The region of the Altiplano Murciano, also known as the Altiplano de Yecla-Jumilla, is made up of wide valleys of a certain altitude, crossed by a network of ravines that pour their waters from the river.
The valleys of the Altiplano are surrounded by mountains belonging to the Prebetic system, standing out mainly for wine production. The Altiplano region is made up of the municipalities of
Jumilla and
Yecla.
History
This region was inhabited by the Iberians, who had foreign influences from the Mediterranean region, such as Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Carthaginians.
In the Middle Ages came the Germanic conquests, the presence of the Byzantines in the eastern region, the Islamic invasions of the Cora of Tudmir and the evolution and conquest of the Muslim kingdom.
Economy
Its economy is based on the extraction of marble and stone, and the footwear and textile industries. There is also the food industry, in which the manufacture of canned vegetables and juices stands out, in addition to the production of artisan cheeses and salted and frozen fish, among others.
However, if there’s anything that this region stands out for, it is the production of very high-quality wines, such as young red and rosé wines, highly demanded in the most advanced countries. It is worth highlighting the production of sweet wines, which are increasingly appreciated by consumers and have great potential for growth and development.
Jumilla also stands out for its production of
pears, which have a Denomination of Origin.
Festivals
Among the most important festivals is Holy Week, which attracts thousands of tourists every year. Observing the processions in the old towns of Yecla and Jumilla is very exciting, especially seeing how the locals lead the thrones through the narrow streets of the cities.
Holy Week in Jumilla has more than 600 years of history. In
Yecla´s Holly Week, the “sanjuaneros” stand out, belonging to the Brotherhood of Saint John, in which the Nazarenes appear in Egyptian clothes.
In Yecla, we cannot miss the Festival of the Virgin, declared of National Tourist Interest, and the Festival of Saint Isidore the Farmer. Meanwhile, in Jumilla, the Grape Harvest Festival, declared of Regional Tourist Interest, and the Moors and Christians Festival stand out.
Nature
In this region, you can find a great diversity of flora and fauna, as the area is full of wetlands, riverside forests and interior mountain ranges, among other ecosystems.
The reserves protect the various ecosystems from actions that can cause deterioration of the region's flora and fauna.
Gastronomy
This region of Murcia has a wide and rich cuisine that translates into a wide variety of local dishes. Among these dishes, marine products stand out, such as fish and shellfish from the Mediterranean Sea, and also vegetables, which are highly appreciated and of the highest quality. All this increases the value of gastronomy in the region. It is possible to find renowned and excellent dishes such as the famous “migas”, “yeclano gazpacho”, “jumillano gazpacho”, potato “empanada”, “libricos”, “gachasmigas”, “mortirigüelo”, cheese with tomato and the imaginative “paparajotes”.
The region’s culinary influence is very wide and marked by a great variety of civilizations that have left their gastronomic mark throughout the centuries, such as the Greco-Roman civilization that brought vines to the region. Later, the Arab culture brought with it a mixture of flavours and aromas that are still present in every corner.