Elche City Centre uerto del Cura

- Basilica de Santa Maria, Vinalopó, MAHE, MARQ, Centre de Congresos, Palmeral de Elche, Placa Glorieta, Plaza de Santa Isabel, Carrer de la Diagonal de Palau


The city centre is mostly modern, but there is a historic part where you find the old church and other buildings. Significant for the centre of Elche is all palms and several palm gardens, parks and squares filled with palms, a heritage from the Phoenicians several thousands years ago! Huerto del Cura is the most famous palm garden.
Vinalopó River, that is more like a creek surrounded by trees then a river, since it is mostly dry, divides the city in two parts with the city centre and old town to the right, where you find most of the palm gardens, in Elche called huertos. Several bridges passes high above Vinalopó, of which two modern suspension bridge with interesting design, and some old ones in classic style. In the heart of the Old Town you find Plaça del Congrés Eucarístic. Around this square and Placa de Santa Isabel, you find the Basilica de Santa Maria, a large beautiful church with blue roof
, the Museum of Archeology and History (MAHE) that is situated in a modern building built above ruins that are visible from above and he Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) in Palacio de Altamira de Elche with it's ruins that can be seen from above. The current Santa Maria Basilica was finished in 1784, the previous church, built in Valencian baroque style, was built above the site of a Moorish mosque. Unfortunately the church wasn't open the afternoon we visited. The Town Hall (Ajuntamiento d'Elx) is also situated there, next to the river, and consist of one modern and one old part. Another nice square is Placa Glorieta with a nice postmodern building, beautiful tile benches and open air restaurants. The city centre is a bit dead daytime but really comes alive in the late afternoon.

Elche City Centre 01 - modernist buildings and palms Elche City Centre 02 Elche City Centre 03 Elche City Centre 04 Elche City Centre 05 - one of many parks with lots of palms Elche City Centre 06 - modernist residential buildings Elche City Centre 07 Elche City Centre 08 - Palms on both sides of Carrer Porta de la Morera Elche City Centre 09 Elche City Centre 10 Elche City Centre 11 -  Parc del Filet de Fora, a public park/palm garden Elche City Centre 12 -   Parc del Filet de Fora,a public park/palm garden Elche City Centre 13 -   Parc del Filet de Fora, a public park/palm garden Elche City Centre 14 -   Parc del Filet de Fora, a public park/palm garden Elche City Centre 15 -  a public park/palm garden Elche City Centre 16 - modernist highrises in next to the palm gardens in central Elche. Elche City Centre 17 - Carrer Porta de la Morera, at the entrance to Horta del Cura Elche City Centre 18 - Centre de Congresos Elche City Centre 19 Elche City Centre 20 Elche City Centre 21 - Placa Glorieta, a nice square Elche City Centre 22  - Placa Glorieta Elche City Centre 23  - Placa Glorieta, postmodern building Elche City Centre 24  - Placa Glorieta, beautiful tile bench Elche City Centre 25 - Placa Glorieta Elche City Centre 26 Elche City Centre 27 - Mercat Central (Central Market) Elche City Centre 28 Elche City Centre 29 - ancient ruins found at excavations next to the market hall at Placa de la Fruta Elche City Centre 30  - ancient ruins found at excavations next to the market hall at Placa de la Fruta Elche City Centre 31 - City Hall (Ajuntament d'Elx) Elche City Centre 32 - City Hall (Ajuntament d'Elx) Elche City Centre 33 - West part of Elche. Vinalupo River divides the city in two parts. Elche City Centre 34 - Vinalupo River divides the city in two parts. Elche City Centre 35 - Carrer Reina Victoria seen from Carrer Porta Oriola, both bridges above the small Vinalupo River. Elche City Centre 36 - Vinalupo River divides the city in two parts. Elche City Centre 37 - Vinalupo River divides the city in two parts. Elche City Centre 38 - Old Town seen from the bridge Elche City Centre 39 - Vinalupo River divides the city in two parts. Elche City Centre 40 - Bimilenario Suspension Bridge Elche City Centre 41 - City Hall Elche City Centre 42 Elche City Centre 43 - West part from Vinalupo River Elche City Centre 44 - small fire vehicle Elche City Centre 45 - another suspension bridge Elche City Centre 46 - Vinalupo River divides the city in two parts. Elche City Centre 47  Museo Arquelógico is situated in this historic building. Elche City Centre 48 Elche City Centre 49 Elche City Centre 50 Elche City Centre 51 - Plaça del Congrés Eucarístic Elche City Centre 52 - Green local bus Elche City Centre 53 - Palacio de Altamira de Elche. Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ). Elche City Centre 54 Elche City Centre 55 - Plaça del Congrés Eucarístic Elche City Centre 56 - ancient ruins beneath the MAHE Museum Elche City Centre 57 - Old Town, Plaza de Santa Isabel and Carrer de la Diagonal de Palau Elche City Centre 58 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 59 - Palmeral de Elche, a large horta (palm garden) opposite the old town. Elche City Centre 60 - ancient ruins beneath the MAHE Museum Elche City Centre 61 - Banksy art? Elche City Centre 62 - MAHE,  Museum of Archeology and History Elche City Centre 63 - - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 64 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 65 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 66 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 67 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 68 Elche City Centre 69 - nice tourist info building Elche City Centre 70 - Old Town Elche City Centre 71 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 72 - Plaça del Congrés Eucarístic Elche City Centre 73 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 74 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 75 - Basilica de Santa Maria Elche City Centre 76 - Ruins, Plaza de Santa Isabel Elche City Centre 77 - - Plaça del Congrés Eucarístic Elche City Centre 78 - most people start to go out later in the afternoon. Elche City Centre 79 - Lincoln 7 restaurant, Placa GlorietaElche City Centre 81 - Elche Congress Centre, we parked our car in the garage beneath it.