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ELCHE: THE PALM GROVE OF EUROPE To help you decide on your next holiday destination, we invite you to come and visit our city. In the links section you will find some useful links for travellers. Come and pay us a visit! |
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Elche is an industrial city and tourist resort located 25 km to the south of Alicante (Spain). Due to the great economic importance of its footwear industry, Elche is fast becoming a city of cultural and tourist reference, partly due to the recent recognition of two of its most emblematic regions (La Festa and El Palmeral) as World Heritage Sites (Unesco). Elche is also world-famous for its handmade white palms, used for Palm Sunday processions. |
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The city’s delicious cuisine is also worth trying: A visit to Elche is not complete without trying its Arroz con Costra and the edible dates from its palms. Elche’s origins go back to the Neolithic age. Later on, in 5th century B.C., the Iberian settlement of Helike was founded. The well-known Lady of Elche dates from this period. This sculpture represents a priestess wearing ceremonial robes, and is an emblematic work of Iberian art. |
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The Romans established their leisure resort under the name of Iulia Illice Augusta, following the destruction of the settlement by the Carthaginians. During the Muslim influence and rule, an irrigation system was introduced using ditches which greatly reinforced the cultivation of palms that was introduced by the Phoenicians. The Basilica of Santa María has its origin in the Paleochristian and Visigothic periods. |
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During your visit to the city it is possible to see many monuments and remains of the enormous number of peoples who settled here over time. La Alcudia, the Basílica of Santa María, the Palacio de Altamira, the Torre de la Calahorra, the Municipal Park and of course, El Palmeral and la Festa are all points of great interest to tourists. |
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EL PALMERAL Visitors arriving in Elche are struck by the African landscape that reminds one of an oasis in the desert. El Palmeral is formed by many traditional palm groves, some of which have disappeared as a result of urban development. El Palmeral is certainly worth a visit. |
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THE MYSTERY OF ELCHE The Mystery of Elche is a mediaeval sacred-lyrical drama staged inside the Basilica during the festivities of the patron saint in August. It has continued to be staged up to the present day, thanks to popular effort and enthusiasm, and is also an event not to be missed, due to its spectacular nature and great beauty. |
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LA NIT DE L'ALBA (NIGHT OF THE DAWN) On the night of August 13, also during the festivities of the patron saint, you can take part in one of the most attractive shows in Spain. For just a few hours, the night is converted into day, thanks to the impressive homage paid by the inhabitants of Elche to their Patron Saint, our Lady of the Assumption, in the form of a grand firework display. Practically all the inhabitants of the city take a part in La Nit de L'albá, and the fireworks fascinate both locals and tourists, enveloping them in a universe of light, sounds, colours and the smell of gunpowder. |
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LA ALCUDIA Just 2 km to the south of Elche is the archaeological site of La Alcudia. Although most of the remains found there belong to the Roman period, objects recovered from earlier periods, such as the Iberian era, make it one of the most important archaeological sites in Spain. |
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The beaches of the township, in La Marina, El Altet or Arenales, a few km from the city centre, are among the most attractive in Europe. The city centre combines leisure and shopping activities with the possibility of paying a visit to places of historic interest. The Museum of la Alcudia, the Archaeological Museum, diverse events such as the Music and Mediaeval Drama Festival of Elche and the Mestival (Music and Mestization Festival) are also included among the cultural and leisure offerings of the city. PAY US A VISIT! |
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