PROPERTY SEARCH
New park-and-ride car facility planned at entrance to Caravaca's historic centre
The new facility will include bicycle parking, accessible spaces and a rest area for visitors, pilgrims and residents
Work is underway on a new park-and-ride facility in Caravaca de la Cruz that will create around 50 parking spaces close to one of the main access points to the town's historic centre.
The new car park is being built on Calle Las Monjas, beside the Uribe Bridge and directly opposite the Fiesta Museum, on a site that was previously unused.
Caravaca Town Hall says the project is designed to make it easier for residents, visitors and pilgrims to reach the old town while helping to improve traffic flow and accessibility in one of the municipality's busiest areas.
The development forms part of the Camino a Caravaca Tourism Sustainability Plan and is being funded through European Next Generation funds. The total investment amounts to €58,171.
Mayor José Francisco García visited the site this week alongside the councillor for urban planning and municipal technicians to check on progress.
"This project allows us to reclaim a previously degraded and unused space for public use, transforming it into an infrastructure that will improve mobility and accessibility to the historic centre," Mayor García said during his visit.
The new facility is being created on a municipal plot of almost 2,000m² in a prominent location opposite the Tourist Office and Fiesta Museum.
Alongside standard parking spaces, the plans include designated bays for people with reduced mobility, bicycle parking to encourage more sustainable transport and a small gathering and rest area aimed at enhancing the experience for visitors arriving in the town.
The project also includes access improvements, fencing, ground preparation and the installation of the various facilities planned for the site.
As part of the wider transformation, a large mural is being painted overlooking the new parking area by Cartagena-based urban artist Kraser, whose real name is José Jorge Nicolás Salas.
The artwork will offer a contemporary interpretation of the arrival of Ferdinand the Catholic in Caravaca in 1488, blending local history with modern urban art in a prominent location at the gateway to the old town.
The land was transferred to the town hall by the Regional Government of Murcia. It was previously occupied by a building that suffered severe fire damage before being demolished, leaving the vacant plot now being redeveloped.
Officials believe the combination of improved parking and the new public artwork will help create a more welcoming entrance to one of the Region of Murcia's most important historic and religious destinations.
For more local news, events and visiting information contact the local tourist office (telephone 968 702424) or go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
