Ricardo Codorníu Visitor Centre, Sierra Espuña
Centro de Visitantes Ricardo Codorníu
A central information point for visitors to Sierra Espuña
It can almost be said that Sierra Espuña was created in 1889, the inspiration of one man, Ricardo Codorníu, a native of Cartagena who was born in 1846.
He was a passionate lover of nature, having gone to Madrid to study forestry engineering, and was responsible for the founding of many of the bodies which now control the natural spaces in the Region of Murcia today.
During his lifetime he achieved fame and recognition for his work, becoming known as the "Apóstol del Árbol" (the apostle of the trees), and in 1889 he visited the area of the Sierra Espuña and was horrified by the devastation left by the boom years of industrial activity in the Region, stimulated by the arrival of the railways in 1862.
During the latter half of the 19th century the Region was transformed as minerals were shipped across the world and the economy boomed, stripping vast tracts of land for wood, devastating forested areas.
Codorníu set about the task of rebuilding the Sierra Espuña, replanting 20,000 hectares with pine trees, his legacy becoming what is now the Sierra Espuña regional park, a protected leisure space which encompasses 25,000 hectares of forest and mountains.
The park is a maze of walks and routes, with recreation areas and restaurants provided for the visitors who flock to the park every weekend, and is extensively used as an educational facility to encourage young Murcians to enjoy the great outdoors.
The Visitor Centre is home to a permanent exhibition about the flora and fauna to be found in the park and has teaching and meeting facilities for the various activities which take place within it, as well as a centre for the vigilance patrols who care for the park (and toilets!).
The staff have a number of routes printed out which can be taken by visitors, although virtually all of the information is in Spanish. Alhama de Murcia Tourist Office down in the town of Alhama de Murcia below have a better selection printed out in English.
From the visitor centre you can drive back down to the road interchange and follow the signs to one of 2 
recreational areas, both of which have restaurant facilities, La Perdiz or the more popular Fuente el Hilo, (and open public toilets) with public barbeque areas and paths leading from both.
The barbeque facilities and picnic tables are all for the use of the public, although the regional government announced in 2014 that it would be removing all barbeque units due to the risk of fire. Until this happens,the units can only be used at certain periods of the year, namely the winter months. The periods of use depend on the volume of rainfall, so it is worth phoning the visitor centre to check if planning to bring a meal which requires cooking, or indeed, check to see if the units are still there. Pic-nics are no problem.
How to get to the Centro de Visitantes Ricardo Codorníu
From Alhama de Murcia
Take the C3315 which leads from the main high street of Alhama, past the Town hall and up along a twisty, climbing road up into the Sierra Espuña.
At 6.8 km from Alhama, a low valley appears on the left hand side, planted with crops and vines, then just past this point the road turns a sharp left and the view on the right hand side stretches out across "the badlands" dry, earth formations with a characteristic formation .
Immediately past this corner is a left hand turn, signposted El Berro 7.5km. Turn left down this road.
For the next 5km the road continues to climb, winding up through the pine trees, the air cooling as the car gets higher.
At the next junction the signs will say El Berro to the right, 2.5km and then you´ll see Centro de Visitantes Richard Codorníu and the recreation area is signposted from there.
CLICK THIS LINK FOR MAP VISITORS CENTRE SIERRA ESPUÑA
Centro de Visitantes Richard Codorníu
Tel 968 22 89 37
Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Sunday including festival days:
From October to May from 9am to 2pm and 3pm to 5.30pm
June, July, August and September from 8.30am to 3.30pm
