The saga of Murcia

The tradition of Murcia has been a fascinating tradition of agriculture, trade and RAIDS. In the very early days (500+ B.C.) Murcia's initial citizens - Iberian tribes - had already time-honoured commercial relationships with Greeks and Phoenicians. Then Hannibal Barca and his hordes from Carthage conquered the area founding Carthago Nova, which nowadays is the smart sea town of Cartagena.

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the Roman Empire and in the 5th Century the Visigoths (a German race) who conquered all of Spain under Euric then to be superceded by the Moors in 711.

The stylish 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 old Roman Colony there are still plenty of Moorish features there not least in the towering City walls.

In the 11th century there was civil war & the Caliphate was comquered by local Spaniards to create an independent kingdom, including (at its height) part of the modern areas of Almeria & Alicante. Quieter times ensued until 1243 when Alfonso X of Castilla & Leon re-conquered Murcia and the local areas. Religeous oppression forced the largely Moslem community to convert to Christianity. All 20 mosques were then forced to convert into Christaian churches.

Under this new government from Central Spain the tale of Murcia took a peaceful turn and the city of Murcia prospered and grew into one of Spain's architectural treasures by the start of the 18th century.

At the peak of Murcia's good times and development Napoleon Bonaparte spoilt the party by pillaging and looting the County in 1810. This was closely followed by an epidemic of plague and Cholera.. Then Murcia fell into gradual decline until the last Century when Murcia only had minor City status. Murcia suffered intense insurrection during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and tragically many ornate monuments and churches were lost forever. Mucia's decline also occurred as the previously very valuable silk market couldn't maintain it's effectiveness against the assault of man made fibres.

The city is still a very attractive and beautiful destination having recently become a University City with a modern vibrant mood but not losing lots of historical features.

The latest thing in the story of Murcia has been the construction of 37 residential golf courses just now with more on the way. Multi-billion pound Company Polaris World has spent heavily in Murcia and is even making all it's golf resorts water self-sufficient by creating clean water from the sea.

The economic welfare of Murcia is safe.

Article Source: http://www.123article.org

Russell runs several web sites for Spanish property.Russell specialises in Polaris World golf resorts and is always happy to give free advice. Russell Marsh owns Murcia property. Russell is an authority on Polaris World Golf Resorts

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