Elche Free Tour

This free tour around Elche provides a unique opportunity to discover the most symbolic areas of the city while delving into its rich history that dates back to the 15th century.

Tour Details

The meeting point is at the Plaça del Parc at the scheduled time. From there, the tour will commence, allowing participants to explore key locations including two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The first stop will be the Municipal Park, home to the renowned 'Palmeral'. This vast palm grove, recognized as the largest in Europe, spans 1.4 sq miles (3.5 km2) and is emblematic of the Arabic influence in the Iberian Peninsula. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, it features approximately 200,000 palm trees.

Next, we will visit the Palace of Altamira, which has served various purposes throughout its history, including a fort, textile factory, and prison, and currently functions as a museum. It is notable for being one of the best-preserved defensive complexes in the Alicante province.

Continuing our journey, we will walk down Calle Mayor towards the Mercado Central, where remnants of ancient Arab baths can be found amid the lively market stalls. The next highlight is the Town Hall, an impressive 15th century structure. Here, we will appreciate the detailed facade while also observing the intricate ceramic designs on the ground.

Our next destination is Plaza de la Glorieta, where we will learn about the most famous woman in Elche. Afterwards, we will proceed to the Santa Maria Basilica to discover more about the second UNESCO-recognized site, celebrated as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Annually in August, the region hosts the notable religious event, 'El Misteri d'Elx', which reenacts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, originating from the 15th century.

The tour concludes at this last stop, approximately 1.5 hours after we began.

Groups

Please note that groups consisting of more than 6 people are not allowed on this free tour, even if reservations are made separately.