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Street lighting for the Caravaca-Cehegín greenway
287,000 people used the walk in 2025 between visitors, locals, walkers and cyclists
The Greenway of North-West of Murcia is currently being improved in several ways, and after the re-surfacing of a 28-kilometre stretch it has now been confirmed that the next steps include the installation of street lighting on the route between neighbouring Caravaca and Cehegín.
The new lighting requires an investment of some 260,000 euros but it is considered more than worthwhile taking into account the number of walkers and cyclists who use the route. It is estimated that last year the figure reached around 287,000, making it one of the main attractions for visitors to the north-west of Murcia.
This week the route welcomed three local dignitaries as they inspected the greenway, namely the Mayors of Caravaca and Cehegín, José Francisco García and Alicia del Amor respectively, along with Carmen Conesa, the minister for Tourism in the regional government, and Juan Francisco Martínez, the director of the Murcia regional tourist board. During the visit Sr García pointed out that as well as being a magnet for visitors, the greenway is a part of daily life in Cehegín and Caravaca, as the locals use it as a pleasant and healthy walk every day of the week.
At the same time, of course, it is an important element in the drive towards sustainable tourism in the north-west of Murcia, and the improvements planned also include the planting of native species of flora alongside, such as carob trees, esparto grass, thyme, rosemary, fig trees, elms and others.
In addition, improved rainwater drainage infrastructures are to be created, collecting water for the watering of the plants in the vicinity.
For more local news, events and visiting information contact the local tourist office (telephone 968 702424) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Caravaca de la Cruz tourist office
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 Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is 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 and the next in 2024.
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 medieval 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 its 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 its 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 shares boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Tourist office opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
