March 17 Saint Patrick’s Day in Lorca castle

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Lorca castle offers a special visiting package to honour the memory of San Patricio!

March 17 Saint Patrick’s Day in Lorca castle On March 17, 1452 the battle of the Alporchones took place in the countryside of Lorca, resulting in an important victory for the kingdom of Castilla over the Nazrid Moorish forces of Granada, and the significance of the date would eventually lead to the dedication of the largest temple in the city: the Former Collegiate Church of St. Patrick.

To commemorate the date this year at Lorca castle there is a chance to learn more about the leader of Lorca who led the victorious troops in the battle, Alonso Fajardo “el Bravo”. The special visiting package includes tickets to the three main areas of the “Fortress of the Sun”, with an audio guide in different languages so you can visit it at your own pace, and a menu prepared with local products to be tasted in the restaurant Las Caballerizas del Castillo de Lorca, located in the parade ground at the foot of the Alfonsina Tower.

Get your tickets + menu package, and they'll throw in a free beer for St. Patrick's Day!

Book now, places are very limited!

The timetable for the day includes the medieval synagogue at 11.00, the Torre Alfonsina at 12.00 and the Torre Espolón at 13.00. Each of these areas remains open for 45 minutes from the starting time, and at 14.00 the tour is followed by lunch in Las Caballerizas del Castillo.

The package is priced at 29.95 euros for over-13s including lunch (younger children free of charge, with no menu included). Click here for online bookings.

For more local information, including news and what’s on, go to the home page of Lorca Today.

Address

Plaza de Espana, 30800 Lorca

Tel: 968 441914 (Fax 968 466157)

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Oficina de Turismo de Lorca

Lorca Tourist Office

The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern City has built its tourism industry. Amongst these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish Quarter of the castle and Synagogue, Lorca Tourist Office Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.

Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as an earthquake which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011 and claimed 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.

Lorca Tourist Office The tourist office itself has temporarily relocated until the renovations are completed and is on Calle San Patricio near the church.

Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of, Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Lorca Tourist Office Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only through agricultural exploitations.

However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a Lorca Tourist Office series of parades in which the whites (Paso Blanco) and blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.