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Lorca's medieval museum delayed until late 2026 amid funding shortfall
€500,000 needed to complete ambitious exhibition featuring advanced 14th-century gallery
Ambitious plans for the Ciufront Medieval Museum in Lorca have hit a major delay, with organisers confirming that the much-loved museum will not be ready to open its doors for regular visits until November 2026. This timeframe is set to coincide with the city’s patron saint festivities for San Clemente.Located in the heart of the historic centre, the Ciufront Medieval Museum is housed in the former church of Santa María la Mayor. The museum brings together a unique blend of archaeological treasures and immersive exhibitions, telling the story of Lorca’s Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities across the centuries.
Luis Torres del Alcázar, president of the San Clemente Federation, said this week that while the museum’s transformation in the Gothic church is already 60% complete, an extra 500,000 euros is still needed to finish the exhibition spaces and cultural content.
He described the next steps as “a very ambitious project”, with special emphasis on the creation of a technologically advanced gallery dedicated to the 14th century, designed to both surprise and engage future visitors. He recalled the “game-changing” impact of the virtual recreation of the church’s original altarpiece, destroyed during the Civil War but brought back to life through projection on the original surface.
Until the funding is secured and the full vision realised, the museum will only open on special occasions such as the annual patron saint celebrations. The San Clemente Federation is committed to excellence and prefers to wait for the right resources. To date, 480,000 euros have been invested in restoring the church’s interior, with city and regional subsidies making these improvements possible.
In the meantime, Lorca continues to promote its rich medieval and Jewish heritage. As part of the European Days of Jewish Culture, a lively event titled “Dialogues at ciuFRONT: Hanukkiah, Jacob’s Jar” will take place at the medieval museum on Saturday September 13 in the morning.
This gathering aims to shine a spotlight on the museum’s fascinating Jewish works by sharing stories and peculiarities, including the significance of the two Hanukkiahs cared for by the Federation, and the origins of Lorca’s own Festival of Lights. “This initiative is added to the rest of the programme planned in Lorca for these Days, with the aim of promoting and making visible the rich Jewish legacy that is an essential part of European history and identity, consolidating Lorca as a national benchmark in the dissemination of the Sephardic legacy,” said Santiago Parra, Councillor for Culture.
Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to attend, with organisers promising an interactive and revealing experience.
For now, Lorca’s journey towards a world-class medieval museum is a waiting game, as the city strives to secure the support and funding needed to deliver its ambitious vision in full.
Image: turismoregiondemurcia.es
Address
C.C Parque Almenara, Camino de Enmedio s/n., Diputacion del Campillo. 30813, Lorca, (Murcia)Tel: 968 46 37 37
Murcia’s second biggest centro comercial has more than just shopping – it’s everything you could want from a day out!
Parque Almenara is one of the largest retail and leisure malls in the Lorca and Águilas area, offering the full ‘all under one roof’ shopping experience, except it is open to the elements!
It has all your favourite brands and shops like Stradivarius and Mango, spread out over two easily accessed levels. There is also a Carrefour, plus larger retail units for electrical products and home and garden goods.
Unlike other shopping centres, Parque Almenara is a shopping mall where the stores are located in a network of streets, like a whole shopping village that covers almost 150,000m2, making it the second largest shopping centre in the Region of Murcia.One of the most striking features of Parque Almenara is its three canvas tents suspended 20 metres above the outdoor area, creating a shaded zone and an oasis of calm right in the middle of the mall.
As well as the opportunity for a day’s retail therapy, Parque Almenara also offers the makings of good night out. There is a 10-pin bowling alley with 20 lanes and an entertainment complex, plus a multiscreen cinema with ten screens showing the latest offerings from Hollywood and the best 3D movies, and even original version English-language films.And with no fewer than eight separate options to grab a bite to eat at the food court, you can stay at the Parque Almenara all day if you want to!
You can even take your dog along with you as pets are allowed into the mall, an animal-friendly place.
How to get there
Parque Almenara is located on the Lorca–Águilas road C-3211 at km 1.9. On a GPS, the coordinates to put in are: N 37º 63´ W -1º 69´
If you’re going by bus, there is a direct bus route that leaves from Apolonia.
