Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

Originally settled by the Iberians, the Spanish town of Lorca in the region of Murcia was called Eliocroca by the Romans during their occupation of Spain. Now a large town with a population of around 90,000 it is also the capital of a municipality of the same name. The old town of Lorca still shows evidence of the Arab occupation (then known as Lurka), with narrow winding streets and alleyways. Built around the Guadalentin River (“Mud River”), it is in an agricultural area which depends highly on water transported from the River Tagus in central Spain. During the “Reconquest” Lorca was a dangerous border town, with constant skirmishes between Moors and Christians. Worth a visit in Lorca is the medieval fortress, the Plaza Mayor, the 16^th century Granary, the 17^th century Geuvara Palace and a number of 18^th century Baroque churches. Lorca Map.