The Palacio Episcopal - murcia car hire

The Palacio Episcopal closes the south side of the cathedral square. It was started in 1748, in a rococo style with neoclassic influences on which a number of master stonemasons from the cathedral works took an active part. The rear façade includes the popular Martillo, overlooking the river Segura and la Glorieta gardens, the most beloved and popular of all squares, and conceived as a great open space according to baroque canons. The coat of arms on the main balcony refers to Bishop Rojas. The palace was concluded under his mandate in 1768. On both sides of the palace are yet other examples of the XVIII century, the two impressive piles of the colegio mayor de San Fulgencio and the Colegio de teologos de San Isidro, completing the urban layout of Belluga square. Both these colleges were promoted by Cardinal Belluga while he was bishop of Cartagena. The two buildings, adapted for modern uses as a secondary school and a school of drama, showing the traditional pink and yellow stucco of Murcian baroque, still visible today in many dwelling around the outskirts of the city.

From this time also is the refurbishment and improvement of el Malecón ( the jetty) a rathe curious containment wall built in the XV century to protect the city from the river floods.

However it was religious architecture that experienced the most significant period of prosperity in this golden century, both in Murcia and in the Region as a whole. Many churches were erected in the city some of them entirely new and most of them using the remains of older chapels and medieval convents. Such are the cases of Veronicas, Santo Domingo, Las Anas, San Miguel, Santa Eulalia or San Nicolas.

The latter is a mognificent example of Murcian religious baroque art. It was started in 1735, following plans of architect Jose Perez of Madrid, and supported with donations from a local patron, Doctor Diego Lopez Zapata. The church has a latin cross plan with four monastic chapels on the sides.

The façade dominated by a medallion of the Saint from Bari, is a mixture of ashlar work and brick by Perez again. The main altarpiece was built by Jaime Bort, the artist in charge of the cathedral´s façade.