Santiago de la Ribera is the most populated district of the municipality of San Javier in the autonomous community of Murcia in Spain. It is located on the coast of the Mar Menor along a wide stretch of coastline. It has traditionally included other smaller neighborhoods such as Ciudad del Aire, also called Colonia Julio Ruiz de Alda, Los Arcos, San Blas, Los Pozuelos, Los Garcías de Abajo and the Barrio de los Pescadores.
Together with La Manga del Mar Menor form the main tourist part of the Mar Menor.
It’s a popular part of the Costa Calida of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.
It has four kilometers of beach, including Castillico, Barnuevo and Colón certified with the Q for Tourist Quality.
Currently Santiago de la Ribera is a consolidated tourist enclave on the Costa Cálida, whose population increases considerably in the summer months. Its main activity is the service sector. It is an area of great tourist interest since it is located on the shore of the Mar Menor, a very special lagoon due to its algae, its high level of salts and its high temperature, which makes it an ideal place for both young and old people. Santiago de la Ribera also has a great hotel and catering infrastructure.
The AGA military air base is also a great pillar of the municipality’s economic sustainability, as was the civil airport until its closure in January 2019. As was, to a lesser degree, fishing and agriculture.
Main sights
- Parish of Santiago Apóstol.
- Church of the Virgin of Loreto.
- Hermitage of San Blas.
- Hermitage of Our Lady of Carmen.
- Monument “Puertas del Mar”.
- Sculpture tribute to the pilgrim.
- Santiago Apostle.
- Sculpture-bust tribute to the founders of the town.
- Aircrafts installations on the waterfront
Beaches
- El Castillico Beach Cataloged with blue flag
- Colón Beach
- El Pescador Beach
- Barnuevo Beach
- La Hita Beach
In May 2017 all beaches of the Mar Menor were stripped of their Blue Flag status as a result of the polluted condition of the Mar Menor in 2016.
How to get to?
By car:
From Murcia 38 min (49.7 km) via A-30 and RM-19.
From Madrid 4 hr 31 min (444 km) via A-3 and A-30
Main information
GPS coordinates: 37°48′N 0°48′E
Language: Spanish
Population: 8550
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2
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