Discover Elche: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Attention garden lovers—this one’s for you! Discover Palmeral de Elche park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts an amazing microclimate, enabling the creation of one of the largest palm forests in southern Europe, with nearly 250,000 palms. Commercial palm plantations are not financially viable here, so it is rare to find so many palms in one place. Visit its Municipal Park to learn more about the different local species and why there are so many palms here. The highlight of your tour will be crossing the threshold of the Huerto del Cura—the Priest’s Garden, which dates back to 1918. With more than 300 types of plants, the garden offers 300 perfect excuses to dawdle, lollygag and procrastinate. You’ll have free time to walk around and explore on your own, or purchase some local specialties (at your own expense). Date palms are the most common variety here, but don’t miss the Elisabeth Palm named for Empress Sissi, and the Imperial Palm, with its many trunks.