A city with over five millennia of history, so well worth a visit. It has hosted a wide variety of Mediterranean culture – Iberian, Roman and Moorish and then in 1265 was conquered by the Christians. The Moors brought the city to its present position from Lacuvia, two kilometres away. The Elche Tourist Board office, situated at the entrance to the Parque Municipal, is particularly helpful and will provide you with leaflets, posters and maps.

Elche is famous for its palm trees, and there are currently over 200,000 specimens surrounding and within the city. Making decorative fronds with the blanched palm leaves is a traditional activity which is deeply rooted in the culture of Elche, and these fronds are supplied to the whole of Spain for the Palm Sunday processions. There is a tourist train which runs around the parks on the hour, every hour from outside the Tourist Board office.

Sights to see are the 12th Century Arab baths, the blue domed Basilica of Santa Maria, constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries. This building is the venue for the famous mystery play staged every year on the 11th – 13th August. La Alcudia, an archaeological site still being excavated on the outskirts of town. The famous Iberian bust of The Dame of Elche was found here at the ancient Iberian settlement, later a Roman settlement: there are also several interesting museums.

Elche is also famous for shoes: 40 percent of all footwear produced in Spain is manufactured there, so there are many shoe shops in the centre. There is only one factory open to the public and that is Salvador Artesano, which also has a shoe shop on La Manga strip.