Village
Villanueva del Río Segura is a municipality in the Region of Murcia with about 4,100 inhabitants (4,111, INE 2025), located on a rise above the flood plain of the Segura River, in the heart of the Ricote Valley, of which it forms the natural gateway from the south. The first records of the place, then called Asuete, date from 1468, when it is mentioned in a visitation to the Kingdom of Murcia within the Encomienda of Ricote; its Mudejar population was forced to convert to Christianity in 1501. Dependent on neighbouring Ulea until the 18th century, it did not gain its own parish church until the early 19th century. Its economy is based on the growing of fruit trees and citrus, especially apricot, along with lemon and orange.
Monument
The iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands in the centre of Villanueva del Río Segura, in the heart of the valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia). The current temple, in Neoclassical style, dates from the early 19th century and its design is due to the architect Juan de Villanueva; the works, begun in 1795 after years of disputes with neighbouring Ulea over parish primacy, dragged on with stoppages until 1882, when the roof was completed. It is a building with a cloistral floor plan, with three naves separated by Doric columns, a transept, an elevated choir and a square bell tower at the foot. The central nave is covered with sail vaults, while the side naves have groin vaults, and the plain portal is topped with a triangular pediment.
Monument
Sculpture on top of the mountain overlooking the village, from where some of the finest panoramic views of the whole Valle de Ricote can be had.
Nature
Former power station on the River Segura, now turned into a recreation area used by locals and visitors for fishing and swimming in summer.
Curiosity
The municipality began under Muslim rule with the name Benmur; in 1505 Pope Julius II established the parishes of the valley's villages and the town came to be called Villanueva del Valle de Ricote, the forerunner of its present name.
Activity
The patron saint festivities of Villanueva del Río Segura in honour of San Roque and the Virgen de la Asunción are held from 13 to 17 August. On the 13th, San Roque is carried in procession up to the hermitage, with a night-time verbena and a communal meal at dawn. On the 14th, la Bajada, the town wears regional costumes to bring the image back to the church amid a mascletà and offerings of flowers and basil from the market gardens. On the 15th the Virgen de la Asunción is carried in procession with a fireworks display, on the 16th San Roque comes out again with fireworks, and the 17th closes with a parade of floats. The peñas offer zurra, the town's traditional drink.
Activity
The Holy Week of Villanueva del Río Segura, in the Ricote Valley (Murcia), is one of the town's most deeply rooted religious and cultural events, with more than two hundred years of tradition. Its central act is the Encuentro del Niño, celebrated on Easter Sunday, in which the image of the risen Christ is represented as a child carried by young people of the town.
Monument
A late 19th-century mansion in the town of Villanueva del Río Segura, one of the municipality's most notable civil buildings alongside the parish church.
Monument
A hermitage in the San Roque neighbourhood, at the far end of the municipality, to which the patron saint, dressed in regional costume, is carried in procession every 14 August, before being accompanied back to the parish church at nightfall.
Monument
A former charitable hospital building in Villanueva del Río Segura, one of the historic properties that round out the municipality's civil heritage alongside the Palacete de Doña Isabel.
Nature
An area of traditional huerta, the oldest in the municipality, still watered today by historic channels inherited from the Andalusi irrigation system, where citrus and other fruit are grown.
Nature
The Ermita de San Roque de Villanueva del Río Segura, the municipality's patron saint, is processed every August during the local festivities; its lookout point sits on the rise that overlooks the village, in the narrow agricultural corridor that the Segura river carves between the mountains and which gives southern access to the Valle de Ricote.
Curiosity
A 200-year-old tradition in Villanueva del Río Segura that portrays the risen Christ as a three-year-old child, celebrated on Easter Sunday. It is customary for that year's group of young men coming of age to carry the child's image out in the procession.
Activity
The patron saint festivities of Villanueva del Río Segura, with a procession to the chapel, the descent in regional costume, a floral offering and a parade of floats, are held from 13 to 17 August. On the 13th, the ascent, San Roque is carried up to the chapel in procession and the night stretches on with music and a giant paella until around four in the morning; on the 14th, the descent, the patron saint returns to the church accompanied by locals in regional costume, amid a great mascletà firework display. On the 15th the patron saint, the Virgen de la Asunción, is carried in procession with fireworks and live music, and on the 16th San Roque goes out again after midnight. The 17th closes the festivities with the parade of floats, and during these days the local peñas prepare the traditional zurra punch.
Curiosity
The economy of Villanueva del Río Segura is based on growing fruit trees and citrus, with apricots as its standout product, alongside lemons and oranges, a reflection of the fertility of the Segura valley. Around this farm production, the packing of farm produce has also developed, one of the municipality's economic sectors.
Historical milestone
The long litigation over ecclesiastical jurisdiction between the two towns was settled in favour of Ulea. The ruling pushed the residents of Villanueva to raise a church of their own: the works on Nuestra Señora de la Asunción began shortly afterwards and were completed at the beginning of the 19th century.
Food and drink
Stew of hulled wheat with chickpeas, beans, fennel and pork that is prepared in the houses of the valley during the cold months. In Villanueva it is among the reference dishes, along with pebre, and is served at the communal meals of the patronal festivities.