Elche: palm forest and Imperial Palm
- Driving time
- About 35 minutes by car
- Area
- Baix Vinalopó
- Town
Elche is the city of Europe's largest palm forest and of the Misteri, both recognised by UNESCO. It is about a 35 minute drive from Lago Rosa Apartment.
Elche is on the World Heritage List for its Palmeral: more than 200,000 palms in traditional orchards, laid out in Islamic times. The forest lies right in the city, so you can walk straight into it from the centre. It is a different kind of city visit from Alicante or Cartagena: mostly outdoors, mostly in the shade.
The place to start is the Huerto del Cura, a garden with palms, cacti and Mediterranean plants. This is home to the Palmera Imperial, with seven arms growing from halfway up the trunk. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Sissi, visited the garden in 1894 and gave the palm its name.
For the city itself, head to the Castillo-Palacio de Altamira, which houses the Museo Arqueológico y de Historia (MAHE), and the baroque Basílica de Santa María. Each year this church stages the Misteri d'Elx, a medieval musical drama. The Dama de Elche, the famous Iberian bust, was found at L'Alcudia, an archaeological site close to the city.
Misteri d'Elx
Every year on 14 and 15 August in the Basílica de Santa María, with extra autumn performances in even years. Check current dates at visitelche.com.
Huerto del Cura
Check current times and tickets at huertodelcura.com or visitelche.com.
Market
On Monday and Saturday morning next to the Mercado Central on Calle Uberna.
A beach too
The municipality also has a coast, with El Pinet, El Carabassí and Arenales del Sol.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Elche famous?
For the Palmeral with more than 200,000 palms and for the Misteri d'Elx, a medieval drama performed every August.
What is the Palmera Imperial?
A date palm with seven arms in the Huerto del Cura, named after Empress Sissi.
Where was the Dama de Elche found?
At L'Alcudia, an archaeological site near Elche.
