My city

I would like speaking about the city where I was born and where I live nowadays.
I was living here since since 1980 to 1992. In 1992 I went to live with my grandparents and my mum to Granada for 4 years. In 1996 I returned to Elche until today.
Every Sundays I work as a free-guide in Elche,so if you want visit the city and need a guide to know better the city ,please send me an e-mail and for me will be a pleasure help you (of course you don´t have to pay anything).

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. Greeks Ionian colonists from the achaian city Helice established their new colony, naming it Helike around 600 BC. The Romans called the city Ilici and granted it the status of colonia; after a brief Byzantine rule, the Goths took over, establishing an episcopal see.

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. The city grew throughout the 18th century 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 archeological 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, 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.

In the town center you can visit the beautiful Basílica de Santa María :

And in the Basílica a series of stairs takes visitors up to the bell tower, which offers outstanding views over the city.

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

Near to the Basílica you can visit MAHE museum and of course Altamira´s castle:

Next to the castle you can see Vinalopo´s river and of course you can walk around the river :

Elche has another beautiful Church called Sacred Heart of Jesus

The city has too a great Municipal Park:

We continue our walk, leaving behind us beautiful places until Arabic Baths :

If you are interested to see the famous Mystery Play of Elx remember that is celebrated in the Basilica de Santa María in the city of Elx/Elche on 14 and 15 August of each year.

Alcudia Museum

La Alcudia is 10 km from the current city's location and the immediate predecessor of current day Elche

The Monographic Museum of La Alcudia is situated on the actual archaeological site. Recently remodelled, it is extremely helpful in educating the visitor about Iberian sculpture and ceramics.

It houses ceramic pieces of great quality, decorated with geometric patterns in the so-called Elche-Archena style, dated between the second and first centuries BC. Some similarities exist between these ceramics and those found in Lower Aragon, suggesting the influence of the Elche-Archena or the Amarejo-Meca style on the ceramics of the Ebro Valley. In addition, the fragmented collection of Iberian sculpture is a notable feature, dating back to between the fifth and fourth centuries BC.

There are also materials from the Bronze Age, many materials from the Roman period, and findings from the Visigoth period in the collection.

Finally if foy like the arabic culture you have to visit an amazing place called "Carmen del Campillo". This place is not in Elche,but it´s very near (more or less 15 minuts in a car).
In this arabic house you can visit the most beautiful gardens that you could imagine while you have an excellent Tea in comfortables sits.
If you are interested in visit this place contact with me and I´ll show you.  I´ll take you to see this place ,you only have to pay the entrance to the house ( 7 euros ) and in the price are includes tea and tipical arabics cakes.