The Aljibe Colorao in Los Alcazares
An old Moorish water cistern which was used to feed people and cattle in medieval Los Alcázares
“Aljibe” is an Arabic Word inherited by Spanish from the period of Moorish rule which ended almost 800 years ago in the Region of Murcia, and refers to a water tank or cistern which generally contains drinking water.
Given the strong Moorish connections of Los Alcázares – the name of the town is derived from the Arabic for “fortresses” or “palaces” – and the dry climate of south-eastern Spain, it is not surprising to find such structures in the municipality, and one of them is the Aljibe Colorao (or “red aljibe”). It is known that there were as many as 11 of them here in the Middle Ages, all belonging to the council of Murcia, for use by those working in the fields and those passing through – in the case of transhumance cattle farmers, this included their livestock.
The Aljibe Colorao can be found in the square named after it (click here for map) while others in Los Alcázares include the Aljibe del Rame, the Aljibe de Los Muñoces and the Aljibe de Los Lorenzos.
For more local information contact the tourist offices in Los Alcázares or go to the home page of Los Alcázares Today.
Information for residents and visitors in Los Alcázares and Los Narejos
Despite being a relatively small municipality Los Alcázares relies to such a large extent on year-round tourism that it operates two tourist information offices, one in the town itself and the other in the seafront district of Los Narejos.
The fully qualified staff at both offices strive to provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your time in Los Alcázares, recommending places to visit, things to do and upcoming events in the area as well as practical help. The multitude of leaflets on offer will help you to fully enjoy the Costa Cálida and the Mar Menor!
Contact details:
Los Alcázares office
Avenida Trece de Octubre, 8, 30710 Los Alcázares, Murcia (click for map)
Open year-round weekdays 9.00 to 14.00.
Additional opening hours in summer during the afternoon, weekdays 17.00 to 19.00 and on Saturday and Sunday mornings 10.00 to 13.00.
Telephone: 968 575756
Email: turismo@losalcazares.es
Los Narejos office
Avenida Cartagena, esquina Calle Piscis (click for map)
Open on weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 throughout the year.
Telephone: 968 582119
Email: turismolosnarejos@losalcazares.es
