Elche Palm Forest & Old Town

Elche — known in Valencian as Elx — is a city of genuine world significance, and one of the most rewarding day trips from Vista del Sol. Its Palmeral, a vast grove of date palms originally planted by the Moors in the 10th century, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. With over 200,000 palm trees covering an area of several square kilometres, it is quite simply the largest palm grove in Europe — and unlike anything you will find elsewhere on the continent.

The best way to experience the Palmeral is on foot or by bicycle, following the clearly marked routes that wind through the grove. The quality of light filtering through the canopy of palm fronds is extraordinary, and the temperature drops noticeably as you move into the deeper sections. The Huerto del Cura garden, a private section of the grove open to visitors, contains the most famous single specimen — the Palmera Imperial, a 2,000-year-old palm with seven branches growing from a single trunk, declared a national monument.

At the heart of the old town stands the Basílica de Santa María, a magnificent baroque church whose blue-tiled domes are visible from across the city. The basilica is the setting for the Misteri d’Elx — the Mystery Play of Elche — a medieval musical drama performed every August since the 13th century and the only surviving European example of its kind, protected by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Elche’s old town is compact and very walkable. The Arab baths, the medieval Alcázar, the Museu Arqueològic i d’Història d’Elx (MAHE) — all are within easy walking distance of the central plaza. The city’s covered market is excellent for local produce.