Elche is a famous resort in Spain. The city is one of the oldest in the country. His story began five thousand years BC. e. At that time, the first inhabitants settled on a hillside, which is now known as Alcudia. To this day, the city remains attractive to tourists. Its stunning beauty and sights are no less interesting than a resort holiday on the coast. It is about the beautiful city of Elche in Spain that will be discussed in our article.
History of the city
In the fifth century BC, settlers founded the first town, which was called Iliki. And to this day, locals sometimes call it Ilisitano. Later, Elche (Spain) became a Roman colony. In those days, the city flourished, taking an active part in trade with neighboring villages. The close proximity to the coast made it possible for citizens to trade with other countries.
During the reign of Elche, Muslims built irrigation canals. However, such improvements did not save the city from decline. Gradually, he lost his significance. In 1250, King Alfonso of Castile recaptured Elche from the Muslims and drove them away. Since among the exiles there were artisans and rural workers, the city was on the brink of ruin. The situation was further exacerbated in the thirteenth century. For the next two centuries, the city survived solely through the cultivation of almonds, oranges and footwear.
In 1871, the city of Elche in Spain, King Amadeus I gave the status of a city. Already at the end of the nineteenth century, jute fiber and shoe factories began to appear here. At the same time, infrastructure began to develop, a railway appeared. A very difficult period for the city was the beginning of the twentieth century. The civil war brought famine and devastation. The situation began to improve only in the middle of the century. To this day, tourism and the footwear industry dominate in Elche (Spain).
Despite the fact that at present there are not many archaeological and architectural monuments in the city, it is very interesting. There is something to see here.
Palm grove
The main attraction of Elche (Spain) is the famous palm grove. It is considered the largest in Europe. The natural site has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Initially, the grove was planted by the Moors for the sake of receiving dates. This brought a steady income. Currently, the grove has more than 170,000 palm trees. An interesting fact is that the age of some trees reaches 200 years. The height of palm trees is from thirty to forty meters. In the forest, special paths for tourists are designed, recreation areas and ponds with lush vegetation are equipped.
Experts suggest that the Phoenicians brought palm trees to Elche, but Arabs began to cultivate and grow plants. Palm became the first tree that a man began to grow for his own benefit. Plants gave people not only food, but also building materials. The palm juice inside the trees makes them resistant to the effects of fire. Plants are very convenient for cultivation, because they are unpretentious.
Among the palm wealth of Elche (Spain) there is the Priest's Garden, which was named after José Castagno Sanchez. He was the owner of the garden until 1918. The size of the grove is not so large and reaches 13 km. sq. A thousand palm trees grow in it, the age of some of them reaches 300 years. In addition, pomegranates, oranges, lemons, Chinese dates, carob, jujube grow in the garden.
The pride of the park is the Royal Palm, which was named after Empress Sisi. Now the tree is 165 years old.
Church of St. Mary
Among the attractions of Elche (Spain) it is worth highlighting the Church of St. Mary. The temple is located on the very spot where in Muslim times the main mosque was located. On its ruins was built the first Catholic church, made in the Gothic style. In 1492, a new building was rebuilt, which was washed away by heavy rains. The latest version of the structure is a combination of elements of different styles.
It is believed that the Ascension to the Virgin Mary took place here. This event became the basis for the appearance of an important city holiday, which became a symbol of Elche.
The temple has a bell tower, which you can climb to admire the palm grove and cityscape.
"Lady of Elche"
A mystery called “The Lady of Elche” (Spain) is inextricably linked with the history of the city. An amazing monument of ancientiberian culture was found in 1897 in the suburbs. It is made in the form of an unusual bust of a girl. Experts suggest that the monument was made in the fourth century BC. e. An unusual hairstyle of a girl and a headdress attracts attention to the bust. A hole was made at the back of the monument for some purpose. The bust was exhibited in the Louvre, where it made a real scientific sensation. In 1941, “The Girl from Elche” returned to the vastness of Spain, once in the Madrid Museum “Prado”. Currently, the bust is in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid.
But on the streets and squares of the city, tourists can see copies of the famous sculpture. Small figurines are sold as souvenirs for guests.
Altamira Palace
What to see in Elche (Spain)? One of the outstanding attractions of the city is the Altamira Palace. Locals still remember that a weaving factory once worked within the walls of the building. The palace has recently been completely renovated. Now it is one of the best preserved fortresses in the entire province of Alicante.
The construction of the architectural complex was carried out in several stages. The first dates from the 11th-13th centuries, when Muslims dominated the city. From that time to the present, fragments of the city wall, part of residential buildings, gates, drainage canals and the main tower of the palace have survived.
The construction of the palace was continued in the 15-16 centuries. It was at this time that the building acquired its current appearance. And only in the eighteenth century the manor house was built in the form of a polygon. In the eighteenth century, the building was a prison, which functioned until 1959. Later, the castle housed the workshops of a weaving factory. Later, the palace passed into the jurisdiction of the city council, thanks to the efforts of which restoration work was started. After repair, the Archaeological Museum was located in the walls of the palace.
Archaeological area
A few kilometers from the center of Elche is the archaeological zone of La Alcudia. On the vast territory you can look at the monuments of the ancient Roman, Iberian and Visigothic era. Here there are ruins of baths, public buildings, ther, fragments of ancient walls and more.
There is a museum at the entrance to the archaeological complex, which displays the most significant finds found during excavations. La Alcudia is located on the outskirts of the city. The area of the complex is 10 ha. The oldest finds in the archaeological zone date from the Bronze Age.
Pusol Museum
One of the most interesting sights of the city is the Pusol Museum, located in the suburbs. Here, tourists can visit the shops of the 19-20th century, relax in the bar of that era, admire the houses of a hundred years ago, learn about the leisure of the townspeople of a bygone era. The museum has more than 90,000 exhibits that allow you to plunge into the distant past.
The main task of such an unusual project is to preserve the intangible and tangible heritage of the rural region. Over time, a huge number of ethnographic exhibits were collected that are related to folk traditions, trade, industry, folklore. In addition to viewing interesting objects in the museum, you can take part in master classes.
Paleontological Museum
A popular attraction is the paleontological museum. It was opened in 2004 in the Raval area. Visitors to the museum within its walls can see models of dinosaurs, marine reptiles, the remains of mammoths, and much more. In the halls of the museum a total of 1,200 models and minerals are exhibited. Here you can take a trip to the distant history of our planet. The museum exposition occupies two floors. The first is devoted to paleontology, and the second to the geological history of Alicante. A film introducing the history of the emergence of the universe and the origin of life on earth is shown to visitors in the museum.
Modern Art Museum
In the central part of the Raval district is the Museum of Modern Art. It was opened in 198o. The institution is located within the walls of a baroque building of the seventeenth century. Local experts have long dreamed of creating such an institution. But such an opportunity was presented only in the seventies of the last century. At that time, a collection of art objects began to form. Now the museum is widely recognized by experts. Within its walls are collected canvases from all over Valencia. In addition to the institution’s own collection, temporary exhibitions are held here.
Zoo
For guests of the city of interest is the zoo Elche (Spain), which is located outside the city. Its vast territory is inhabited by various animals. Show programs are held here throughout the day. A train runs on the territory, on which children can ride. Also in the summer there are water rides.
Shoes in Elche
The city of Elche is of interest not only in terms of ancient palaces and palm groves, but also with its goods. No wonder the city is called the shoe capital of Spain. Shoes in Elche have been made since time immemorial. Around the city there are numerous shoe factories. Therefore, in the local streets you can find an incredible number of shops with shoes. On their shelves you can find goods for every taste and budget. Very often you can stumble upon big sales in shops, discounts on which reach up to 70%. Tourists actively visit outlets in Elche (Spain). You can purchase goods at reduced prices in them.
The period of maximum discounts falls on July-August and January-February. If you are visiting the city at this time, be sure to check out the shoe store. To purchase good leather goods.
Where to look for good stores?
If you believe the reviews, in Elche (Spain) there are many good shops where you can profitably make purchases. But you need to know where to look for them. For shopping, it is better to go to the historical center. On its streets you will find the largest number of shops. Experienced tourists recommend heading to Queen Victoria Street. Elche shoe stores are very different from similar establishments in other cities. You should definitely visit the largest outlet store in Europe under the name Salvador Artezano. It is located in the industrial part of the city, which can be reached by public transport or by taxi.
Liquid gold
Olive oil is often called liquid gold in the Mediterranean. Elche has plenty of such wealth. Since 1839, a factory has been operating here that produces oil using traditional technologies. There is a museum at the factory, which everyone can visit. Here you can try different varieties, purchase oil and learn a lot about its production.