Wine and horses set the pace in Murcia says DANIELLE WRATE

I GULPED as an announcement over the PA system told people to "please exit the city".

At the annual Wine Horses Fiesta in the pretty town of Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, there was a real sense of danger in the air.

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This May festival is one of many held in the city. For the first two weeks of September, Murcia will be buzzing again with parades, pageants and concerts during the Feria de Murcia, in honour of the city's patron saint.

Wedged in the crowds of revellers in the grounds of the town's medieval Caste of Santa Cruz, I tried in vain to find an exit.

The castle itself is home to the miraculous "true cross", which is said to have healing powers. I feared that if I didn't escape soon, I might need its help.

Then someone explained that the announcer was just warning spectators to keep their distance from the race circuit. His message had been exaggerated in translation.

Even so, the spectacle I was there to witness was no horseplay. The animals, draped with more bling than P Diddy, raced up the steep hill to the castle.

There were no jockeys - instead the horses' trainers ran with them, clinging on to ropes. If they happened to let go, they were disqualifid. Each race lasted seconds but was the result of a year's training for those involved.
And some still hadn't got the hang of it. One horse, set on edge by the cheering crowds, swerved off the circuit and headed towards us.

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Pushed backwards in the scramble to get away, I saw why there were ambulances waiting in the narrow streets near the castle.

Later, I spotted more sensible folk standing high up in the castle walls, the perfect place to view the race without risking injury.

The race marks the time in the 15th century when Caravaca came under siege.

Locals took refuge in the castle but fell sick from the water. In a bid to save them, knights on horseback crept out of the castle searching for fresh water. Instead they managed to find some vino, which they put in their wineskins and raced back to the castle.

The Moors gave chase but the knights managed to outrun them. The wine was blessed with the true cross - and the town's residents were saved.

The tradition continues.

Many of my fellow spectators, dressed in white shirts and red neckties, swigged from bottles of red wine. It may not have been blessed with the true cross, but everyone was really enjoying the party.

And that's what's so good about being part of a Spanish festival. It's a chance to really let your hair down.

In fact, Murcia has that feel all-year round thanks to the friendly vibe and local hospitality.

This small region is also easy to explore by car.

After watching the locals enjoying their vino at the festival, I visited the Bullas Wine Museum and learned about its production in the area through the ages.

Just a short drive away was the Monastrell Winery, where the owner explained the different stages involved in creating the perfect bottle of Spanish red.

I got to sample it straight from the barrel before tasting the fully matured finished product.

Next it was time to cool off and get our feet wet at the Mar Menor - or "little sea" in English.

This unique lagoon is separated from the Mediterranean by a 13-mile strip of land and is warm and shallow throughout. No wonder it has been described as "the largest swimming pool on Earth".

It's the perfect spot for beginners to try windsurfing, sailing and canoeing, as your feet are always within reach of the ocean bed.

I then enjoyed a well-deserved rest at the Balneario de Archena Termalium.

This luxury spa complex was popular during Roman times and comprises three peaceful hotels and enough steam rooms, saunas and whirlpools to keep you busy doing nothing.

The main pool and spa is a short walk through pretty, flower-strewn gardens and everyone walks around in dressing gowns and slippers provided by the hotel.

After a quick whirl around the pool's rapids, I floated in the spa's salt bath and shivered in the built-in igloo before warming up again in the sauna. This was followed by a heavenly mud massage and the best night's sleep in months.

After sampling how the Romans like to relax, I moved on to the city of Cartagena to see what else they liked to do for fun.

Cartagena is home to a restored Roman theatre, the ruins of which were only found in the 80s.

At the bottom of the theatre is marble seating where the VIPs sat, while the peasants had to make do with stone ones up in the gods.

There's a museum explaining more about the history of the place, giving visitors a real feel for how people lived 2,000 years ago.

Other things to do in Cartagena include a visit to Concepcion Castle, which offers panoramic views of the city. For a meal out, you can't beat La Patacha, a restaurant on a moored boat.

Gazing through the portholes over the harbour beyond, I reflected on how a trip to Murcia is all about wine, horses and lovely warm water.

A combination that's hard to beat - and one I'll happily drink to!

FACT FILE
JET2 fly to Murcia from Blackpool, Edinburgh, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast.

One-way tickets start from £29.99, including taxes. See jet2.com for more information.

Rooms at the Balneario de Archena Termalium cost from around £40 per person per night. See balneariodearchena.com for more details.

See murciaturistica.es/en/tourism.home for more information on the Wine Horses Fiesta and other festivals in Murcia.