Enchanting Elche
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Port
Alicante, Spain
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$79.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
The town of Elche, with its palm tree forest, boasts the highest concentration of palms in all of Europe. They number between 200,000 and 300,000, and the singular beauty of the Palmeral of Elche has earned the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Botanists believe that the Phoenicians planted this palm forest and that date palms have flourished in Elche for more than 2,000 years. The municipal park will introduce you to the world of palms and the flora of the area. Admire the abundant variety of Mediterranean species.
Visit the Baroque-style Basilica of St Mary, which houses the image of the city's patron saint.
The Huerto del Cura is an exotic garden that contains specimens of rare varieties of palm trees -- its great botanical diversity makes it the ideal place to stroll around and admire its luxuriant plants. The fountains and the main lake, placed right at the heart of the park, are all inspired by Arabian architectural styles. This area was occupied for centuries by the Muslims.
Retail therapy alert: don't miss shopping at the Pikolinos Store -- the retail side of a shoe factory created in 1987. It sells more than 1.6 million pairs of shoes annually on five continents. This factory has gone from humble beginnings to being a leader in the shoemaking sector. Its brands are nationally and internationally famous, and recently, it was voted the best company in the Valencia Province.