A place to feel the heartbeats of Murcia, where different styles of architecture collide.
Plaza de Cardenal Belluga is the historical centre of Murcia. In this square you can feel the life in Murcia through different decades and centuries. Starting from (In my opinión) the most impressing building in Murcia- The Cathedral of Santa Maria the “Ayuntamiento de ciudad/ Casa consistorial” which is built in neo-classicism style, the “Episcopial palace” and the very newly built City Hall of Murcia and many restaurants and tapas bars. I love it because it’s a combination of so many different styles of architecture, side by side to each other existing in harmony. This square is one of the Murcia’s symbols and is loved by inhabitants and tourists. Whenever some new Erasmus student or a friend came to Murcia, this was the place we visited the first. Taking pictures of Cathedral, dining in one of the restaurants with a magnificent view of Santa Maria and trying most popular tapas like Russian salad, fried potatoes with salsa, paella, squid rings, and mussels accompanied with Spanish wine or sangría. All the times I have had dinner in this square the one and the same man in his late 50thies has been serving me, which in my opinión makes this place absolutly cute. It is always full of people- it’s like a heart of Murcia- always beating with a noise of people talking and footsteps while people crossing the square during the day, closer to the evening you can see all the restaurants full with people dining, talking and musician bands playing Spanish romances.
The Cardenal Belluga square is the official place for religious celebrations. Esspecially beautiful it is in the “Feria de Christianos y Morros” in September, when city celebrates its origin with parades and religious events in plaza de Cardenal Belluga.
The other famous building in this square is “Episcopal Palace Murcia”, which was built as a residence for bishop Mateo for him to be able to admire the newly built Cathedral from his residence. It was built in 18th century and I really don’t know what is happening inside it right now, but for me is even more interesting- to imagine how was it back in the days, when bishop were living there and going out in one of the many balconies to admire the city at his feet.
Almost next to the Episcopal Palace is the very new and very modern building of Murcia City hall by the architect Jose Rafael Moneo. The first time I saw it I was shocked- how it is possible to put such a different object in such a historical and religious place in Murcia. It feels strange how something so different from other buildings can find its place in this square. But that is what I love about it- it’s almost as with humans- many generations living together, coexisting, and it is the same in the daily life of people of Murcia- different generations and types of people coexisting: people going to the Cathedral to pray, busy people crossing the square in a hurry to catch a bus in the following square- Glorieta de Espana, people having meals and conversations in restaurants and cafes located in the same place, tourists making pictures, young people riding skateboards.
My apartment is located near this place and if I have to choose the way to get to some place in city centre I will try, as often as possible, to cross this square, just to feel the excitement when crossing the corner of Ayunamiento in front of my eyes appears the Cathedral in its glory. This is and definitely will be the place that I’m going to show to people visiting Murcia. I will take them to eat tapas in one of the many restaurants with a view of cathedral and will try to make them feel the heartbeats of Murcia. This is definitely a symbol of Murcia, a MUST visit place that will make an impression to everyone.
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