With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the region of Murcia with the typical Mediterranean semi-arid subtropical climate, is a perfect destination for a holiday with warm in any season of the year.

Ricote Valley, a visual poem

In Murcia, where the shortage of rain produces an arid landscape, you will find a beautiful and fertile irrigated plains around the Segura River called Ricote Valley.

This spot is full of beautiful orchards of palms and fruit trees that contrast with the dry mountains that frame it.

You will enjoy the glossy and deepening green of the orchards, palms, fig trees and olives groves…, the yellow, purple, orange and violet of the fruits, the almond trees with white- pink flowers, and all surrounded by a bright blue sky and the especial scent of the orange blossom.

The Villages at Ricote Valley

Ricote Valley, also called Moorish valley, is a place steeped in history with a cultural heritage that has been enriched over the centuries by different communities.

It is a fertile plain that clings to its Arab heritage, as shown by the numerous remains from this period, including its irrigation systems: the waterwheels.

The 7 villages of Ricote Valley are:

Blanca

Blanca is situated by Segura River, where the river becomes a pool and opens into the narrow valley to flow through a steep and narrow gorge: “Desfiladero de Solvente”.

This village, where our cottages are situated, is very rich in history as it is reflected in the remains of its arab castle from XII century or San Juan Evangelista Church from XVI century. Other must see places of the village are: Lavadero de las Escanales, Casa de la Favorita, Miguelico Núñez waterwheel, the modern viewpoint called Alto Bayna and Virgen Blanca Viewpoint. Both offers to the visitor an incredibile view of the surrounding valley
The village also retains typical traditions of the Murcia countryside such as making esparto carpets.
Throughout the year, a series of cultural activities and sportive events are planned by Blanca Town Hall. These events are shown on Victoria Theatre, Villa de Blanca Showroom, Light and Water Interpretation Center, House of Culture and Municipal Pool.

Just 5 km from Blanca is situated the village of Abarán.
In Abarán, visitors can follow a route that will lead them to four of the many waterwheels, or "norias" as they are known in the area, which transport water from the river to irrigate the most distant plains.

Ojós, Ulea, Ricote and Villanueva de Río Segura
All villages located at the valley well worth a visit. Orchards of palms and lemon-trees offer a landscape of indescribable beauty.
In all of them the visitors will find traces of a past steeped in history.
Solvente Gorge, situated very close to our cottages, will leave you open mouthed.

Archena
In its famous Spa, you will enjoy the termalium pools: an area with two large and modern thermal pools where a great variety of hydrothermal services outstand; a place to recover your vitality, enjoy leisure and rest. The facilities count with different types of cervical and lumbar water spurts, water currents, waterfalls, jacuzzis and water beds.

Mountain Ranges

In Ricote Hills we can find rosemary, honeysuckle, lavender, and another 80 kinds of medicinal and aromatic plants.
In this area, with a high ecological value, lives more than six hundred plant species, rich in pines -part of a reforestation program-, oaks, rosemary, thyme, junipers, kermes oak, mastic and arbutus although are the albaida, the evergreen, pink rock rose petals, the stick of San José, the orchid and the “ nun cushion” that give color to its slopes.
Among the fauna, we can find foxs, wild cats, martens, partridges, rabbits, boars and plenty of beautiful squirrels. Birds such as peregrine falcons, owls, goshawks, eagles and choughs.