The city of Murcia was founded in 831 by Abd-Al-Rahman II in a privileged location, in the centre of the Valley of the River Segura. The city wall offers a good idea of the importance achieved by the city under Arab rule, and the remains of part of the wall are still visible in different places around the city; the wall originally measured 15 metres in height and had 95 towers. The importance of the city has also been evidenced by the numerous archaeological findings, such as the remains of a palace unearthed at the Las Claras Convent.
The Christian city has also left a profound mark on Murcia’s urban physiognomy; two of its main arteries, La Platería and La Trapería, still reveal the intense guild activity that developed in the metropolis.
However, it was from the 16th century, and particularly the 18th century, onwards that Murcia achieved an urban splendour that led to its expansion beyond the city walls. It was during that period that the numerous churches (mainly baroque in style) that mark the entire urban landscape were built.
These churches include La Merced, San Miguel, Santa Ana, Las Claras, Santo Domingo, Santa Eulalia, and San Juan de Dios, which combine their artistic and architectural designs with an important pictorial and sculptural heritage, containing numerous important works, including most notably those produced by Francisco Salzillo.