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Increased tourist information services in Lorca during Easter Week
Hotel occupancy rates are at 100 per cent as visitors flock to Lorca for Semana Santa
As Semana Santa begins across Spain the sense of anticipation in Lorca is growing, with the city gearing itself up for the spectacular parades and the massive influx of visitors which always mark the beginning of spring in the City of the Sun.
Ready for the busiest week of the year, the tourist office has announced extra staffing and information outlets throughout the week, including the printing of 8,000 information leaflets (6,500 in Spanish, 1,000 in English and 500 in French), while all this information can also be downloaded here. In addition, of course, the tourist offices themselves will be ready to field questions and queries as the hotel occupancy rates in Lorca rise to 100%.
By the time the main Biblical Parades take place on 2nd and 3rd April there will be as many as 18 tourist office staff offering their assistance to visitors, not only at the tourist office in the Palacio de Guevara but also at other strategic points such as the castle, the La Merced visitors’ centre, the churches of Santo Domingo and San Francisco and the Plaza del Óvalo.
Meanwhile, the annual embroidery exhibition is already open at the Fundación Cajamurcia and the former church of Santa María La Mayor, now home to the Medieval Museum, will be open to visitors from 28th March until Easter Sunday between 11.30 and 13.30.
For the first time, a shuttle bus service will be operating from 2nd to 4th April between the Visitors’ Centre and Lorca castle, running approximately every 45 minutes and providing an easy way to get up and down the hill and reducing traffic congestion.
At the church of San Mateo an extra tourist information point is being set up with staff speaking Spanish, English and international sign language.
Easter Week tourist office opening times
The tourist office in the Palacio de Guevara
March 27 to April 2: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.00
April 2 and 3: 10.00 to 19.00
April 4: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.00
April 5: 10.00 to 14.00
Lorca castle
March 27: 10.00 to 16.00
March 28: 10.00 to 19.00
March 29 to April 1: 10.00 to 16.00
April 2 to 5: 10.00 to 19.00
La Merced Visitors’ Centre
March 27 to April 5: 10.00 to 14.00
Additional points at the churches of Santo Domingo and San Francisco
March 27: 11.00 to 14.30 and 17.00 to 19.00
March 29: 11.00 to 14.30 and 17.00 to 19.00
March 30 to April 1: 11.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
April 2 and 3: 11.00 to 19.30
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist office at the Palacio de Guevara (telephone 968 441914) or go to the home page of Lorca Today.
staff.inc.and
Address
Calle Lope Gisbert, 12, LorcaTel: 968 441914
Oficina de Turismo de Lorca
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. Among these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish quarter of the castle and synagogue, 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 two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011, claiming 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.
The tourist office relocated for 14 years to Calle San Patricio, near the church, but has now returned to its former premises alongside the Palacio de Guevara in the Plaza Concha Sandoval, or Plaza de la Bordadora (click for map).
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 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 along difficult tracks or by boat!
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 series of processions 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.
Lorca also has a Parador hotel, located within the historic castle.
Opening hours for Lorca tourist office:
Every day of the year apart from 1st and 6th January and 25th December, 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 18.30 (except Sunday afternoons).
These opening times are often extended and other information points created during the Semana Santa celebrations.
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today
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