Costa Blanca South

A walk through the center of Elche takes you past the Arabic history of the city and many baroque architecture. For example, the current basilica of the city was built on the site where a large mosque once stood. See this basilica of Santa María, visit the cozy square La Glorieta Plaza and stroll through the beautiful parks of the city.

Elche is known as 'the city of palm trees', with its beautiful and unique palm tree garden. With more than 200,000 palm trees, it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000.

If you walk around Elche you will find many historic buildings, squares and churches.

Sights:

1. Palmeral

Palmeral is probably the biggest attraction in the center of Elche. This is the palm grove that the Arabs once built in the city. There are sources that indicate that the palm trees have been planted as early as the fifth century, by the Carthaginians. Yet it is most likely that the palm trees have been there since the tenth century, when the Arabs moved the city of Elche and came up with a new, ingenious irrigation system to make them flourish. Meanwhile, the Palmeral is on the World Heritage List.

2. Basílica de Santa Maria

This basilica is located in the old center of Elche, and is therefore not to be missed. This church is worth seeing just from the outside. The entrance doors are gigantic and decorated with various reliefs. The Basilica de Santa Maria is definitely worth a look.

3. Huerto del Cura (botanical garden)

Besides the Palmeral, the Huerto Del Cura also depicts the exotic character of Elche. In this botanical garden you will find cacti, palm trees and other tropical plants. There are so many colors that your eyes don't know where to look first. Nice to know is that a large part of the 1000 palm trees that can be found in this garden are dedicated to various celebrities. The first to be credited with eight trees was Empress Sissi.

4. Rio Safari

Besides gardens full of trees, there are also gardens full of animals in Elche. The Rio Safari Elche is a small but well stoked zoo with lions, zebras and tigers, among others. You can easily spend an afternoon here looking at all that beastly beauty. There is also a small water park at the park. Here the children can take a dip in the swimming pool as soon as they have had enough animal watching. (https://riosafari.com/en/).

5.Banys Àrabs

Elche's Arab past is not only reflected in the palm grove, but also in its old bathhouses. The Banys Arabs is one large space with the remains of a number of ancient Arab baths. You won't need to stay here for too long, but with its free entry and centrally located place, it's definitely worth stopping by.

6. MAHE

The rich history of the city is extensively exhibited in the Museu Arqueològic i d'Història d'Elx. There are also other archaeological finds to consider and the building itself is also worth seeing. There is an old part and more modern part in the basement. Here you will find various video presentations and artifacts that more than clearly map the history under your feet. You are comfortable for two to three hours. A fun afternoon full of history. (https://www.visitelche.com/en/cultura/museos/museo-arqueologico-y-de-historia-de-elche-mahe/).

Widely known, the 3rd largest city on the Costa Blanca. Torrevieja has 110,000 inhabitants. However, it has been proven that more than 200,000 people stay in Torrevieja every day every year. Torrevieja is a huge tourist magnet because of its microclimate, created by the two salt lakes and mountains in the interior.

Sights:

Las Salinas de Torrevieja

Las Salinas de Torrevieja is a lake that sometimes seems to turn pink due to the salt. You can get here by car, or with a special train that takes you along the lake. Also it is nice place to do a simple walk. Do wear your old shoes because the paths around the lake can be quite muddy at times. You can also see various birds here, and of course the rippling water of the lake itself.

Dique de Levante

The Dique de Levante is a 1600 meter long pier that extends from the coast of Torrevieja into the Mediterranean Sea. There is also a lighthouse at the end of the pier. After a walk on the boulevard you will automatically end up at this pier. If you can still manage it, and walk to the lighthouse, you can look far over the sea from there and see the port of Torrevieja from a distance. Perfect for admiring the sunset, for example.

Museos flotantes Delfín S-61 y Albatros III

This small museum in the port of Torrevieja is situated in a submarine. For less than a few euros per person you can go inside and take a look yourself at what it was like under the sea surface. When you walk through the boat and see all the narrow nooks and crannies, the limited space in the corridors, you will hardly be able to imagine that there were no fewer than 56 people on board the submarine.

Waterparks

For those who need a little more action than the calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, there are Aquapolis Torrevieja (info & tickets) and Aquapark Flamengo. In these two water parks there is more than enough swimming fun for everyone. There are slides and paddling pools. Something for everyone. Both parks are close to Torrevieja and are not expensive. They are easy to reach by car, and with their many attractions a fun day out for every family.