Accessibility is well-designed

 Into Murcia and, as with all cities, we will end up doing so much in a short day.  First off, some stats.

Murcia has 471,982 people within its enfolding arms - all above 43m above sea level.  It is the 7th largest city in Spain but has a football team in the 3rd tier of the league.  Almost 18000 Moroccans live here, as do 2500 Brits - making them largest European migrant community. 

We are wandering through streets familiar from many other towns and cities we have been through.  Our first stop is the Museo Arquelogico de Murcia.    https://www.museosregiondemurcia.es/web/museosdemurcia/museo-arqueologico-de-murcia  The museum has galleries going back to the palaeolithic and wanders all the way through to the Visigoths by way of the usual suspects. 

Eight hours ago P gave a small but praiseful review. ‘Fantastic museum with a wonderful collection of antiquities from around the area. Well worth visiting. Thank you for our visit.’  

A month ago Rivo was more fulsome.  ‘I visited the Archaeological Museum of Murcia on a Saturday morning and the experience was wonderful from the moment I arrived: it's located right on Gran Vía Alfonso X, in an elegant building that once served as the Casa de la Cultura, inviting you to stroll in. Access was smooth, with friendly reception staff and well-presented informational materials, and the feeling of order and cleanliness throughout the space is appreciated. The atmosphere is peaceful and allows you to enjoy each room without feeling overwhelmed, ideal for those who enjoy exploring museums at their own pace.

The tour is very well-organized, progressing from prehistory to the medieval period with notable pieces from the region: Iberian ceramics, grave goods, sculptures, metal utensils, Roman mosaics, and a carefully curated collection of coins that help us understand the evolution of societies. The museography is clear, with well-lit display cases, educational panels, and audiovisual resources that make the visit enjoyable without overwhelming. I also came across a temporary exhibition that complemented the permanent one and provided a very contemporary approach to archaeological themes, something that brings the whole thing to life.

As a tip, setting aside between 60 and 90 minutes allows you to visit it at a leisurely pace and spend some time in the rooms that interest you the most. It's a highly recommended family plan: there are accessible contents for children and specific activities that usually engage them. Accessibility is well-designed with an elevator and ramps, and the central location makes it easy to combine the visit with a stroll along Gran Vía and a stop at a nearby café. I left feeling like I had better understood the history of Murcia through authentic and beautifully presented artifacts.’

We will pass El Corte Ingles - which gets ten time the reviews of the Archaeological Museum.  Nerea tells us they have ‘many variety of products’

On to the Museo de la Ciudad. https://museodelaciudad.murcia.es/  Vanessa appreciated the place. ‘I liked this museum, not very big but well laid out, which traces the history of the city, very interesting. The welcome is very friendly and you are provided with a leaflet in your language to explain the different floors because the explanatory panels are in Spanish. There is even a left-luggage office for bags. This museum is free.’

As we are near it, we will pop into the Museo Salzillo as we need a bit of sculpture in our lives.    https://www.museosalzillo.es/en/   Jose reckoned ‘A fantastic museum honoring a world-class sculptor.

The most representative Spanish religious sculptor of the 18th century and one of the greatest of the Baroque period. Salzillo dedicated himself exclusively to religious themes and masterfully conveyed the changes that occurred during the 18th century in his style. This is reflected in a sculpture that marked a transition between Rococo and Neoclassicism, as well as in various changes that took place in the workshop he inherited from his father, the sculptor and religious image maker Nicolás Salzillo.

His life was spent entirely in Murcia. Today, the city boasts a museum dedicated to his work, the Salzillo Museum, which houses some of his most characteristic pieces, such as the Nativity scene and the eight floats that are carried in procession on Good Friday in what is known as the Salzillo Procession.’

We are ending today heading south, crossing the river by way of the 4.3 star Puente Miquel Caballero [Iwona ‘Very nice views of the river. It was realy a pleasure to walk near.’  ] just so we can end the day in the Barrio Del Progreso.