Archena

Roman period:

Although the settlement of Archena dates back to the Bronze Age, it was during the Roman period (1st–2nd centuries CE) that the town was established. This is evidenced by the archaeological remains of the thermal baths at Archena's spa. Around the site, the Romans built temples, lodges, and roads that connected the town with other parts of Hispania.

17th century:

Following the conquest of the Nasrid Emirate of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, the Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula was completed. Like much of the Kingdom of Murcia, Archena experienced a period of crisis in the 17th century. The century initially saw demographic growth and an expansion of cultivated land, with rice, maize, oil, and barley as the main products. However, a sharp population decline followed, aggravated by floods, droughts, locust plagues, earthquakes, and outbreaks of disease.

18th century:

The 18th century was generally a period of stability and economic growth in Spain, particularly in the Region of Murcia. The Ricote Valley and Archena experienced significant population increases.

The town, however, was negatively affected by the stationing of French troops, which placed an economic burden on the community. Despite this, the Enlightenment era marked the beginning of a steady demographic increase that continued into modern times.

19th century:

During the Peninsular War, the Archena spa (balneario) suffered extensive damage. The century was also marked by political instability and civil conflict. With the triumph of liberalism came the abolition of the Ancien Régime. The underlying social and political tensions of the Restoration period re-emerged in the early 20th century and culminated in the Spanish Civil War.

20th century:

Archena benefited from the establishment of a small sanatorium founded by Dr. Mario Spreáfico, who provided free medical care to the poor. The town was also the birthplace of Vicente Medina, a poet noted for his depictions of rural life.

The local economy prospered through trade, agriculture, and industry. In the early decades of the century, the "Molinos del Río" factory was founded, and apricots became the main agricultural product, alongside citrus fruits. Remnants of this industrial activity, such as factory chimneys, remain visible today.

Spanish Civil War:

During the Spanish Civil War, two military facilities were established in Archena: a Soviet-supported air base and a police and tank training school located in the spa complex, which also housed a military hospital.

The military command occupied the Miguel Medina school. Archena was not directly attacked but suffered the economic and social hardships of the postwar years. Agricultural production was reduced to subsistence levels, and famine and wage reductions were widespread.

Repression in the aftermath of the war included executions, persecution of Republican supporters, and imprisonment. In April 1939, the municipal officials were removed from office.

Second half of the century:

After the war, the "Virgen de la Salud" and "Corpus Christi" were declared patron saints of Archena. By the 1930s, the population was 7,771, despite ongoing emigration to France and Barcelona, which continued until the 1980s, when economic prosperity encouraged return migration. From then on, Archena's population began to grow.

On 1 September 1963, an ammunition depot exploded about one kilometre from the town. No fatalities or injuries were reported, and the event is still commemorated locally.

The Spanish transition to democracy following the death of Francisco Franco in 1975 brought new schools, health facilities, and cultural and sports infrastructure.

21st century:

In 2001, archaeological excavations uncovered a Copper Age cave (c. 2300 BC) used by a community of 23 people.

On 11 September 2012, the 550th anniversary of Archena's municipal charter was celebrated. The charter, signed on 11 September 1462 by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and local villagers, established Archena's independence as a municipality with its first local government and mayor.

The Corpus Christi–La Purísima church was built in 2001, promoted by priest Cristóbal Guerrero Ros, who raised funds for its construction. He was named "adopted son" of the town on 31 May 2001 and honoured with a tribute in 2010.

Excavations linked to new construction at the spa have revealed Roman columns, ruins of buildings, and thermal galleries. A museum has been established to preserve and display these finds.

Desde el punto de vista patrimonial destaca:

La iglesia de San Juan Bautista, comenzada en el siglo XVIII con intervenciones posteriores, sustituye a otra anterior del siglo XVI. Está situada en una esquina de la localidad, sin construcciones adosadas, en un lugar estratégico antes ocupado por una mezquita, mirando a la vega del río Segura y presidiendo el camino real, el único acceso a Archena desde Ceutí. La dedicación a San Juan Bautista está motivada por haber pertenecido a la Orden de San Juan.

La Casa Grande, en la actualidad es la casa consistorial. Edificada por la Orden de San Juan en el siglo XV como Casa de la Tercia, en estilo renacentista. En el siglo XVIII pasó a ser propiedad de la familia Llamas.

El palacete Villarías, mandado construir por el Vizconde de Rías a finales del siglo XIX en una finca rodeada por un parque repleto de plantas y palmeras a las afueras de la villa -actualmente dentro del pueblo-. El parque del palacete hace hoy la función de parque público. El edificio es desde 2004 centro de interpretación del Valle de Ricote.​

El balneario de Archena, complejo de edificaciones, la mayoría del siglo XIX, donde destaca el ecléctico Hotel Termas -con un interior de estilo mozárabe realizado por Manuel Castaños (que intervino en el Casino de Murcia)-, el Casino -realizado en 1878 en estilo neo renacimiento- y la ermita del Balnerario -actual Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Salud (patrona de Archena)-, del arquitecto José María Aguilar.

Mercadillo semanal: Martes, de 08:00 a 14:00 · Calle Miguel Angel Blanco, 30012 Murcia

•Camino de Santiago del Azahar

•Río Segura (GR 127)

•Vicente Medina, escritor, poeta y filósofo español

•Inocencio Medina Vera, dibujante y pintor español

Alcaldía: María Patricia Fernández López

Web oficial: https://archena.es/

Educación:

En la población de Archena hay 6 colegios públicos de educación infantil y primaria: CEIP Emilio Candel, CEIP José Alcolea Lacal, CEIP Micaela Sanz, CEIP Miguel Medina, CEIP Nª Sra. de la Fuensanta, perteneciente a la pedanía de La Algaida, CEIP Río Segura y una escuela infantil municipal.

En relación con la educación secundaria, cuenta con 2 centros de educación secundaria, de carácter público, y que ofertan los estudios de ESO, Bachillerato y ciclos de Formación Profesional de Grado Medio y Superior: IES Vicente Medina y el IES Dr. Pedro Guillén, este último ubicado en el Bº El Otro Lao y perteneciente a la pedanía de La Algaida.

Transporte y comunicaciones:

Tren:

Archena cuenta con una estación de ferrocarril, aunque ésta se encuentra fuera de su término municipal.

La estación de Archena-Fortuna se localiza dentro de la pedanía de Campotéjar, perteneciente a Molina de Segura. Aunque el tendido de la línea Chinchilla-Cartagena no transcurre por ninguno de los dos municipios a los que alude la estación, ésta se abrió en el punto más próximo a ambas localidades par dar servicio tanto a las poblaciones como a los nutridos visitantes de sus conocidos balnearios.

Carretera:

La carretera RM-533 enlaza el núcleo urbano de Archena con la A-30, a través de la salida 124 de la misma. Esta vía también une el municipio con Ceutí.

Otras carreteras relevantes son la RM-411, que comunica Archena con Fortuna atravesando una parte del término de Molina de Segura, la RM-522, que comunica con Villanueva del Río Segura, la RM-530, que conecta con Yéchar y Mula, y la RM-554 que enlaza con la autovía MU-32.

Autobús:

Archena dispone de una línea de bus urbana, que conecta La Algaida con el Balneario atravesando los diferentes barrios del municipio.

El servicio de viajeros por carretera del municipio se engloba dentro de la marca Movibus, el sistema de transporte público interurbano de la Región de Murcia (España), que incluye los servicios de autobús de titularidad autonómica.

Además, presta servicio la siguiente línea de autobús interurbano: