Caravaca unveils its new town centre Plaza
The Plaza de los Armaos de la Vera Cruz is another step in revitalising the centre of Caravaca de la Cruz
The Caravaca de la Cruz Town Council has begun building a new public plaza on the road leading to the Castle’s entrance with the aim of further revitalising the historic town centre. Due to be completed in late May, the project carries an investment of 60,000 euros and forms part of the initiatives outlined in the ‘Road to Caravaca’ Tourism Sustainability Strategy.
Mayor José Francisco García and Tourism Councillor José Santiago Villa recently inspected the location situated in the mediaeval quarter, generously donated to the Council by the Cuevas Family, previous owners of the property on Cuesta del Castillo.
Mayor García announced that the square will be named ‘Plaza de los Armaos de la Vera Cruz’ and added “that this project not only represents an aesthetic and beautifying contribution to the environment, but also fulfils one of the priority objectives of the Tourism Sustainability Plan, which is the improvement of visitor-oriented services, since it will be a rest area for pilgrims and tourists before they face the final climb to the Basilica of the Vera Cruz.”The picturesque plaza will feature plenty of green and natural spaces in the form of planters, flower pots and climbing shrubs. Where the street slopes, the square will be divided into two distinct sections: one with a decorative fountain and another designed as a resting spot. Three kinds of interlocking paving materials will be used – solid herringbone bricks, clay tiles and cobblestones.
This town square’s construction has been made possible by financing from the Tourism Sustainability Plan. This initiative comprises twenty projects supported by more than 4 million euros from EU Next Generation funds under Spain’s Transformation and Resilience Recovery Plan.These ventures mainly focus on preserving cultural heritage, improving visitor facilities and establishing fresh green spaces. Some of these completed initiatives include enhancing the Caballos del Vino Winery at the House-Museum, refurbishing the San Sebastián church, creating a Pilgrim Reception Centre, building a massive vertical garden, painting a mural about the legend of the Vera Cruz appearance, launching the ‘Jubilee Experiences’ program and implementing the Urban Mobility Plan.
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Images: Ayuntamiento de Caravaca de la Cruz
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 17 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702 424 / 968 701 003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the dedicated Caravaca de la Cruz section.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the North-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the World, a centre of Pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003, the next one in 2017.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a 
turbulent Mediaeval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with it's impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular, being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for it´s important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and borders with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Granada and Almería.
Opening times:
1st October to 31st May
Monday to Friday, 10am to 2.30pm and 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
Saturday, 10.30am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm.
Sunday and bank holiday, 10.30am to 2pm
1st June to 30th September.
Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.
Saturday, 10.30am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm.
Sunday and bank holiday, 10.30am to 2pm.
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
