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Los Alcázares —pronounced Los Al-Katha-Res— 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) belongs to three other municipalities: San Javier, San Pedro del Pinatar and Cartagena and is Europe's largest saltwater lagoon. Connected to the adjacent Mediterranean sea by several channels, the Mar Menor has a surface area of almost 20 km² and the fact that it is typically 2-4 degrees warmer than the Mediterranean, makes it a very popular destination for sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and other water sports enthusiasts. Los Alcazares beaches holds blue flag awards in recognition of the cleanliness and maintenance of the beaches along the Mar Menor. The award is given annually by the Institute for Spanish Tourism. Los Alcazares has a base population (2007) of over 14,000 which rises to over 100,000 during the peak tourist summer holiday season. On 13 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 throughout 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 was used as a location for the 2008 movie of Ernest Hemingway's posthumous novel ''The Garden of Eden'', starring Jack Huston, Richard E. Grant and Mena Suvari. A partly disused historic military air base at the southern end of the town was also used for location filming for the 2010 war movie, ''Green Zone'' featuring Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear and Jason Isaacs. ==History== The Romans occupation of Los Alcazares started in 210 B.C., with them recognizing the salt properties of the Mar Menor and the La Manga 'strip' as a band of security from any invaders. The Romans set up a salt meat and fishing industry and built the first thermal baths and spas in the area. In 210 B.C., the Mar Menor was joined to the Mediterranean and, during the past 1,000 years, it has started to close off from it. In the 6th century, the Arabs (who had conquered a large part of Spain) chose this part of the country to build their palaces and places of rest because of the old Roman spas and their therapeutic qualities. In 1245, the Christians led by Fernando III of Castilla arrived on the south east coast and forced the Arabs to flee, but the Arabs were not forced out until 1272 because of King Alfonso X's order of the distribution of the lands around Los Alcazares. In 1898, noble and rich families in Murcia came to Los Alcazares and made it their place of summer residence. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Los Alcázares」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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