Date Published: 08/05/2024

Lorca beach awarded a Blue Flag for the eighth year running

The Region of Murcia has secured 33 Blue Flags for its exceptional beaches in 2024

La Cala de Calnegre has joined the ranks of the Region of Murcia greats once again after being honoured with a coveted Blue Flag for 2024. This picturesque cove is the only coastline in Lorca to be bestowed with the honour, which highlights the “pure excellence” of the sandy stretch, according to Councillor for Tourism of the Lorca City Council, Santiago Parra Soriano.

Calnegre was the recipient of the first Blue Flag for quality beaches ever awarded to the municipality of Lorca in 2017.

“This year this achievement is repeated after continuing to comply with the different quality parameters and standards and having developed the necessary environmental information and education activities, so we have to be proud that we are valued for what we already knew: that Cala de Calnegre is an exceptional place to enjoy the environment, the sea and tourism, and the reissue of the Blue Flag confirms this,” said the Tourism Councillor.

Indeed, the entire Region can be proud, since it managed to snag 33 flags this year which it will be able to proudly fly from June.

In order to secure the accolade, La Cala de Calnegre has complied with the quality standards for bathing water, carrying out analyses every 30 days during the bathing season and adding at least eight a year, and the physical-chemical parameters have been controlled to verify that the pH is within normal range, that there is no floating pollution and that there are no wastewater discharges.

It has also been taken into account that the beach has a cleaning plan, has containers and selective waste collection, the presence of qualified rescue equipment, first aid equipment and easy and safe access.

The beach is also accessible for people with mobility difficulties and all coastal services, facilities, contact numbers and security details are clearly displayed.

Spain, which continues to lead the world ranking, has a total of 747 blue flags for this summer.

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

Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca

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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.