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La Manga del Mar Menor Today
La Manga del Mar Menor – an introduction
It seems incredible now, but until approximately 60 years ago La Manga del Mar Menor was of interest almost exclusively to geographers, who knew it as a 22-kilometre spit of land which protrudes from the headland of Cabo de Palos and encloses the Mar Menor, the saltwater lagoon which, with an area of 170 square kilometres, is the largest in Europe.
When the Civil War ended in 1939 there was barely any evidence of human activity on La Manga, apart from a couple of windmills and the archaeological remains, both on land and offshore, which provide evidence that humans have lived in the area for thousands of years.
How times have changed. In the 1960s the first tourist infrastructures and high-rise blocks were built, and in the course of just a couple of decades La Manga went from an all but unknown landscape feature to one of the busiest beach reports in Spain, attracting tens of thousands of summer visitors from all over Spain every year.
At the same time, La Manga Club, which is not on the narrow spit itself but near the village of Los Belones, close to Cabo de Palos, made sure that the name of La Manga was known internationally, and at the end of the twentieth century the number of foreign residents living on the “strip” rose and the year-round population increased as a consequence. By 2013 the population was reported to be just over 17,000.
La Manga today is without any doubt one of the most cosmopolitan places in the Region of Murcia and the Costa Cálida, with the only possible exceptions being La Manga Club and the airport! The permanent population is sufficient to support a variety of businesses and there are both primary and secondary schools, and despite the administrative ambiguity caused by it falling into the territories governed by two Town Halls (San Javier and Cartagena) it is a town in its own right, albeit an unusual one.
The main north-south road which runs the length of La Manga is an essential part of life here, and is the spine which joins all of the community together (although it becomes very crowded in summer). The geography of the spit is such that inevitably the southern end receives more visitors and was the first part to be developed, simply because it’s the first area where visitors arrive from the mainland. The first developments here included the Torre Varadero and the Torre Zeus, which are still the two tallest buildings in the municipality of Cartagena, and shopping centres and a plethora and bars and restaurants arrived with the first summer visitors. These are still in evidence and are replicated in varying styles all along the spit, although with less intensity at the far northern end where the land peters out opposite the regional park of the wetlands and salt flats of San Pedro del Pinatar.
The resort still attracts hordes of visitors every summer, and will continue to do so for as long as it resists the threat posed by global warning and rising sea levels. The reasons for this are various, but the most important are without a doubt the beaches and the water sports on offer in the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean.
The choice between the calm water of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean just a short walk away is one which offers something for practically everyone, and all along its length the beaches of La Manga are sandy and clean. At the same time three marinas in the Mar Menor provide mooring for over 2,000 boats, and for those learning to sail, water-ski or become an expert in countless other aquatic sports the Mar Menor is an ideal training ground: not only are high waves unknown, but at the same time there is normally a strong breeze throughout the year, although of course there are days in summer when this is absent.
It has to be said that La Manga is not liked by everyone. The fact that it was born as a town so recently means that it inevitably lacks the historical importance and traditions of other parts of the Costa Cálida, and of course there are no old buildings or quaint winding streets to give the place what is often referred to as “character”.
But on the other hand, La Manga del Mar Menor has a character of its own, and it makes an important contribution not only to the tourism sector of the regional economy but also to the variety of the Region of Murcia and the Costa Cálida: no-one should claim to have seen Murcia if they haven’t visited La Manga!
One of the most important summer holiday destinations in the Region of Murcia
It seems incredible now, but until approximately 70 years ago La Manga del Mar Menor was of interest almost exclusively to geographers, who knew it as a 22-kilometre spit of land which protrudes from the headland of Cabo de Palos and encloses the Mar Menor, the saltwater lagoon which, with an area of 170 square kilometres, is the largest in Europe.
When the Civil War ended in 1939 there was barely any evidence of human activity on La Manga,apart from a couple of windmills and archaeological remains, both on land and offshore, which provide evidence that humans have lived in the area for thousands of years.
How times have changed. In the 1960s the first tourist infrastructures and high-rise blocks were built, and in the course of just a couple of decades La Manga went from an all but unknown landscape feature to one of the busiest beach resorts in Spain, attracting tens of thousands of summer visitors from all over Spain every year.
At the same time, La Manga Club, which is not on the narrow spit itself but near the village of Los Belones, made sure that the name of La Manga was known internationally, and at the end of the twentieth century the number of foreign residents living on the “strip” rose and the year-round population increased as a consequence. By 2013 the population was reported to be just over 17,000.
La Manga today is without any doubt one of the most cosmopolitan places in the Region of Murcia and the Costa Cálida. The permanent population is sufficient to support a variety of businesses and there are both primary and secondary schools, and despite the administrative ambiguity caused by it falling into the territories governed by two Town Halls (San Javier and Cartagena) it is a town in its own right, albeit an unusual one.
The main north-south road which runs the length of La Manga is an essential part of life here, and is the spine which joins all of the community together (although it becomes very crowded in summer). The geography of the spit is such that inevitably the southern end, which starts at Km0 by Cabo de Palos, receives more visitors and was the first part to be developed, simply because it’s the first area where visitors arrive from the mainland. The first developments here included the Torre Varadero and the Torre Zeus, which are still the two tallest buildings in the municipality of Cartagena, and shopping centres and a plethora and bars and restaurants arrived with the first summer visitors. These are still in evidence and are replicated in varying styles all along the spit, although with less intensity at the far northern end where the land peters out opposite the regional park of the salt flats and sand dunes of San Pedro del Pinatar.
The resort still attracts hordes of visitors every summer, due mostly to the beaches and water sports on offer in both the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean.
The choice between the calm water of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean just a short walk away is one which offers something for practically everyone, and all along its length the beaches of La Manga are sandy and clean. At the same time three marinas in the Mar Menor provide mooring for over 2,000 boats, and for those learning to sail, water-ski or become an expert in countless other aquatic sports the Mar Menor is an ideal training ground: high waves are unknown and there is normally a strong breeze throughout the year, although of course there are days in summer when this is absent.
There is also a regular ferry service from La Manga to San Pedro del Pinatar and San Javier.
It has to be said that La Manga is not liked by everyone. The fact that it was born as a town so recently means that it inevitably lacks the historical monuments and traditions of other parts of the Costa Cálida, and of course there are no old buildings or quaint winding streets to give the place what is often referred to as “character”.
But on the other hand, La Manga del Mar Menor has a character of its own, and it makes an important contribution not only to the tourism sector of the regional economy but also to the variety of the Region of Murcia and the Costa Cálida.
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Mar Menor, things to doProperty Mar Menor areaHistory and local informationShopping and marketsLocal services, facilitiesTourist Information OfficesMedical and doctors infoWhere to eat in La MangaChurches, fiestas and traditionsBeaches in La MangaAccommodation La Manga del Mar MenorSports facilities and eventsTransportPolice, Town hall, Useful InfoBeaches La Manga del Mar Menor WebpageLocal newsWhat's on in La Manga
LA MANGA DEL MAR MENOR
Mar Menor, things to doProperty Mar Menor areaHistory and local informationShopping and marketsLocal services, facilitiesTourist Information OfficesMedical and doctors infoWhere to eat in La MangaChurches, fiestas and traditionsBeaches in La MangaAccommodation La Manga del Mar MenorSports facilities and eventsTransportPolice, Town hall, Useful InfoBeaches La Manga del Mar Menor WebpageLocal newsWhat's on in La Manga
Christmas activities at Espacio Mediterráneo shopping centre, CartagenaThere are prizes to be won, toy-making workshop, a Christmas light switch-on ceremony and more taking place this festive season The Christmas elf is out and about in Espacio Mediterráneo and has turned the Cartagena shopping centre into a factory.. 29/11/2024
A busy Christmas in store at the Domus Vi Ciudad de Murcia residence in the regional capital!Festive activities to promote social and emotional wellbeing for residents at DomusVI centres all over Spain Christmas means many different things to different people, but for the staff at DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia the traditional aspects of the festive.. 26/11/2024
1.8 million for road upgrades around the Mar MenorMajor roadworks are getting underway in La Manga and San Pedro del Pinatar The Region of Murcia is investing heavily in road improvements around the Mar Menor, focusing on key routes in La Manga and San Pedro del Pinatar, aiming to enhance safety.. 25/11/2024
Rising seas will consume large areas of the Murcia coast by 205018 square kilometres could be lost to the sea by 2100 due to climate change The coastal areas of San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier, Los Alcázares and Cartagena on the Mar Menor are set to be the most heavily affected places of the.. 19/11/2024
Two Brits dead after drug boat causes crash on La Manga motorwayThe deceased were in Murcia for a golfing holiday when the accident happened Anoche un grupo criminal provocó un accidente en la autovía de la Manga a la altura de El Algar (Cartagena) matando a dos personas e hiriendo a otras.. 18/11/2024
Rent this excellently refurbished golf bungalow in La Manga Club golf resortLocated near the Grand Hyatt Hotel, this short-term rental accommodation is perfect for a golfing experience Do not miss your chance to stay in this fantastic 2-bedroom bungalow at the La Manga Club golfing resort in Murcia. With a.. 07/11/2024
New rubbish tip near La Manga Club and La Unión to open early in 2025The idea of building this new waste and recycling point is to provide garbage disposal services for people in Pozo Estrecho, La Palma and El Albujón Cartagena City Council has launched a tender to build a new rubbish waste tip, known in Spain.. 05/11/2024
La Manga scuba diver discovers 200-year-old shipwreckThe steamship recently discovered off the Murcia coast has a hole in it that could have been made by a cannonball It was mid-October and the conditions for diving in the Mediterranean Sea just off La Manga del Mar Menor were perfect. The sea was calm.. 30/10/2024
Mar Menor development plan faces further delays, with only one phase completed in four yearsEnvironmental groups and local politicians have expressed frustration as delays continue for the Mar Menor protection plan The ‘Plan de Ordenación del Mar Menor’ building plan, which is designed to regulate land use and activities.. 23/10/2024
Ferry service between Santiago de la Ribera and La Manga del Mar MenorThe ferry operates an all year-round service across the Mar Menor There is a ferry service across the Mar Menor between the jetty at Santiago de la Ribera’s Playa Barnuevo and the Puerto Tomás Maestre, in La Manga del Mar Menor.. 22/10/2024
Ecocorp Solar: A trusted family business since 2007A solar energy company you can trust that speaks your language Serving the entire Almería province and beyond, Ecocorp Solar SL has been designing and installing customised solar power systems since 2007. With a deep understanding of their.. 15/10/2024
Experience professional-quality massage therapy at home with EurospasGet your very own masseur or masseuse for your home! Imagine having access to a professional-quality massage any time you want, right from the comfort of your home. With Eurospas’ premium range of hot tubs and spas, this dream becomes a reality.. 09/10/2024
La Manga Club: The ideal destination for property investmentThanks to its excellent sports and leisure facilities, La Manga Club is the perfect thriving and active community to purchase property in Spain La Manga Club, in the Region of Murcia, is more than just a resort – it’s a thriving, active.. 12/09/2024
Relax and rejuvenate with Eurospas, the leading hot tub and spa provider in SpainBritish-run company Eurospas deliver hot tub products and provide installation services across all of mainland Spain Imagine soaking in a luxurious hot tub, cool drink in hand, as you bask in your Spanish home. Whether you’re looking for a way to..
Colina del Emperador: stunning boutique hotel situated in the heart of La MangaThe stylish Colina del Emperador is uniquely situated on the shores of the Mar Menor Tucked away in the heart of La Manga lies the stunning boutique hotel Colina del Emperador. This stylish retreat is uniquely situated on the shores of the Mar Menor.. 27/08/2024
The best natural balconies with Mediterranean views in the Region of Murcia!Top viewing points from La Manga del Mar Menor to Águilas Source: ITREM Wherever you go in the Mediterranean, if offered the choice you’ll always opt for a place with a balcony and a sea view, and in the Region of Murcia nature provides a..
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