May 2026

The Regional Government is promoting a network of interpretive viewpoints in the Ricote Valley to consolidate it as a 'slow' tourism destination

The Regional Government is promoting a network of interpretive viewpoints in the Ricote Valley to consolidate it as a 'slow' tourism destination.

The 'Among Palm and Lemon Trees' project has developed 14 viewpoints designed for landscape contemplation and birdwatching.

This initiative is part of the ACD 'Ricote Valley Slow' project, funded with €3.3 million from Next Generation EU funds.

More   Reference: https://www.carm.es/

September 2025 

Murmullo Festival Slow - Here the rhythm is set by the river

Valle De Ricote 2025 Ulea 13-14 Sept / Villanueva Del Río Segura 20-21 Sept /
Ojós 27-28 Sept / Ricote 4-5 Oct

Murmullo, the first slow festival in the Region of Murcia, invites you to explore the historical legacy of this region from a deeply unhurried and sensorial perspective, with concerts taking place in different open-air spaces in the Ricote Valley.

Over four consecutive weekends, a series of musical performances featuring renowned regional and national artists will offer offerings ranging from popular music to more contemporary sounds.

The festival will also include food tastings, workshops, immersive tours, walks through citrus orchards, and markets that will transform towns, squares, and landscapes into a grand meeting place for music, memory, and nature.

More   Reference: https://www.turismoregiondemurcia.es

Murmullo Festival Slow - Here the rhythm is set by the river

An intimate festival. It sounds soft, but it's felt deep inside.

In the heart of the Ricote Valley, where the Segura River meanders slowly and life seems to move at a different pace, murmullo is born, a gathering where music, culture, and nature unite for those seeking to stop, breathe, and reconnect.

For four weeks, the voices of the water, the wind through the lemon trees and the streets of Ojós, Villanueva del Río Segura, Ulea, and Ricote mingle with concerts, sensory walks, and workshops that awaken the senses.

Murmullo is not a festival for the masses. It's an intimate celebration of art, landscape, and shared time. A space to listen, to look slowly, and to let yourself be carried away by what makes no noise...be transformed.

Here, the rhythm is set by the river. And culture, like water, always finds its course.

More   Reference: https://www.murmullofestival.es

September 12, 2025

Cieza opens the new Los Olivos shopping center with 30 stores and more than 500 jobs

The Los Olivos shopping center in Cieza has finally kicked off. After a lengthy process, this Friday, September 12th, marked the first day of trading with the gradual opening of the 30 stores occupying this 26,000-square-meter facility, which will generate 500 jobs in the area. Consequently, the day began with early morning queues to access the facility.

Specifically, the brands with a presence in Los Olivos are Mercadona, Action, Marvimundo, Calzados Luna, Sprinter, Jysk, ITDS, Max Colchón, Pepco, Valencianísimos, MeToo Sushi, Bricocentro, B&B Hotels, McDonald’s, BP Service Station, La Boca Te Lía, Muebles Lola, Tedi, Foster’s Hollywood, Aqua Sport Clubs, Takos, Dpie, Küchen Moon, Salus, Coco Regalos, Miroko Park,´Guaw, Kiosko “El Olivo” and Iberdrola Bp-Pulse, in addition to a large Asian retail area.

More   Reference: murciaplaza.com
More   Reference: parquecomerciallosolivos.com 

Mayo, 2025

The MISEA project, funded by the State Secretariat for Tourism through Segittur, focuses on agritourism to promote the development of the Ricote Valley.

The goal, according to the Minister of the Regional Government, is to establish the Ricote Valley as a leading sustainable tourist destination in the interior of the country, attracting a new type of visitor and creating synergies between producers and tourism companies.

The agritourism experiences to be created are aimed at all types of audiences, but preferably at responsible tourists who are committed to the region and interested in history, authenticity, and sustainability.

The Ricote Valley is a region with the potential to develop a more sustainable tourism development model, more deeply rooted in its identity and better adapted to new market demands.

More    Reference: turismoregiondemurcia.es / itrem.es

May 04, 2025

The people of Murcia in an orchard that was the last refuge of the Moriscos in Spain

A Murcian Eden among irrigation ditches, palm trees, and ancient olive trees that preserves in every corner the memory of one of the key historical episodes in the country's history.

Among the arid mountains that cut across the Murcian sky lies another natural secret of visual impact, like the turquoise pool of Salto del Usero: a valley that is a green oasis, where water sings through ancient irrigation ditches and the air smells of orange blossom, lemon, and basil; where waterwheels turn, marking the passage of time for centuries; where narrow streets allow for a rural flânerie among whitewashed houses that hold the secrets of the last Moriscos of the Peninsula, just as Cervantes captured in the pages of Don Quixote when he gave voice to the "Morisco Ricote" in the second part of his monumental novel.

More    Reference: Viajes National Geographic España (report only available in Spanish)

March 11, 2025

National Geographic ranks Murcia as one of the best cities to live in Spain

Murcia has been recognized among the top four cities with the highest quality of life in Spain, thanks to its combination of exceptional cuisine, vibrant cultural life, and unique surroundings. From the flavors of the Murcian Huerta (orchard) to its festival and concert calendar, the city continues to establish itself as an ideal place to enjoy and live.

More    Reference: facebook.com

More    Reference: National Geographic

February 7, 2025

Oxox 131, a gastronomic journey in the heart of Ojós

The Oxox 131 restaurant is one of the hidden gems of Murcian gastronomy. It is worth taking a walk to the town of Ojós, in the heart of the Ricote Valley, to enjoy this special proposal that was launched three years ago by chef Freddy Salmerón and publicist Lucia Riquelme in a breathtaking location: an idyllic setting surrounded by nature where diners can enjoy beautiful views and a splendid culinary experience.

More    Reference: thegastrotimes.com

January 23, 2025

RICOTE VALLEY SLOW

On January 23, 2025, the ‘Ricote Valley Slow’ project was presented at Fitur, a Cohesion Action between Destinations (ACD) endowed with 3.3 million euros from Next Generation funds, in which the four municipalities of the Ricote Valley with the smallest population are involved: Ricote, Ojós, Ulea and Villanueva del Río Segura, and which aims to develop this destination based on its landscape, historical and cultural values.

The general objective is to turn the Ricote Valley into a centre of attraction for ‘slow’ tourism, which is enjoyed without stress, savouring every moment and living intensely the experiences it offers, so that it represents a quality alternative capable of diverting the tourist influx from sun and beach destinations.

More    Reference: ricote.es