Central Murcia - newer parts

- Hotel Nelva, Las Atalayas, Ronda Levante, Torre Norte, skylines and views


The City Centre of Murica is very beautiful, mostly consisting of an Old Town with beautiful historical buildings. Surrounding these old parts are modernist midrises, about 6-10 stories high, shopping malls and especially large traffic circles along Ronda Levante, the busy road that passes just to the North of the old town. The largest traffic circle is called Plaza Circular, has six lanes and a huge fountain in the middle.The modern lightrail tram pass through many of these traffic circles, where spectacular sculptures and fountains are placed in the middle. Plaza San Juan XXIII is also a notable one. Las Atalayas is a business and shopping complex just next to our hotel. Here you find Murcia's tallest, and most outstanding skyscrapers, the 23-storey Las Atalayas twin towers, built in 2007 at a height of 90m each. There are plans to build a taller one, the 23-storey Torre Norte, at least counting roof height, but the construction site has been on hold for a while now (2016). It was scheduled to be completed in 2011, but it just consists of an empty skyscraper skeleton that can be seen from all over the city!
Torre Godoy, Torre JC1 and Torre Medi are some modern office highrises with 16-19 floors built the last 10 years.

Hotel Nelva, where we stayed for one night after the Murcia day tour, is a 4-star hotel, built in 2005. It has 8 floors and 250 rooms. This hotel was our favourite of all hotels during our trip to Murcia, Valencia and Costa Blanca. Even though it is a 4-star hotel it should be rated 5 stars, since it resembles luxorious chain hotels in Asia. Yet it is very cheap for this standard, about 50 euros a night (excluding breakfast and parking). Nelva has a very tasteful interior in muted colors and a helpful staff who pointed out the main sights in Murcia to us. Our bathroom had both a separate shower with different functions and two wash basins. The bed was very comfortable. Triangular glass elevators take one down to the large pool area outside and the nice breakfast room. The wi-fi was also good and there were enough of electronic plugs. Our room had a tasteful dark interior. The location is about 10 minutes walk from the old town (and trams stop near), right next to Las Atalayas business/shopping complex and a busy traffic circle. This could be a negative thing for some people, but I mostly enjoyed watching the busy Saturday night traffic from above.

Murcia new part 01 - there are many traffic circles in the modern parts just North of the city center , many of them have sculptures in the middle. Murcia new part 02 - modern buildings surround the old parts of Murcia. Murcia new part 03 - Las Atalayas, 90m high 23-storey twin skyscrapers from 2007. Hotel Nelva, our hotel (4 star), bult in 2005. 8 floors, 250 rooms. Hotel Nelva, lobby Hotel Nelva, triangular glass elevator Hotel Nelva, pool area Hotel Nelva, our hotel (4 star). 8 floors, 250 rooms. Very good hotel for a very good price. Hotel Nelva, breakfast restaurant
Hotel Nelva public area
Hotel Nelva, corridor Hotel Nelva, double room Hotel Nelva, bathroom Hotel Nelva, bathroom Murcia new part 06 - Ronda Levante and traffic circle seen from the hotel room at Hotel Nelva. Murcia new part 07 - communications tower on top of a residential building Murcia new part 08 - residential buildings in modernist style, midrises and highrises. Murcia new part 12 - Ronda Levante and traffic circle seen from the hotel room at Hotel Nelva. Murcia new part 13 - Ronda Levante and traffic circle seen from the hotel room at Hotel Nelva. Murcia new part 14 Murcia new part 15 Hotel Nelva's nice outdoor area Murcia new part 19 - View to the North from Hotel Nelva Murcia new part 20 - Torre Norte, a 23-storey skyscraper skeleton. Meant to be tallest highrise building in Murcia (roof height), but on hold. Murcia new part 21 - Las Atalayas shopping center and mountains Christ Statue, Castillo de Monteagudo in the mountains in the Northern outskirts. Murcia new part 24 - Torre Godoy (19 floors, 70m, built 2005). Murcia new part 25 - Las Atalayas, 90m high 23-storey twin skyscrapers from 2007. Murcia new part 26 - Las Atalayas, 90m high 23-storey twin skyscrapers from 2007. A large shopping center is next to it. Murcia new part 27 - Ronda Levante Murcia new part 28 - Add for a metal concert Murcia new part 29 - Add for a metal concert Murcia new part 30 - Ronda Levante Murcia new part 31 - Plaza Juan XXIII, a large traffic circle Murcia new part 32 - Plaza Juan XXIII, a large traffic circle Murcia new part 33 - Avenida Rector José Loustáu Murcia new part 34  - Avenida Rector José Loustáu Murcia new part 35  - Avenida Rector José Loustáu Murcia new part 36  - Avenida Rector José Loustáu and Plaza Universidad. Here the Old Town begins. Murcia new part 37 - view from Hotel Nelva to the North and Torre Norte (on hold) Murcia new part 43 - Green mountains in the outskirts seen from the hotel Murcia new part 44 - Las Atalayas shopping mall and a Chinese restaurant Murcia by night - Las Atalayas, 90m high 23-storey twin skyscrapers from 2007. Murcia by night - Hotel Nelva, our hotel (4 star), bult in 2005. 8 floors, 250 rooms. Murcia by night - Ronda Levante and traffic circle seen from the hotel room at Hotel Nelva.