Western view of the city of Murcia

This original antique view of the city of Murcia, titled “Vista occidental de la ciudad de Murcia”, was published by the geographer Bernardo Espinalt y García in Madrid in 1783. The engraving was executed by Juan Fernando Palomino, one of the most important engravers of the Spanish Enlightenment. The piece forms part of the Atlante Español, a monumental work that sought to document the geographical and monumental wealth of Spain. This original copperplate engraving is an iconographic document that captures the Baroque and Neoclassical essence of the capital of the Segura in the 18th century, standing out for the fineness of its line.
The print offers a perspective from the west, structured around the course of the River Segura. A numbered key (from 1 to 16) makes it possible to identify the most significant landmarks of Murcia’s heritage: the Cathedral Tower and its Portal, the Episcopal Palace, and the Puente de los Peligros (referred to here as “Entrada del Puente”). The view details with documentary value elements that have today disappeared or been transformed, such as the Convent of San Francisco, the Wheat Exchange (Lonja de Trigo) and the old flour mills on the river. The inclusion of the Paseo del Malecón and the city’s coat of arms at the bottom enhances the formal character of the piece. This original engraving is of interest for collectors interested in urban history and the heritage of the Kingdom of Murcia.