Murcian

Murcian is the demonym for people from the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community in southeastern Spain. In English usage, Murcian can also describe things associated with Murcia, including the regional form of the Spanish language spoken there, commonly referred to as Murcian Spanish.

The Region of Murcia covers an area in southeastern Spain bordered by Valencia to the north, Castile-La Mancha to the west, Andalusia to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east. Its capital is the city of Murcia. The region has about 1.5 million residents.

Murcian Spanish is the regional variety of the Spanish language used in Murcia and nearby areas. It is mutually intelligible with standard Castilian Spanish but includes distinctive pronunciation, vocabulary, and expressions shaped by local history and contact with Valencian and other Iberian varieties.

The region is renowned for its intensive agriculture, historically known as the Huerta de Murcia, producing citrus fruits, vegetables, and strawberries for domestic and export markets. The Segura River irrigation system supports farming. Murcian cuisine features dishes such as zarangollo, caldero, and pisto murciano.

Historically, Murcia has roots in Iberian and Roman times, followed by Moorish rule before becoming part of the Crown of Castile in the 13th century. Modern Murcia gained autonomous community status under Spain's 1982 Statute of Autonomy.