Los Alcázares

Los Alcázares - pronounced Los Al-Katha-Res (coordinates: coord|37|47|N|0|44|W) is a small, but expanding coastal spa town and former fishing village on the Western side of the Mar Menor in the autonomous community and province of Murcia, southeastern Spain.

The Mar Menor (little sea in Spanish) belongs to three other municipalities: San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar and Cartagena and is Europe's largest salt water lagoon. Connected to the adjacent Mediterranean sea by several channels, the Mar Menor has a surface area of almost 19.76 km² and the fact that it is typically 2-4 degrees warmer than the Mediterranena, makes it a very popular destination for sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and other water sports enthusiasts.

Los Alcazares has a base population (2007) of over 14,077, which rises to over 100,000 during the peak tourist summer holiday season.

On 13th October 1983, the town was granted municipal autonomy, in respect of which it holds an annual week-long celebration featuring live music, shows, windsurfing competitions and firework displays.

Besides the annual celebration of municipal autonomy, like many Spanish towns and cities, Los Alcazares also plays host to numerous fiestas and festivals thoughout the year, including a large medieval market at the end of every March, and during the last two weeks in August, ‘La Huerta’ an international folklore festival and feast in celebration of the region’s status as the market garden of Spain.

Los Alcazares has recently been used as a location for the forthcoming movie re-make of Ernest Hemingway's Garden of Eden, starring Jack Huston, Richard E. Grant and Mena Suvari and the dis-used military airbase at the southern end of the town was also used for the forthcoming movie, 'The Green Zone' featuring Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear and Jason Isaacs.

The english version of Los Alcazares' website [http://www.los-alcazares.com]