San Pedro del Pinatar is a municipality in the Spanish autonomous region of Murcia. The town is located on the north side of the seawater lake the Mar Menor, but at the same time borders the Mediterranean Sea. The area is 22.32 square kilometers and about 26,000 people live there. The nearest airport is in the Murcia region (30 min drive), but Alicante airport is also easily accessible (50 min drive).
San Pedro del Pinatar is an attractive destination on the Costa Cálida for a holiday or a longer stay. The municipality has several beautiful beaches and boasts the Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar Natural Park. In the vicinity you will find interesting cities with a rich heritage that invite you for a day trip. We think of Murcia, Torrevieja, Cartagena and Elche.
In the vicinity of San Pedro del Pinatar, the Iberians would probably have been present in the old stone age. The Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs have also played a role in the local history. There are many shipwrecks along the coast of San Pedro del Pinatar, which indicates that there was a lot of sailing in the past. At some point, the place would develop into a fishing village.
In 1243, under Alfonso X, the municipality was incorporated into the Crown of Castile. With the Treaty of Torrellas, San Pedro del Pinatar came to lie on the border with the kingdom of the Crown of Aragon. Later, the two kingdoms were united by the Catholic Monarchs.
The activities in the village would then mainly revolve around fishing, agriculture and salt production. At that time, the coast was threatened by Barbary Corsairs. For that reason, watchtowers were built, many of which can still be admired on the Costa Blanca and the Costa Cálida.
In the seventeenth century, the Franciscans built a hermitage there. From now on, the municipality previously called Pinatar would be known as San Pedro del Pinatar. The British took Cartagena and the Mar Menor area during the War of the Spanish Succession. Later the area would be conquered by the Bourbons.
At the end of the eighteenth century, the population increased drastically due to various factors, including higher prosperity. The first municipal council was founded in 1836, separating the municipality from Murcia. The 1960s saw a major increase in tourism. Today San Pedro del Pinatar is an attractive place to spend a holiday.
One of the biggest attractions of San Pedro del Pinatar is without a doubt the Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar Natural Park. This place seduces you with a special flora and fauna, salt lakes and dunes. Put on your hiking boots and, with binoculars in hand, look for the unique bird species that live in the park. You can learn more about this natural park and the local salt lakes at the Las Salinas Visitor Center. The healing mud baths of Lo Pagán, in the municipality of San Pedro del Pinatar, are also not to be missed.You can easily combine a visit to this nature reserve with relaxation on the beaches of San Pedro del Pinatar. The special thing is that you can choose both beaches on the Mediterranean Sea and beaches on the Mar Menor. For example, on the Mediterranean Sea you will find the secluded beaches of Playas de La Llana. Lay down your beach towel and enjoy the Spanish sun. Do you prefer the clear Mar Menor? Then Playa de Villananitos is an excellent option. This long beach is bordered by a promenade lined with palm trees that create an exotic atmosphere. Choose your favorite beach in San Pedro del Pinatar and experience how beautiful life in Spain can be. San Pedro del Pinatar also has two ports. The Club Náutico Lo Pagán can be found on the Mar Menor, while the Puerto Marina de las Salinas is on the Mediterranean Sea.
San Pedro del Pinatar also has some cultural highlights in store for curious visitors. For example, in the center you will find the Iglesia San Pedro Apóstol, a church that grew out of the hermitage that the Franciscans built there in the seventeenth century. Another must to admire is the Casa del Reloj. This fascinating modernist-style house was commissioned by the Spottorno Servet family and was designed by the Murcian architect Pedro Cerdán. The building takes its name from the clock on the facade (''reloj''' in Spanish). Today it houses a restaurant and a piano bar with art.
The Palacio del Barón de Benifayó is a monument in the neo-mudejar style. It was commissioned by the Baron of Benifayó and dates back to the nineteenth century. It houses the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, and you can also find a toy collection and cinematographic material. Last but not least, don't miss the Quintín and Calcetera windmills.
Do you want to fully immerse yourself in the culture of San Pedro del Pinatar? Then there are some local festivities not to be missed. You can already mark Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen (16 July) in your agenda. For water sports enthusiasts, the area around San Pedro del Pinatar offers everything they dream of. For example, on the Mar Menor you can go windsurfing or kitesurfing, paddle or enjoy a boat trip. For an unforgettable diving experience, head to nearby Cabo de Palos. As you can see, there is a lot to see and experience in and around San Pedro del Pinatar.
Culinary bon vivants will also get their money's worth in San Pedro del Pinatar. The restaurants in the municipality serve you specialties from the region and bring the flavors of the sea to your plate. And a good address is Mar de Sal, near the Puerto Marina de las Salinas. You can enjoy delicious dishes and excellent service in an attractive setting. At Jardín de las Delicias you can feast on Mediterranean cuisine in a pleasant green decor. The garlic prawns with asparagus and arroz a banda are among the specialties of the house. Another excellent option for authentic dining is Restaurante Juan Mari.
Fans of Italian cuisine can go to El Rincón Italiano. The menu includes tasty pasta dishes, homemade pizzas and – to finish – tiramisu or panna cotta. In the nearby municipality of Pilar de la Horadada, just over the border with the Valencian Community, you will find Sal y Pimienta. There you can enjoy the delicious rice dishes from the region.
Golf enthusiasts will find countless opportunities to practice their favorite hobby in the vicinity of San Pedro del Pinatar. If you look north, you will come to Lo Romero Golf (Pilar de la Horadada). This golf course has eighteen holes of pure fun. A little further north you can opt for Las Colinas Golf & Country Club and Las Ramblas Golf. Also around the Mar Menor there are many possibilities Roda Golf, La Serena Golf, La Manga Club, Club de Golf Torre-Pacheco and UGOLF Mar Menor.
In San Pedro del Pinatar it is pleasant to stay all year round. You can relax there during the mild winters and the not very hot summers thanks to the presence of the sea. Annually there are about 320 sunny days and the average annual temperature is a blissful 18 degrees. Moreover, it rains very little in this corner of Spain. In San Pedro del Pinatar all the ingredients are there for an unforgettable stay on the Costa Cálida.
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