What to see in Elche
Elche, about 137 km from Valencia, is the big town of the Valencian south with 245,557 residents and two world heritages: the Palmeral, listed in 2000, and the Misteri d'Elx. The Huerto del Cura, with the seven-armed Imperial Palm, is the gateway to the Palmeral.
The Baroque basilica hosts the Misteri every August, which the Museu de la Festa explains next to the church. The Altamira Palace keeps the archaeology of La Alcudia, where the Dama turned up in 1897, and the Almohad Calahorra recalls Islamic Elche. The shoe industry and the Nit de l'Albà round off the town.
The town lives off shoes: the footwear industry shapes its economy alongside the shops and services of a big town. In August, the Nit de l'Albà fills the sky with palm fireworks in honour of the patroness, and the Palmeral offers walks among orchards minutes from the centre. The old town packs basilica, palace and museums into a short stroll rounded off by the Huerto del Cura garden.
What to see in Elche
- La AlcudiaMonument~2.9 km from the Town Hall
Ibero-Roman town south of Elche, findspot of the Dama de Elche in 1897, with a museum over the excavation.
- Palacio de AltamiraCastle~250 m from the Town Hall
Fortified palace next to the basilica, home of the town archaeology museum, with Muslim wall remains at its base.
- Basílica de Santa María (Elche)Church~200 m from the Town Hall
Baroque basilica from the 17th-18th centuries, stage of the Misteri d'Elx, with a blue-tiled dome over the centre.
- Torre de la CalahorraMonument~250 m from the Town Hall
Almohad tower from the 12th-13th centuries at the edge of the centre, one of the oldest standing structures in town.
- Museo de la FestaMuseum~150 m from the Town Hall
Museum of the Misteri next to the basilica: costumes, props and audiovisuals of the intangible heritage of humanity.
- Huerto del CuraGarden~650 m from the Town Hall
Historic garden of the Palmeral with the seven-armed Imperial Palm, cacti and Mediterranean planting.
Frequently asked questions
Which world heritages does Elche hold?
The Palmeral, since 2000, and the Misteri d'Elx as intangible heritage.
Where did the Dama de Elche turn up?
At La Alcudia, in 1897; the site is visited south of the town.
What to see in Elche in a day?
The Huerto del Cura, the basilica, the Museu de la Festa, Altamira and La Alcudia.
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