Elche

23km inland from Alicante is the Valencian region's third largest city in terms of population. Elche was originally situated in the area of L'alcudia and was thereafter moved by the moors from to its current position, surrounded by groves of endless palm trees. To date over 300,000 officially protected palm trees in the city lend it an exotic atmosphere. These palms lie on every street and corner and can be especially enjoyed in the well-maintained city park. In this park you can see the famous seven-trunk palm tree, and the cactus garden.

The Phoenicians founded the palm grove in the 6th century BC, taking advantage of a warm climate and an ingenious irrigation system.

The female palms produce dates in the winter, while the bleached palms of the male trees are used for handicrafts and in festivals all over the region.

Elche provides a wide range of attractions to offer its visitors: pre-history, history, natural riches, beaches and the culture are all elements that are noteworthy in this thriving and growing city. Elche is particularly easy to work your way around, as most of the buildings and unique areas are located within a short distance of each other. The 12 kilometre coastline of Elche is located 15 minutes from the city.

The coastline beaches are divided into two areas, those belonging to the Altet area and those belonging to the Marina area. In the Altet area one of the most frequented beaches is Els Arenals del Sol. The beaches of La Marina are warm and welcoming, and are surrounded by dunes and pine trees.

Although Elche can be visited comfortably at any period throughout the year, the best time is during the month of August when nightlife peaks, fiestas light the sky with fireworks and the streets with parades.

Shopping in Elche is excellent and a must. It is in fact on of the best places in Spain to buy shoes as most of Spain's footwear is manufactured here in Elche!