(the ancient *Elloeroca*), a town of Spain, province of Murcia, and about 40 miles S.W. of the town of that name. This town is situated on the southern skirt of the Sierra-del-Cabo, on the summit of which is a fortress still in a state of defence. It is divided into an upper and lower town by the River Guadalentin, only since 1847 crossed by a bridge. Formerly communication was cut off during the annual floods. The upper and more ancient part of the town consists of wretched and narrow streets; the lower is more spacious and extensive. The principal buildings are—the collegiate church of St Patrick, a beautiful structure of the sixteenth century; the former college of the Immaculate Conception, since 1837 incorporated with the university of Granada; the episcopal palace of the diocese of Cartagena; and the churches of Santiago and Santa María. On account of the long droughts, the scanty waters of the Guadalentin are collected above the town in two reservoirs for the purpose of irrigation. In the spring of 1802 one of them burst and caused great damage. The environs of the town are woody and picturesque, and there are several fine parks and promenades. The manufactures are chiefly soda, soap, saltpetre, linen, silk, oil, and paper. The trade is of no great importance, consisting in articles of local production—barley and wheat in good years, soda, and some other articles. There is an annual fair from the 8th to the 23rd September, chiefly for the sale of cattle, and especially of mules, which are employed in the husbandry of the district. The Sierras contain minerals, which are worked to a considerable extent; some years ago great hopes were excited, and much capital embarked, in the lead mines, terminating in considerable losses. The town is remarkable in history as having been the key of Murcia during the Moorish wars; being situated on the frontiers of Granada, it was often taken and retaken. During the French occupation in 1810, the inhabitants suffered greatly from military violence, having taken up a position of decided hostility towards the invader. The painters Juan de Toledo, Pedro Canocho, and Baltasar Martínez were natives of Lorca. Pop. 40,469.