Elche

La Alcudia is 10 km from the current city's location and the immediate predecessor of current day Elche. This original location was settled by the Greeks and then occupied by Carthaginians and Romans. Greek Ionian colonists from the Achaean city Helike established their new colony, naming it Helíkē (Greek: Ἑλίκη) around 600 BC. It was a point of resistance against Carthaginian advance in Spain between the First and Second Punic Wars.[6][7] The Romans called the city Ilici or Illice and granted it the status of colonia;[7] after a brief Byzantine rule, the Goths took over, establishing an episcopal see.

19th century photograph of Elche by Jean Laurent.

Elche lost importance during the period of Moorish 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 the Reconquista.[7] The city grew throughout the 18th century[8] and became more important during the 19th century with the arrival of the railway and a booming industrial development of what used to be the traditional footwear industry.

Many archaeological remains have been found in Elche, with the stone bust of the Lady of Elche (Dama de Elche/Dama d'Elx in Spanish and Valencian (or Catalan), respectively) being the most important. This may date from the Iberian period (4th century BC). The original is in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.[9][10]

It shares borders with Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, San Fulgencio, Dolores, Catral, Crevillent, Aspe, Montforte del Cid and Alicante. The most remarkable landform is Vinalopó River.[11]

According to the Spanish Stadistical 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 livin 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.[12][13]

The local government also acknowledges Matola, which is part of Algoda according to the Spanish Stadistical Institute; Penya de les Àguiles, which is part of El Pla de Sant Josep accoding to the same institution, and Santa Anna, which is not recognised by the Stadistical Institute.[14]

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.[15] The table below shows the population trend of 20th and 21st centuries by the beginning of their decades.[16]

The economy of Elche is based, in large part, on the footwear industry, with over 1,000 shoe factories, being one of the most important footwear centres in Spain and the rest of Europe with brands like Pura Lopez or Panama Jack.[17] There are other economic activities in Elche: agriculture (dates, olives, cereals and pomegranates), although it has lost importance in recent years; rubber industry;[18] trade, which employs 20% of the workforce; and tourism.

Elche has a conference centre (called Ciutat d'Elx), an international airport (Aeropuerto de Alicante) a public University, Universidad Miguel Hernández, and a private University, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera.

Elche has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSh) close to a desert climate (BWh)[19][20] with mild, dry winters and hot, dry summers.

Basilica of Santa María de Elche.

Palmeral of Elche (The Palm Grove of Elche)

Old part of the city, Barrio del Raval.

• Palmeral of Elche ("The Palm Grove of Elche", Palmerar d'Elx in Valencian (or Catalan)). It is an orchard of over 200,000 palm trees that was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000.[24]
• Altamira Castle, also known as Alcázar de la Señoría, located next to the Municipal Park (which, in turn, is a part of the Elche Palm Grove) It was originally built in Almohad 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 the Spanish Civil War, while today is home to the Elche Archaeology and History Museum.[25]
• 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 navel and four side chapels. A large dome has been constructed over the crossing.[26][27]
• Calahorra Tower, of rectangular plan and Rabic origin, it represent the last relic of the old city walls.[28]
• Municipio (Town Hall): it includes a tower named la torre del consell, and it is the most ancient structure in the south of the Valencian Community. It was built in the mid-15th century.[29]
• 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.[30]
• Huerto del Cura: it is part of the Palmeral of Elche and hosts nearly 500 palm trees. There are individuals of the imperial palm species.[31]
• 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.[32]
• Elche Municipal Festa Museum: it was built in 1997 and it hosts elements about the Misteri d'Elx performance.[33]
• 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 the Palmeral of Elche.[34]

The Mystery Play of Elx (better known as Misteri d'Elx, in Valencian (or Catalan)) is a sacral-lyrical medieval drama, dated from the 15th century, which was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2002. It is played every year in mid August, in the context of the local holidays dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary.[35] 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.

The Alicante–Elche Airport, the fifth-busiest in Spain is located in the municipality of Elche, around 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) east from the city centre. The Autopista AP-7 serves the outskirts of the city, and the railway linking Alicante and Murcia del Carmen runs through a tunnel underneath the city, with two underground stations; Elche-Parque (Valencian: Elx-Parc) and Elche-Carrús (Valencian: Elx-Carrús).[36] These are served by line C–1 of the Cercanías Murcia/Alicante commuter rail service, along with Media Distancia trains between Valencia Nord station and Murcia.

The Madrid–Levante high-speed rail network is being extended to reach a new station named Elche-Matola, branching off from the line to Alicante near Monforte del Cid. The new AVE station will contain parking space for 500 cars and 50 motorcycles.[37]

• Holy Week: as generally in Spain, several processions (festive religious parades) occur during the festive period.[38]
• 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 Low 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 the Reconquista.[39]
• Nit de la Roà: it takes place in the mid August.[40]
• 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).[41]

• Marceliano Coquillat (1865–1924), architect.
• Saúl Ñíguez (b. 1994), a footballer.
• Aarón Ñíguez (b. 1989), a footballer.
• Sílvia Soler Espinosa (b. 1987), an ex-tennis player. She played in tournaments in the WTA. Her record position was semifinalist in the Strasbourg tour.[42]
• Francisco Mojica (b. 1963), a microbiologist noted for his research on the CRISPR gene editing technique.[43]

• Toulouse, France (since 1981)[44]
• San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Spain (since 1982)[45]
• Jaca, Spain (since 1984)[46]

• Elche CF
• Medieval Festival of Elx
• Route of the Castles of Vinalopó

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elx.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Elche.

• Tour virtual 360° por la ciudad de Elche (in Spanish)
• Economical and social information about the city 2007 (in English)
• Ajuntament d'Elx, Town Hall of Elche (in Catalan and Spanish)
• Instituto Valenciano de Estadística City official statistics.
• Turisme d'Elx, City council official Tourist guide (in English, Catalan, and Spanish)
• Elche, City overview from a local citizen (in English)
• Cultura d'Elx, City council Cultural events website (in Catalan and Spanish)
• FuturElx, City council strategical development guidelines (in Spanish)
• The first ever Elche Home Page (in English)
• Miguel Hernandez University of Elche (in Catalan and Spanish)
• BBC Radio 3 programme on Mystery Play - available to listen online 14-21 October 2006 (in English)
• Festival of street arts Elx al Carrer (in Spanish)
• Museums of Elche (in Spanish)

Panoramic view of Elche from the Basílica de Santa María: the Altamira Castle is to the left, next to the Municipal Park.