Spanish
Cities and Towns
Once you have selected your preferred
region of Spain read up on some of the towns and cities to
narrow your choice for a property purchase. The most popular
of these are described in the following pages.
Alicante,
Almeria,
Altea,
Andalusia,
Aspe,
Barcelona,
Baza,
Benalmadena,
Benidorm,
Benitachell,
Blanes,
Calpe,
Cartegena,
Castilla la Macha,
Catalonia,
Crevillent,
Denia,
Elche,
Estepona,
Fuengirola,
Granada,
Guadix,
La Romana,
La Vega Baja,
Lorca,
Malaga,
Mar Menor,
Marbella,
Mazarron,
Mijas,
Murcia,
Nerja,
Orihuela,
Puerto Banus,
Quesada,
Salinas,
Salou,
Sitges,
Sotogrande,
Spanish regions,
Tabarca,
Taberno,
Tarragona,
Torremolinos,
Torrevieja,
Tossa del Mar,
Valencia,
Valencian Community,
Zurgena
Elche
Elche. Some 23km inland from Alicante
is the capital of the El Baix district and the Valencian region's
third largest city in terms of population. Elche had it's
original location at L'Alcudia where the bust of the Lady
of Elche was found, however the city was moved by the Moors
to it's current position, surrounded by groves of palm trees.
Today over 300,000 officially protected palm trees in the
city lend it a somewhat exotic air. These palms are evident
on every street corner and can be especially enjoyed in the
well-tended city park and just a short walk away in the Huerto
del Cura (Priest's Garden), where a palm in the form of a
seven-armed candelabra is a good example of the freaks of
nature.
When King James I conquered the city,
the victorious Christians occupied the Vila Murada or walled
city and the Moors moved to the Ravel area, where a contemporary
art gallery is now situated. In the historical, old section
of the city amongst the most interesting sights are the Altamira
Palace, the Basilica of Santa Maria, the Moorish fortress
and the Moorish Baths.
The municipal park in Elche is a wonderful
place to enjoy both the sun and the shade. The park is filled
with tall palms, water features, band stands and much more.
On the other side of the road is the outdoor swimming pool
and the sports park where all manner of sports take place.
The tourist office is located in the
corner of the park.
The River Vinalopo runs through Elche and has several impressive
crossing points. If you stay close to the river you are guaranteed
to see the best of the sights including the Basilica, the
Palacio, the Museo de la Festa and the old town market. The
tourist board can issue you with a street plan that has suggested
routes marked on it to ensure you get the most from your visit.
All over Elche are splendid buildings with intricate stonework
and a fair share of statues and monuments. Look out for the
Lady of Elche.
Be sure to walk and make sure you have
good walking shoes on and take plenty of water with you. Further
afield, a great day out can be had at the Rio Safari park,
located on the Elche - Santa Pola road. The park has a wide
range of animals on display as well as swimming pools and
water slides. There are also dolphin displays to watch. Further
details and prices can be had on 966 63 82 88.
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