MEDD

Your first glimpse of Murcia will be from a hilltop upon which the church Santuario de la Fuensanta is perched. Marvel at the Baroque architecture and the altar set against a glowing golden backdrop and enjoy stunning views of Murcia and the surrounding countryside. Arriving in the historic city center, you will stroll narrow pedestrian lanes where cafés and eateries spill onto the sidewalks and history unfolds in all directions. Stop to admire the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of the Catedral de Murcia, 300 years in the making.

Thousands of years of history unfold as you stroll the streets of Cartagena and discover relics of civilizations that thrived here millennia ago. Listen for echoes of laughter and celebration in ancient structures where Roman banquets were held, and imagine the thunderous applause that rang out in the 7,000-seat Roman theater built in the 1st century BC. As you stroll through the ruins of Roman baths, you may feel certain that you detect the aroma of red wine wafting from the clay pots.

Personal chef and caterer Amor González built her culinary reputation through pop-up and clandestine dinners in unexpected locations and private gatherings at her own home-workshop, the Casa Taller Birdie. You’ll travel from Cartagena to her cottage near the Mar Menor. Inside this 19th-century house, with its traditional wood stove and bohemian-eclectic décor, the self-taught Gonzalez will guide you in making a home-style bread. Then you’ll sit down to enjoy a traditional multi-course lunch accompanied by your fresh-baked bread.

On a horse ranch owned by the same family for more than 40 years, you will come into contact with the beautiful Andalusian, a Spanish purebred horse renowned for its strength and elegance. Descended from horses on the Iberian Peninsula thousands of years ago, Andalusians are recognizable for their long, flowing manes. On the farm you will learn about this intelligent and sensitive breed and witness their grace firsthand in a training demonstration.

From high above the city skyline at the Arrecife Gran Hotel, you will have magnificent views of Arrecife and El Reducto Beach as the setting sun dances across the Atlantic. While the highest building on the island can’t compete with the mountain ranges that loom in the distance, this five-star hotel provides you with fantastic views accompanied by your favorite after-dinner drink and live music to set the tone.