La Tercia Real

La Tercia Real is a most exceptional development located on a site with a rich historical background. This area has been, since many centuries ago, the site of the most prestigious “Haciendas” (stately homes) of the rich and powerful noble families of the kingdom of Murcia.

In the XVIII century is already recorded that the families Gea and Truyols, along side with the Riquelme and Peraleja Haciendas, used to retired from the hustle and the summer heat of the city of Murcia. This area benefited, and still does, from a cool sea breeze which always blows during the long hot summers and took advantage of its wine and olive groves, and also the neighbouring Sierra de Columbares which was an exceptional hunting ground, today it is a natural park and one of the biggest and best bird reserves of Spain.

It is the family Gea (who reached noble status in 1776) who began the construction of the old Hacienda “La Tercia” in 1735. Later, as it was costumary by then, when all the known descendants of Don Alonso Antonio de Gea had died, ownership was transferred to the Church, who granted it to the Order of the “Predicadores” (Preachers - Spanish).

During the eventful Spanish XIX century, one of the most revolutionary decisions taken by first liberal government of the young Queen Isabel I, was to expropiate all the land and houses that the catholic church all over Spain, had accumulated over the centuries. This was done in 1855, under the name of “Desamortización”. It was then when a new period of splendour converted these Haciendas as the leisure estates of the rich bourgeoisie and nobles alike.

Today, the Hacienda “La Tercia Real” and its listed buildings (especially the wine cellars, the chapel and its characteristic towers) are testimony to our historical heritage. Because the 18th century foundations are in very bad condition, all the ornaments of the façade have already been disassembled and a team of experts from the “Patrimonio Nacional” (National Trust), will decide whether the house will remain where it is or if the most significant elements will be dismantled and rebuilt again.