Traditional accommodation in Valencia and Murcia 

 Murcia and Valencia in brief:

The regions of Valencia and Murcia look steadfastly out to sea. In this dry central eastern part of Spain, it is on the coastal strip that the large majority of the population is concentrated; and it is a population that has vastly expanded in recent decades with the over-development of mile after mile of coastal resorts, "urbanizaciones" and their associated infrasructure. Yet the coastline is long, and along the Costa Blanca there are still some relatively unspoiled sections of beach, or rocky coves, for those who want to get away from the crowds.
    Apart from tourism, the main activity in this region is agriculture, particularly in the fertile valleys of Murcia, where large surfaces are given over to the production of fruit and vegetables. Valencia is the capital of the Spanish orange and citrus industry. The Moors introduced the cultivation of palm trees into this area, and the city of Elche, near Alicante, boasts Europe's only extensive palm groves.
    Generally speaking this is a dry region, and the hills inland from the coast are arid and rocky, like much of Spain.  Small villages  and towns cling to hillsides, or stand beside rivers or streams; but this inland area is sparsely populated, and a world apart from the thronging crowds of Benidorm or La Manga.
    Culturally, the region has plenty to offer, from the historic centres of Valencia and Murcia, to the palm groves of Elche and the moorish remains at Alicante, Lorca and elsewhere.

The Balearics: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, etc. These Mediterranean islands lie east of the Valencian coast.

A guide to the regions of Spain