Together with Alicante and other municipalities, Elche forms aconurbation of some 800,000 inhabitants. The city is noted for its urbanPalm Grove, designated asWorld Heritage Site.
Miniature of theCantiga #133 accounting for an alleged miracle that took place in Elche (13th century), entailing, together with Cantiga, #126 the first graphic representation of a palm tree in Elche[7]
L'Alcúdia is 10 km from the current city's location and the immediate predecessor of current day Elche. This original location was settled by theGreeks and then occupied byCarthaginians andRomans. Greek Ionian colonists from the Achaean cityHelike established their new colony, naming itHelíkē (Ancient Greek:Ἑλίκη) around 600BC. It was a point of resistance againstCarthaginian advance in Spain between theFirst andSecond Punic Wars.[8][9] The Romans called the cityIlici orIllice and granted it the status ofcolonia;[9] after a briefByzantine rule, theGoths took over, establishing an episcopal see.
In 1905, archaeologists uncovered asynagogue in Elche dating back to the fourth to sixth centuries CE. This dating marks it as the earliest known synagogue in Spain, and marks the presence of an ancientJewish community.[10][11]
Elche lost importance during the period ofMoorish occupation, when it was moved slightly north to its present location.James II of Aragon took the city from the Moors in the 13th century, during theReconquista.[9] The city grew throughout the 18th century[12] and became more important during the 19th century with the arrival of therailway and a booming industrial development of what used to be the traditional footwear industry.
Elche was granted the title of city byKing Amadeo in 1871.[15]
Theespadrille industry developed in the 19th century, eventually becoming the leading Spanish municipality at producing textile footwear.[16] By the late century, local entrepreneurs began to invest in leather footwear factories.[17] The footwear industry grew during theGreat War and thereafter.[17]
The city is known for thePalmeral de Elche, that is anUNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only palm grove in Europe with North African origins and the largest on the continent.[18] The Palm Grove also constitutes the northernmost and one of the largest palm groves in the world.[19] Today, the city of Elche contains 97 orchards composed of 70,000 date palms, concentrated in the east bank of the Vinalopó.[20] Outside the Elche city domain, other large plantations contain approximately 130,000 date palms. In total, Elche and its vicinity hold 200,000 palms. The Palm Grove ranges over 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi), including 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi) within the city of Elche.[20] The Palm Grove of Elche comprises the National Artistic Garden, Palm Grove Museum, Route of El Palmeral, and Municipal Park.
Date fruit from date palm trees within the National Artistic Garden
It shares borders with Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, San Fulgencio, Dolores, Catral, Crevillent, Aspe, Montforte del Cid andAlicante. The most remarkable landform is Vinalopó River.[21]
According to theSpanish Statistical Institute, there are 20 localities in the municipality besides the main town. The main town had a population of 190,821 in 2019 The number of people living in the other localities came up to 41,821 in the same year. Algoda was home to 2,650 people, Algorós has a population of 638, Altabix was inhabited by 2,829 people, El Altet was home to 5,750 people Atsavares was home to 1,328 people, Asprella had a population of 403, Las Bayas was home to 2,975 people, Carrús was inhabited by 1,300 people, Daimés had a population of 1,190, El Derramador was home to 419 people, La Foia was inhabited by 2,804 people, Jubalcoi had a population of 1,215, El Pla de Sant Jose was home to 2,411 people, Maitino was inhabited by 890 people, La Marina had a population of 2,008, La Perleta was home to 1,376 people, Puçol was inhabited by 900 people, Torrellano had a population of 7,480, Vallverda was home to 1,767 people and Los Arenales del Sol was inhabited by 2,019 people.[22][23]
The local government also acknowledges Matola, which is part of Algoda according to the Spanish Statistical Institute; Penya de les Àguiles, which is part of El Pla de Sant Josep according to the same institution, and Santa Anna, which is not recognised by the Statistical Institute.[24]
10.497% inhabitants are foreigners – 3.267% come from other countries of Europe, 3.369% are African, 2.46% are American, 1.139% are Asian and 15 people from Oceania and stateless people reside in the municipality.[25] The table below shows the population trend of 20th and 21st centuries by the beginning of their decades.[26]
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The economy of Elche is based, in large part, on thefootwear industry, with over 1,000 shoe factories, being one of the most important footwear centres in Spain and the rest ofEurope with brands likePura Lopez,Kelme orPanama Jack [es].[27] There are other economic activities in Elche:agriculture (dates,olives,cereals andpomegranates), although it has lost importance in recent years;rubber industry;[28]trade, which employs 20% of the workforce; aerospace (PLD Space); andtourism.
Elche's annual average temperature is above 18 °C (64 °F). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 43.2 °C (109.8 °F) on 12 July 2021[32] while the coldest temperature ever recorded was −5.0 °C (23.0 °F) on 12 February 1956.[33]
Altamira Castle, also known asAlcázar de la Señoría, located next to the Municipal Park (which, in turn, is a part of the Elche Palm Grove). It was originally built inAlmohad times (12th-13th centuries), and was later renovated with brick exterior in the 15th century. A former fortress, in 1913 it became a fabric plant, it has also been used as the town hall and as a prison during theSpanish Civil War, while today is home to theElche Archaeology and History Museum.[38]
Baños Arabes (Arabic Baths), which re-uses old Roman baths.
Basilica of Santa Maria: The current temple was built in 1672. Previously, there were other temples in the same place, but they disappeared owing to several factors. It has a la Latin-cross plan, a large nave and four side chapels. A large dome has been constructed over the crossing.[39][40]
Calahorra Tower, of rectangular plan andArabic origin, it represents the last relic of the old city walls.[41]
Municipio (Town Hall): it includes a tower namedla torre del consell, and it is the most ancient structure in the south of theValencian Community. It was built in the mid-15th century.[42]
Convento de la Merced: it was built in a place where there were Arabic baths. It dates back to 1270, when the prince Juan Manuel bestowed the baths to the grand master of a religious order.[43]
Huerto del Cura: it is part of thePalmeral of Elche and hosts nearly 500 palm trees. There are individuals of theimperial palm species.[44]
Elche Palaeontological Museum: more than 1,200 fossils are on display in the museum. Some elements such as remains of mastodons and replicas of dinosaurs are placed in the building.[45]
Palm Groves Museum: This museum is allocated in a traditional 19th century building. This museum is devoted to the history, the evolution and the characteristics of thePalmeral of Elche.[47]
TheMystery Play of Elx (better known asMisteri d'Elx, in Valencian) is a sacral-lyrical medieval drama, dated from the 15th century, which was declared aMasterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity byUNESCO in 2002. It is played every year in mid August, in the context of the local holidays dedicated to theAssumption of Virgin Mary.[48] Also as a part of this celebration, on the 13th of August is the date of a celebration in Elche called Nit de l'Albà (Night of the Dawn) in which a citywide night-long show of fireworks takes place.
TheMadrid–Levante high-speed rail network was extended to reach a new station named Elche-Matola in 2021, branching off from the line to Alicante nearMonforte del Cid. The newAVE station contains parking space for 500 cars and 50 motorcycles.[50]
Moros i Cristians: it occurs in the first fortnight of August. The theme of this festivity is the Muslim rule that occurred in the High Middle Ages and part of the Late Middle Ages and the battles which took place between Christians and Muslims as a consequence of this occupation. A more specific subject of this festivity is theReconquista.[52]
Christmas: A nativity scene is placed in the town and a living nativity scene also occurs during the festive period. A parade which theme is the Three Wise Men is also performed in the Epiphany's Eve (5 January).[54]
Sílvia Soler Espinosa (born 1987), former tennis player. She played in tournaments in theWTA. Her record position was semifinalist in the Strasbourg tour.[55]
Francisco Mojica (born 1963), microbiologist, noted for his research on theCRISPR gene editing technique[56]
The Elche Grand Theater is a theatrical space constructed at the beginning of the 20th Century, created by the architect Alfonso Garín. It was opened in 1920 with the name Kursaal Theater. The interior of the room is in a horseshoe shape, where an orchestra section in front of the stage and two amphitheaters with box seats on the sides can be found. At the beginning of the 90s, the building was acquired by the local government, becoming municipal property. After a reform, the theater was reopened on May 16, 1996, by Queen Sofía. The theater is found in the historical area of the city, very close to the Glorieta. The Grand Theater houses all types of theatrical, dance, and musical performances.
Opened on November 7, 2008, in the installations of the old Elche Slaughterhouse - constructed in the decade of 1940 - is a 5000 m2 space oriented to the young public. The complex is divided into four pavilions: in the first one there is a theatrical space with more than 150 chairs, allocated for housing theatrical, resonant, and visual art shows; the second pavilion, called The Nave, is home to the multipurpose room where plastic art exhibitions, as well as open essays and special representations of performance, theater and music, are celebrated; in the third, rehearsal rooms that are available for rent, loan or assignment for the sound arts can be found; the fourth pavilion is the most spacious of the four, and houses the different studios that the center has as well as a small room of temporary exhibitions called Sala Lanart. In addition to the pavilions, the centre has - since 2009 - a terrace in which performances and projections can be carried out outside.
The room is located in the remodelled installations of the old fruit and vegetable market from the Altabix neighbourhood constructed between 1941 and 1942. It was opened on April 12, 2008, and is a place where dance, theater, and music shows intended for young audiences are carried out, as well as school graduations and other events that can take place in it. In the time of elections, it is used as an electoral college.
The Alejandro Ramos Folqués Archaeological and History Museum of Elche has been turned into an archaeological cultural model at a regional level of great importance. Situated in the interior of the Altamira Palace - in the Elche historical center and very close to Saint María basilica - it was opened on May 18, 2006, with a grand exhibition about Iberic culture, among where the Lady of Elche was found - one of the most significant pieces of Iberic art, transferred temporarily by the National Archaeological Museum for six months (from May 18 to November 1 in 2006).
Like a permanent exhibition, the museum offers a general overview of the distinct stages that have been taking place in the city, such as the Neolithic, the Copper Age, the Bronze Age, the Iberian stage, the process of Romanization, the Visigothic era, and the Islamic settlement (current site of the city) until the present.
The archaeological remains come from, among others, the Alcudia site, Elche Park (situated in one of the gardens in the city and which has provided important sculptural remains) and El Arenero de Monforte del Cid.
The Festa Museum, about the Mystery of Elche, originated with the intention of showing La Festa to the visitors that come to the city throughout the year. The museum is made of two rooms: the first is where scenic tradition that involves the Mystery is collected, which can be posters, sketches, crowns, costumes, guitars...and the other is a more dynamic room, where new technologies are used, combining many visual images like typical smells and sounds from La Festa. Part of the museum is located in what was Saint Sebastian's Shrine, which is also closely linked to Assumptionist drama and was restored for the purpose of creating the museum.
The Palm Grove Museum, found in a traditional house of the Garden of Saint Placidus (Huerto de San Plácido), close to the Garden of Healing (Huerto del Cura). The museum is dedicated to recognizing the municipal relationship with the palm groves. It shows the origins, history, culture of the palm grove, as well as the uses and its evolution. In the rooms, an overview of the history of the Palm Grove is shown through videos, panels, demonstrative elements and sounds, which continues with a visit to its own garden outside.
The Traditional Culture Centre Pusol School Museum
The Traditional Culture Center Pusol School Museum was created in the year 1969 as an activity linked to the Pedagogical Project “The School and its Fear,” which developed the study of the purposes and traditions of the Field of Elche (Campo de Elche). In the museum, unique collections are housed that show distinct ethnological aspects (agriculture, business, industry, folklore, traditions, etc.) available for scientific studies at all levels. In 2009, it was included by UNESCO in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In addition to these, other museums and places of interest exist in Elche:
Paleontological Museum in the plaza of Saint Juan Church.
Alcudia Museum, situated in the archaeological site where the Lady of Elche was found.
Museum of Contemporary Art, in the Raval neighborhood.
Museum of the Assumption of the Virgin, Patron Saint of Elche Museum dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin.
Visitors center in the Municipal Park, with audiovisual projections about the city.
Municipal Centre of Exhibitions, with seasonal nature exhibitions.
The Centre of Exhibitions of the Lonja, which is situated on the first floor of the Town Hall, occasionally houses exhibitions, primarily with themes related to the city.
Espai d’Art, which is a walk near the Municipal Park where we can contemplate contemporary art sculptures.
Arabian baths, which are found in the inside of the Clarisas Convent.
^"Roman Policy in Spain",Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, p.209Archived 2018-11-30 at theWayback Machine.
^abc"Historia – VisitElche".VisitElche – Portal oficial de Turismo de la ciudad española de Elche.Archived from the original on 2021-01-14. Retrieved2021-01-15.
^"Nit de la Roà – VisitElche".VisitElche – Portal oficial de Turismo de la ciudad española de Elche (in Spanish).Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved2021-01-11.
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