Forgotten Moorish Sites in Murcia Hold Treasures Yet to Be Discovered

The city and Taifa (emirate or petty kingdom) of Murcia were founded during the period of Moorish occupation in Spain. When the Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula in 711 AD they were able to hold their rule for 500 years. However, when the Christians conquered the area again, the Taifa of Murcia and many of its treasures gradually became lost over time and space. Nonetheless, the modern city of Murcia was built on top of old dwellings, and some fragmented remains of Moorish buildings can be seen at various points of the city today. In its essence, Murcia is a city with over a thousand years of history and some architectural unification.

The Foundation of Murcia

When the city of Murcia was the capital of the Kingdom of Murcia, it was a great city that included a huge settlement, defensive and fortified towers, and as many as nine gates on the banks of the river Segura. The city could have been called a Kingdom in its own right and it was deeply interrelated with the Moors.