Elche

Known as the Palm Grove of Europe, Elche is surrounded by over 300,000 date palms, first planted in the 10th century by the Moors. It is now classed as a World Heritage Centre.

Palms are everywhere in Elche and can best be seen in the municipal park and in Huerta del Cura, the Priest’s Garden, where you’ll see an unusual palm in the shape of a seven-armed candelabra.

It’s easy to get a sense of history in Elche; there are ancient buildings wherever you look. In the old section of the city you can see the Altamira Palace, the Basilica of Santa Maria, the Moorish fortress and the Moorish Baths.

There’s so much to see in Elche that you really must pick up a street plan with marked routes from the Tourist Office near the park.

Elche has 9 km of coastline about 15 minutes away from the City centre.

El Altet and La Marina beaches hold the Blue Flag for their clean fine sands, clear waters and excellent facilities. Both beaches are great for sand and water sports like volleyball, windsurfing and sailing and are can be fully accessed by disabled people.

Les Pesqueres-El Rebollo also holds the Blue Flag and is worth a visit if you prefer a quieter, more tranquil beach.

To the south there are four slightly more exotic beaches, with sand dunes, where two diving centres organize some exciting dives in the area around Elche and on the Isla de Tabarca.

The excellent Mediterranean climate means that you can sunbathe and swim on Elche’s beaches, whatever time of year you visit, even in winter months when temperatures are still quite warm.