Los Alcázares: Coast, Nature and History

Los Alcázares lies on the Mar Menor and combines seven kilometres of beach with a varied local history. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you are particularly interested in the coast, wildlife, historic buildings or events. These highlights range from a continuous seafront promenade to festivals featuring regional food and historical reenactments.

Coast and Nature on the Mar Menor

The Paseo Marítimo de Los Alcázares runs for about 5.5 kilometres along the continuous stretch of beaches at Las Salinas, Los Narejos, Las Palmeras, El Espejo, Manzanares, Carrión and Las Concha. This figure describes the length of the promenade. It should be distinguished from the seven kilometres of beach that Los Alcázares has on the Mar Menor: this figure refers to the extent of the town’s coastline. The named beaches provide concrete points of reference along the Paseo Marítimo.

At Playa la Hita, the focus is on the landscape and its birdlife. The area is a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA), with lush coastal vegetation and small wetlands. Wooden boardwalks and a birdwatching station make it possible to observe the coast while causing as little disturbance to wildlife as possible. The infrastructure may be altered for conservation work; if you plan to use the boardwalks or station, it is best to check their condition in advance.

Buildings and Aviation History

Torre del Rame is a rural defensive tower dating from the 16th century, located on what was then the boundary between the municipalities of Cartagena and Murcia. Don Diego Bienvengud Rosique, captain and councillor of Cartagena, had the tower built at the end of the 16th century. It was intended to protect Hoya Morena and El Ramí from frequent raids by Barbary pirates. The named places and the tower’s defensive purpose provide the historical context for its location.

The local history of aviation can also be explored through several stages. Spain’s first seaplane base was established in Los Alcázares in 1915. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the airfield had a seaplane base and a school for aerial combat and bombing. The early founding and later functions represent different periods in its history. At the Museo Aeronáutico Municipal, aircraft models and aerial photographs are displayed alongside helmets, weapons, propellers, sentry boxes and anti-aircraft guns. The collection on display may change.

The Iglesia parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción adds its own architectural history to these historical landmarks: work on the church began in 1898 on the site of a small oratory that had stood there since 1890. It was completed as a modest chapel in 1905. The documented dates trace the development from the former oratory to the later chapel.

Historic Bathhouses and Coastal Views

The Balneario de La Encarnación was the first hotel on the Mar Menor and became a centre of therapeutic tourism from the beginning of the 20th century. Its surviving features include a courtyard with Andalusian influences and original marble tubs and fittings for thermal baths. Access to the interior may vary. The Balneario Playa de La Concha reveals another side of coastal history: its historic wooden bathing platform over the sea was used for bathing and also serves as a coastal viewpoint. Access conditions may also change.

Festivals and Caldero

Día del Caldero is an established celebration held on 12 October. Visitors gather on the beaches of the Mar Menor, where Peñas prepare caldero in cast-iron pots and compete with their dishes. Dates and programmes may change, so check the specific event details before travelling. The dish also has a historical connection beyond the festival: caldero is considered the most famous dish of Los Alcázares and originated as a meal prepared by Mar Menor fishermen who fished for grey mullet.

Gastromar takes place every October and offers its own culinary focus. The programme includes a food market, tastings of regional products and live cooking demonstrations. Check the specific event dates before travelling. During the Incursiones Berberiscas, performances on the beach and in the town centre reenact historical events from the 16th and 17th centuries associated with pirate attacks on the coast of the Mar Menor. The annual programme may vary. The Incursiones Berberiscas in Los Alcázares have the status of a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest.

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