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New Marco Topo family gymkhana activities in Lorca
Families enjoy puzzle-solving challenges while learning about the castle and city centre of Lorca
A new addition to the already wide range of visitor activities for visitors has been announced at the castle and in the old city centre of Lorca, where the popular “Marco Topo” family gymkhana trails have been introduced and are proving extremely popular.
This means that Lorca now joins a network of over 80 Marco Topo destinations all over Spain, becoming the first in the Region of Murcia. One of the two routes includes various of the monuments and museums in the city, including the Palacio de Guevara, while the second route, a new addition, is at the castle. This means that any family visiting with a mobile internet device can enjoy the fun challenge, which includes games, mazes and spotting the difference as well as informative content about the sights seen.
Marco Topo was first introduced in Lorca in 2017, and the city route begins at the visitors’ centre of La Merced before participants embark on a voyage of 12 sites and activities which take them to Santo Domingo, Calle Lope Gisbert, Calle Príncipe Alfonso, Cuesta de San Francisco Calle Corredera, Calle Álamo and the Plaza de España. Along the way visitors see the archaeological museum, the muBBla embroidery museum, the church of Santiago, the Palacete de Huerto Ruano, the Palacio de Guevara, the Centro de Artesanía, the Teatro Guerra, the MASS Semana Santa museum and the ex-Collegiate Church of San Patricio.
Maps and stickers are combined with an interactive app presenting challenges for youngsters while they learn a little about history, art and culture. The maps can be picked up from the visitors’ centre and the tourist office in Plaza de España, after which the appropriate code is input on the marcotopo website.
The challenges enable participants to free the “Flopis”, who have been captured by the evil mole scientist.
Information ia available in both Spanish and English, according to Santiago Parra, the Councillor for Tourism in Lorca.
For more local information, including news and what’s on, go to the home page of Lorca Today.
Address
Calle Lope Gisbert, 12, LorcaTel: 968 441914
Oficina de Turismo de Lorca
The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern city has built its tourism industry. Among these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish quarter of the castle and synagogue, Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.
Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011, claiming 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.
The tourist office relocated for 14 years to Calle San Patricio, near the church, but has now returned to its former premises alongside the Palacio de Guevara in the Plaza Concha Sandoval, or Plaza de la Bordadora (click for map).
Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only along difficult tracks or by boat!
However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a series of processions in which the Whites (Paso Blanco) and Blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.
Lorca also has a Parador hotel, located within the historic castle.
Opening hours for Lorca tourist office:
Every day of the year apart from 1st and 6th January and 25th December, 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 18.30 (except Sunday afternoons).
These opening times are often extended and other information points created during the Semana Santa celebrations.
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today
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