El Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, fantastic views and a great photo opportunity in Mazarron
A lovely walk up to the best views in Mazarrón
They say that God has all the best views, and that claim can certainly be verified in Mazarrón as the views from the foot of the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús are absolutely stunning.
The emblematic figure of Christ is perched right at the top of the Cabezo del Faro, the highest point of the rocky cliffs which envelop Mazarron, close to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was once the site of a watchtower, protecting the town from attack by Berber pirates, and formed part of a series of defences along the Murcia coastline, but this was demolished in order to construct the current structure. Nearby in La Azohía one of these defences structures remains, and behind the bus station in Puerto de Mazarrón is another.
The statue of Jesus, arms outstretched, looking out across the port and town of Mazarrón, was paid for by local residents. It was erected in June 1948 and provides a focal point for miles around, the tall white figure presenting a striking image on the cliff tops. Sadly, it's not particularly well maintained and there is often graffiti and rubbish in the area around it as it's also a popular meeting point for young people during the summer, but it's a nice place to head for a few atmospheric photos .
The road leading up to the statue is Subida del Faro Manuel Acosta, then Avenida de Maro Santo, and comes to a dead end before the lighthouse.
There is parking at the top, albeit, limited. If you're fairly fit, park at the bottom of the hill where there is plenty of parking and walk up.
It'w well worth going on beyond the statue for the views across Bolnuevo and along the coastline to Percheles. This is wild, rocky coastline, so be careful as the footpath is not particularly well conditioned and the ground is rough and rocky.
The area is littered with the remains of the smelting works which once stood here, and were active when Mazarrón was a booming mining town. At one time a rail track led up this hillside to feed the works at the top and bring down the finished product for onward transportation.
There are no safety rails and it's a steep drop to the sea below.
For more local information including events and news go to the home page of Mazarrón Today.
