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Until May 12 Calasparra rice gastronomic festival in Lorca

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27 bars and restaurants offer special dishes featuring the prestigious rice grown in north-west Lorca

Until May 12 Calasparra rice gastronomic festival in Lorca Another edition of the popular Calasparra rice gastro-festival is being held this spring in Lorca, with numerous local bars and restaurants participating and competing to win the vote of those who try their dishes over the four weekend of the event.

The establishments taking part are Cerveceria Las Columnas, La Mafia se Sienta a la Mesa, Gastrobar Cañarejo, Restaurante Paredes, Taberna La Cepa, Restaurante La Peña, Axo Restaurante, Gastrobar La Plaza, Mirrin, Mesón Lorquino, Tebeo, Phelans Irish Pub, Mesón de Jani, Asador Murciano, Cuatro Bellotas, La Alameda, Asador El Consejero, El Parloteo, Bangalore, Casa Roberto, Temperato Felice Gelato, Bar Carreras, La Alacena, Restaurante Los Cazorlos, Las Caballerizas del Castillo de Lorca and the Escuela de Hostelería at the IES San Juan Bosco. Each of the restaurants joining in this year offers a special dish with Calasparra rice as the star ingredient, and diners who try at least five dishes are eligible for a prize draw in which the winners will receive trips to the rice fields and tasting events. Further details are available in Spanish here.

The rice of Calasparra

Despite rice being one of the commonest foods on the planet it is a relatively rare sight to see the product being cultivated in Europe, but in Calasparra in the north-west of the Region of Murcia it is actually one of the mainstays of the local agricultural sector!

At around three quarters of a million tons per year Spain is only the 43rd most important rice-producing nation in the world (and the second in Europe, after Italy), but Calasparra rice is particularly prestigious and renowned for its quality. In 1986 the “bomba” rice of Calasparra was the first in the country to be awarded its own Denomination of Origin status, and it goes without saying that this cereal is one of the main elements on which the local cuisine is based.

When visiting Lorca one of your first ports of call should be the tourist office in Plaza de España (telephone 968 441914, email lorcaturismo@lorca.es).

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Lorca Today.

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Plaza de Espana, 30800 Lorca

Tel: 968 441914 (Fax 968 466157)

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Oficina de Turismo de Lorca

Lorca Tourist Office

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. Amongst these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish Quarter of the castle and Synagogue, Lorca Tourist Office 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 an earthquake which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011 and claimed 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.

Lorca Tourist Office The tourist office itself has temporarily relocated until the renovations are completed and is on Calle San Patricio near the church.

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 Lorca Tourist Office 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 through agricultural exploitations.

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 Lorca Tourist Office series of parades 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.