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10 reasons to visit Calasparra

22-11-2025    {{catList[364].label}}

Sanctuary of the Virgin of Hope (Calasparra - Murcia)
The beautiful town of Calasparra is privileged for its magnificent geographical location and its natural beauty, which makes it a very attractive tourist destination to visit with the family.

Located in northwest Murcia, this historic town harbours a magic and colour that make it unique and invite you to take an extensive tour of all its natural and religious charms.

Here we present our 10 reasons to visit Calarraspa:
 
1. Sanctuary of the Virgin of Hope: This is located inside a cave; its extraordinary beauty makes it one of the most important pilgrimage centres in Spain.

It receives more than a million visits every year.

Its festivities take place between September 2 and 8, with the night of the 7th of that month as a special date, when this beautiful temple receives its famous pilgrimage.
 
2. Castle of Calasparra: This is located at the top of a hill and its origins date back to the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. Possibly it was a Hisn (fort) with a double wall, which fell into disuse after the Reconquest.

From the ruins of this castle are impressive views of the town and its surroundings.

3. Festivals: Calasparra is a town with great religious fervour, which is why its celebrations are related mostly to the Christian faith.

The main religious festival is Holy Week, with a massive participation among its inhabitants. Other outstanding celebrations are those of the holy martyrs Abdon and Sennen, the last week of July, in addition to the celebration of the Virgin of Hope.

4. Calasparra running of the bulls: This is very similar to the “Sanfermines”. Calasparra has a bullfighting fair in which the steers are released on a unique and exciting 900-meter route, from Constitution Square to the bullring.

This practice was declared a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest and takes place the first week of September.

5. Rivers and reservoirs: Calasparra is privileged to have the largest freshwater reserve in Spain, which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

The waters of the Segura, Quipar, and Argos rivers invite you to enjoy them to the fullest, while the Alfonso XIII reservoir will make you fall in love with its great beauty and majesty.

6. Museums and history: There are two museums of great importance in the town. The first has to do with its history, the "La Encomienda" Archaeological Museum. This museum shows the history of the land to thousands of visitors, with pieces dating back to prehistory and an extensive collection of objects from the time of the Muslim invasion of Spain.

There is also the Calasparra Rice Museum, which explains why this cereal is so important for the region and is part of the idiosyncrasy of the town.
 
7. Natural charms: There is an enviable environment with spectacular places such as the Puerto cave, the Monigotes cave and the Almadenes canyon, among many other places that are magical and must-see stops for tourists.

8. Gastronomy: Calasparra cuisine has rice as its main protagonist, as it is cultivated on the region’s fertile land.

The rice is accompanied by tripe, vegetables, rabbit, fish, snails and beans.
 
9. Adventure tourism: This beautiful region is one of the most interesting places for tourists who enjoy adventure and extreme sports. In the vicinity of Calasparra, these adventurers can safely satisfy this particular taste, as they can practice kayaking, rafting and climbing.

The Almadenes canyon is the perfect place to release adrenaline by kayaking, while rafting can be done in the waters of the Segura river.

10. Religious route: In addition to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Hope, there are other religious sites of spectacular beauty that invite tourists to discover each of their corners.

The oldest and largest church is the Church of La Merced, with more than six centuries of history. You can also visit the Church of the Holy Martyrs Abdon and Sennen.
 
Calasparra Travel Guide
 
 
Activities in the region of Murcia

       Aguilas
       Cartagena
       Cieza
       Jumilla
       Lorca
       Mazarron
       Murcia city
 


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