Top reasons to visit Costa Calida this summer

Spain is a brilliant destination for summer holidays, thanks to its combination of gorgeous weather, glorious landscapes, beautiful coastline, rich culture and divine cuisine. Of course, Spain’s a pretty big place and personally, this has made it hard for me to pick exactly where to go on more than one occasion. It’d be easy to reel off a list of the usual favourites, but in my opinion Costa Calida has what it takes to be this summer’s top destination. Here’s why.

1) Get a taste of ‘real Spain’

Costa Calida, which is in the small region of Murcia, is a long stretch of coastline that’s particularly scenic thanks to the fact that its mountain landscapes reach almost right up to the sea. Home to an interesting mix of garden cities and old fishing towns, it’s particularly well-known for its historical attractions – and is often said to be somewhere you can get an authentic taste of Spain.

In fact, you can quite literally do this by sampling the local food, since the area is particularly renowned for its fantastic tradition of tapas. Come to Costa Calida and you’ll get to experience Spain’s characteristic cuisine, landscapes and history at their unmarred best.

2) See amazing architecture

The Costa Calida, like much of Spain, is home to some lovely architecture – something that’s particularly well demonstrated by the fact that the Catedral de Santa Maria is one of the top local attractions. So, this should definitely feature on your itinerary.

The cathedral you’ll see today dates back to the 14th century, when it was built on the site of a mosque. You can still see evidence of its original Gothic appearance, but in 1748 it was given something of a Baroque makeover, which means it’s now quite different to its initial design.

When you come here, don’t miss the Museo de la Catedral, where you can see some pretty amazing excavations. Stroll along a glass walkway to check out a small mosque and an 11th-century Moorish abode being carefully dug from the earth.

3) Visit impressive galleries

Costa Calida is also a fantastic place to see some art, with the area peppered with interesting little galleries. One that particularly caught my attention is La Conservera Centro de Arte Contemporaneo.

This is actually just over 20 km outside of Murcia, but it’s well worth the trip. Come here and you can explore spacious, well-lit galleries that feature the work of contemporary artists and sculptors. What’s more, their pieces of art tend to share a common theme, which means the display is quite cohesive, while still showcasing a good range of work.

4) Explore fascinating museums

As I mentioned above, the Costa Calida is a great place for history lovers, and I think visiting at least one or two of the local museums is an absolute must. There are two that particularly stand out in my mind, the first being the Cartagena Roman Theatre Museum, which showcases items excavated in the Roman Theatre in Cartagena.

What I love about this museum is that you’ll be taken on a tour of part of the city and whisked to the theatre itself as a standard part of your visit – something that I think makes a trip here a really exceptional experience. The theatre itself is very impressive, with a 6,000-person capacity and a 43 m long stage.

Another must-visit is the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which is home to some incredible displays. Among the most exciting is its collection of elephants’ tusks, which are utterly unique thanks to their Phoenician inscriptions.

There are also some impressive scale models of ancient ships, including a life-size model of a Roman merchant ship.

If all this has convinced you that you’d like Spain to be your summer holiday destination, you can see a wide range of hotels at http://www.sovereign.com/destinations/Spain.