Elche

Move to this ancient city of palm groves, culture and sacred mysteries where you will find great education, good living and a close proximity to the beaches of the Costa Blanca.

Just under 20 minutes away from Alicante airport lies the ancient city of Elche. Situated seven miles inland, this historic city is often missed by tourists, who tend to head straight to the coastal resorts of the Costa Blanca. You won’t find many mentions of it in the travel section of your weekly newspaper or blog either, which is a shame, as the city is overflowing with history and culture with three sites listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage lists: the Historic Palm Grove, the Mystery Play of Elche and the Pusol School Museum.

The Historic Palm Grove is arguably the site for which Elche is best-known. This Edenesque garden of more than 200,000 palm trees is believed to have been planted by the Carthaginians around the 5th century BC and is the only one of its kind anywhere in Europe.

Elche itself is also believed to have been founded in the 5th century BC and is the site of many archaeological discoveries. These include the Lady of Elche, one of the most famous artifacts in Spain. You can view a replica in the Museo Arqueológico y de Historia de Elche which is based in the beautiful 12th century Palace of Altamira. Here, you will also be able to view a treasure trove of the city’s antiques and historical artifacts.

The city also contains more ‘intangible’ artifacts, such as the Mystery Play of Elche, a kind of spiritual and theatrical ritual, which depicts the Virgin Mary’s ascension to heaven via a 15th century contraption called a Deus ex machina (‘god from the machine’). With all its incredible culture and beauty, Elche is surely a hidden gem just begging to be discovered.