Moslem community to convert to Christianity. All 20 mosques were then 'rehabilitated' into Christaian churches.

The city was adorned with some very elaborate palaces, decorated churches and the crowning glory was the stunning rococo cathedral. All this affluence was largely funded by the growing silk and agriculture industries.

At the peak of Murcia's good times and influence Napoleon Bonaparte spoilt the party by wrecking and looting the Province in 1810. This was closely followed by an pandemic of plague and Cholera.. After this Murcia's fortunes declined until the last Century when Murcia could only claim minor City status. Murcia suffered terrible fighting during the Civil War in 1936 and too many ornate monuments and churches were lost. Mucia's decline also occurred as the previously very valuable silk market couldn't maintain it's competitiveness against the onslaught of man made fibres.

Recently Murcia has been sustained by citrus fruit agriculture and associated industries.

The latest thing in the story of Murcia has been the construction of 37 luxury golf courses just now with more to follow. Multi-billion pound Company Polaris World has spent drastically in Murcia and is even making all it's golf resorts water self-contained by making fresh water from the sea.

The economic welfare of Murcia City is assured.

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Russell owns several Spanish property web sites.Russell Marsh focuses on Polaris World golf resorts and is always happy to give free advice. Mr Marsh owns Murcia property. Russell Marsh is an authorised agent of Polaris World Golf Resorts