Plaza de la Cruz Murcia

Also known as the Plaza de Hernández Amores and even the Plaza de las Cadenas

The Plaza de la Cruz is the name by which most Murcians recognise this plaza, although try to google it under that name and it doesn´t exist, a typical case of a little local knowledge going a long way when trying to find a free concert taking place in the city.

The Plaza de la Cruz is directly behind the Cathedral, and although it would be logical to attribute this name to the large stone cross positioned in the middle of the plaza, this is not actually the case, as the cross is a modern representation of an older tradition, which states that the name relates to a different cross, placed in a different position which used to mark the site of the former main altar of the first church built in this position when the city was conquered by the Christian forces of the Reconquist in 1243, the former mosque converted into a Christian church.

The site of the modern cathedral marks this same location, although substantial re-modellings re-aligned the building and moved the altar.
With time, the plazas around the outside of the cathedral were re-modelled, and a new cross erected in a different location to maintain the tradition of a stone cross marking the former location of the altar, even though the locals all know it actually doesn´t.

The plaza is often used for cultural events and concerts and is a centric part of the older area of Murcia Capital.

Looking directly at the front of the cathedral, walk around to the left and you’ll find the Plaza de la Cruz behind.
Click for map, Murcia Cathedral