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Find here the best Murcia accomodation and car hire online!
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 Town History |
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| Murcia was a Moor-founded city way back in 825 AD. During those times, the Moors (Arab) named it Mursiya. The Caliph of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman II, founded it on the site of a Roman colony.
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| Civil rivalry arose during the 11th century -- the native Spaniards joined forces to oust the Caliphate for the building of a sovereign kingdom, including the modern provinces of Alicante and Almeria. King Alfonso X of Castilla & Leon re-conquered Murcia and its surroundings on 1243. Changes were imposed. First on the list was the conversion of all 20 resident mosques into churches. Under this new regime, the city of Murcia flourished. At the threshold of the 18th century, Murcia was one of Spain's architectural charms. Intricate urban palaces, churches, & glorious baroque cathedral were put to life, funded by the silk and agricultural industry.
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Sadly, Murcia s popularity was short-lived. In 1810, the successive raiding of Napoleonic troops and the spread of epidemics (cholera and other plagues) led to the gradual fall of Murcia.
In 1936, Murcia was a heavy fighting zone during the Spanish civil war. Many of its churches and monuments were burnt to the ground. Economic decline was at hand, and even their reputable silk trade industry lost its competitive edge on the open market due to the introduction of man-made fibers.
At present, Murcia is kept alive by citrus fruit farming & associated industries. Business development is visible, and the city center still remains an eye-catching destination. Now a university city, Murcia is currently a melting pot of various Spanish & overseas students.
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