Experience the best of Murcia

Murcia sits in the broad Segura valley in south-east Spain, ringed by dry hills, and its flat, irrigated huerta of lemon, orange and apricot trees and vegetable plots has been farmed since Moorish times. The cathedral mixes Gothic and Baroque, with an ornate west front and a bell tower of 92 metres, and the Plaza Cardenal Belluga in front of it is the heart of the city.

The Salzillo Museum shows the carved wooden figures of Francisco Salzillo, the Baroque sculptor, which are carried through the streets at Easter. The Casino, a nineteenth-century social club, has opulent halls and a Moorish patio. Cartagena, with its Roman theatre, and the lagoon and beaches of the Mar Menor lie to the south-east.

Zarangollo, a scramble of courgette, onion and egg, and paparajotes, lemon leaves dipped in batter and fried, are among the dishes of the huerta, with fresh vegetables and salads at every meal. The week after Easter brings the Burial of the Sardine, a lively street festival. Orange blossom scents the air in spring, and summers are among the hottest in Spain.