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The Costa Calida celebrated the annual Day of the Region of Murcia, one of the most important dates in the social and festival calendar for the southeastern Spanish area. The holiday commemorates the approval of the Region of Murcia’s autonomy in 1982, and since then, has become a key annual celebration, a reminder of Murcia’s self-governance and identity, and a reason to take part in social activities and events.

June 9: The Day of the Region of Murcia, sparking celebrations along the Costa Calida

Across the region, the day, celebrated on Tuesday, June 9, was marked by a vibrant mix of ceremonies, cultural events, and leisure activities, drawing both residents and visitors into the celebrations. Concerts, exhibitions, and gastronomic events were a major highlight of the day, as well as open-air performances in the towns and cities throughout the region. A major concert taking place included the Murcia Lírica concert, in the city of Murcia.

Culture and gastronomy: Major highlights of the day

One of the highlights of the day was the opportunity to explore the Region of Murcia’s cultural heritage, with many museums, galleries, and attractions opening their doors to residents and visitors for free. These included the Salzillo Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the MUBAM. The day offered a perfect opportunity for newcomers to discover the rich history, art, and traditions of the region, while enjoying a lively community ambience in the streets and plazas.

Gastronomy also played a central role in the celebrations, with local restaurants and bars showcasing the Region of Murcia’s renowned gastronomy. Establishments offered both traditional dishes and quick, savoury tapas, reflecting Murcia’s agricultural roots and Mediterranean gastronomic influences. Some more famous Murcian dishes being offered included zarangollo, michirones, meat pies, and paparajotes. In many places, these offerings were combined with live entertainment and family-friendly activities, making it an ideal day for socialising and enjoying the coastal lifestyle of the area.

Celebrating one of Spain’s most vibrant regions

Ultimately, the Day of the Region of Murcia is both a celebration of identity and a showcase of everything the region has to offer. Whether through music, culture, or cuisine, this special day provides a chance to reflect on Murcia’s past while enjoying the vibrant spirit that defines it today.

This summer, the Costa Calida city of Cartagena promises to be the hub of beach activity in the region, as the city will boast an incredible 12 Blue Flags. This honour is awarded to some of the world’s best beaches and marinas, depending on a number of criteria, including sustainability, pollution management and water quality, and accessibility.

Cartagena to be a beach hotspot this summer with a whopping 12 Blue Flag awards

This summer, Cartagena has added a new site to the list of its areas with the Blue Flag distinction, La Azohía-El Cuartel. With the new addition, the municipality ranks fourth in the whole country for the most Blue Flags, trailing only behind Vigo, Sanxenxo and Aguilas, the latter of which is also located in Murcia. This honour also re-establishes Cartagena as one of the national leaders in environmental quality, services, and coastal management.

To be specific, the municipality has received 12 Blue Flag awards, 13 flags for Tourism Quality (Q Flags) and 12 flags for Sustainable Tourism (S Flags). The beaches with both distinctions are: Barco Perdido, Cala Cortina, Galúa, Levante, and San Ginés.

The Cartagena beaches awarded with Blue Flags were Cala Cortina, Levante-Cabo de Palos, San Ginés, Isla Plana, La Chapineta, El Portús, Calblanque, Cala del Barco, and La Azohía-El Cuartel. These are in addition to the Blue Flags awarded to the Royal Regatta Club and Yacht Port Cartagena. Cartagena also boasts a Blue Flag at a beach it shares with San Javier, at Banco del Tabal-Calnegre, La Manga.

Murcia, the region of choice for some of the best beaches in Spain

Blue Flags are awarded based on a number of criteria that the beaches, marinas, and ports must strictly meet, including cleanliness, accessibility, safety, environmental management, continuous improvement, and even the availability of education on the beaches. The numerous Blue Flag awards reinforce Cartagena’s position as one of the coastal areas in Spain with the most top-notch services and protected natural spaces.

But as aforementioned, Cartagena is far from the only municipality in the Region of Murcia to host Blue Flag distinctions. Among the other municipalities honoured are Aguilas, Los Alcazares, Mazarron, San Javier, and San Pedro del Pinatar, all considered some of the best of the best for beaches not only in the region, but in the whole of the country.

In total, here are the beaches, marinas, and ports in Cartagena that have been honoured and are worth a visit this summer:

Blue Flag:

• Banco del Tabal-Calnegre
• Cala Cortina
• Cala del Barco
• Levante
• Calblanque
• El Cuartel
• El Portús
• Isla Plana
• La Chapineta
• San Ginés
• Real Club de Regatas
• Yacht Port Cartagena.

 Q for Tourist Quality:

• Barco Perdido
• Cala Cortina
• Cala del Pino
• Cavanna
• Galúa
• La Gola
• Levante
• Puerto Bello
• Islas Menores
• Mar de Cristal
• Playa Honda
• Playa Paraíso
• San Ginés

S for Tourism Sustainability:

• Banco del Tabal-Calnegre
• Barco Perdido
• Cala Cortina
• Cala del Barco
• Cala Túnez
• Galúa
• Levante
• El Cuartel
• El Portús
• Isla Plana
• La Chapineta
• San Ginés