San Pedro del Pinatar

San Pedro del Pinatar is a delightful little seaside resort situated on the Mar Menor coastline of the Costa Calida, in the Murcia region of Spain. Traditionally a fishing town and even named after the first fisherman (the apostle St Peter), San Pedro del Pinatar has in recent years become a popular tourist destination, with the main attractions being the fine climate, the beautiful sandy beaches and the warm, safe waters of the Mar Menor (Lesser Sea), Europe's largest inland Sea.

The history of San Pedro del Pinatar probably goes back to the Paleolithic Era, when settlers eked out an existence along the south-eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsular. In about 2,600 BC, Phoenician trading ships explored this coastline, expanding their shipping routes and setting up commercial posts in the areas north of Cartagena. The Mar Menor, which was then an open bay to the Mediterranean Sea, would have attracted them to this area, with its safe, calm waters. Certainly the Romans appreciated its attributes, as they built Villas along the coast and began to extract salt from the natural salt lagoons.

San Pedro del Pinatar (not called this at that time), was possibly one of the bases set up by the Romans as they prepared for the Punic Wars with Carthage, the Carthaginians were firmly ensconced in Cartagena at this time, but would soon face defeat at the hands of the stronger, more determined Roman forces.

As the Roman Empire declined, the Visigoths filled the void, though little is known of their of their brief stay in the area. The Visigoths famously called on the help of the Moors to help them resolve tribal issues in Spain, the Moors came, liked what they found, and promptly conquered most of the Iberian Peninsular, holding control for over 500 years (even longer in some areas).

The Moors established San Pedro del Pinatar (then known simply as El Pinatar), as a fishing village, introducing their fishing methods which proved ideal for the conditions on the Mar Menor. They also brought their irrigation techniques, perfected in the arid deserts of North Africa, this enabled the surrounding hinterland to be cultivated making the village self-sufficient and prosperous in its own right.

As happened in much of Spain, the village fell into decline after the Christian reconquest in the 13th century, and it was not until the 17th century that it acquired its current name, when a hermitage was built in honour of Saint Peter (San Pedro), no doubt due to the village's fishing roots, and henceforth was referred to as San Pedro del Pinatar (Saint Peter of the Pine Forest).

San Pedro del Pinatar continued to survive by means of fishing, salt and agriculture right up to the second half of the 20th century when tourism arrived in Spain. Though slow to become involved in the tourist industry, the resorts of Murcia saw tremendous growth during the 1980's and 1990's, a trend which continued to the present day.

The development of San Pedro del Pinatar has been further increased by the growing trend for well-heeled North Europeans to purchase holiday homes in the sun. Not quite so badly affected as nearby areas such as Torrevieja and the Orihuela Costa, San Pedro del Pinatar, will hopefull not fall into the greed trap, and sell its soul for a fast property 'buck'. Though already affected, it would be a shame for this charming little town to be swallowed up by a mass of concrete.

One of the main attractions for visitors to San Pedro del Pinatar is the wonderful climate, which is as good as anywhere in Spain. The Murcia region has the lowest rainfall in the country and its agricultural 'greenness' is mostly due to irrigation methods introduced by the Moors. Visitors can expect San Pedro del Pinatar weather to be sunny and dry for at least 300 days each year, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. Rainfall is almost non-existent between June and September, though you can expect the odd thunderstorm in late August and early September.