When visiting Elx you will find a surprising city where several possibilities await you. A number of civilizations have left their marks in a vast district of 326 Km2. You will enjoy both of a privileged environment and a remarkable architectural and cultural heritage.

Recently the city was distinguished with two international UNESCO awards. Both the Palm Groves and the medieval play known as the Misterí d’Elx were listed as World Heritage. These worthy of mention landmarks are deeply rooted in the feelings of the people of Elx where they have been passed on for centuries to future generations.

Elx has a small historical centre with remarkable buildings and monuments. After the Muslim invasion of Spain in the 8th century, the ancient Roman colony of Illice, situated in l’Alcudía, moved to the present site of the city. The Monumental Route enables you to see the main architectural styles making up for Europe’s historical past since the 10th century.

The Urban landscape in Elx is very special indeed since most of the Elx Palm Groves, the largest Oasis in Europe, surround the old part of the city. Many of the groves are opened to the public as beautiful parks and gardens.

Landscape
The Elx district is full of surprises. The coast is 12 km from the city where 9 km of exceptionally protected beaches await you. For the most part, building has been highly restricted and highly valued protected areas include the dunes of the Carabassi and the beaches of La Marina d’Elx. There are three thriving tourist developments around l’Altet, els Arenals del Sol and La Marina D’Elx.

It is also possible to enjoy three typical Mediterranean marshland areas offering extraordinary biotic characteristics: the lagoons of the Parc Natural del Fondo d’Elx-Crevillient, where a great diversity of flora and fauna live in its 2.387 hectares; the Clot de Galvany, an important natural reserve and, last but not least, the salt marshes of the Park Natural de les Salines de Santa Pola d’Elx.

In the Elx countryside you can also visit l’Alcudía, an archaeological site in the Dolores Road. It was here that an Iberian bust known as the Dama d’Elx was found and you can visit both the site and the museum. In the rural area of Puçol, a few kilometres from town, you can also visit the Centre de Cultural Traditional, devoted too the Elx.

World Heritage
Elx is now one of the few cities in the world with two UNESCO World Heritage awards, for its cherished heritage: the Elx Palm Groves and the Misteri d’Elx play. Both are closely related to the city’s historical past and identity, and it is hard to understand Elx without them.

The Elx Palm Groves
Palm groves have become the city’s of Elx most expressive image. They are much more than a landscape for tourists. Moreover, they are a feature of the town’s personality, since it endows the town’s planning with a special model. Palms can be seen in the decoration of Iberian vases from the 2nd century B.C. indicating that they were used in cultural rites and celebrations. Nevertheless, the present palm groves farming and irrigation system dates from the Muslim culture.

With over 200.000 palm-trees, palm groves are protected by law an d great care is taken in reforestation. Apart from the characteristic landscape, palm trees produce dates and white palms for the Palm Sunday Procession, declared of International Tourist Interest. They also reappear in the Misteri d’Elx play when a angel descends from heaven offering a white palm to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The most visited palm groves include the Huerto del Cura, The Municipal, Jaume I Filet de Fora Parks.

The Mystery Play of Elx
The Misteri or Fiesta d’Elx is a sung medieval sacred drama play belonging to performances linked to the Assumption of Mary witch were held in southern Europe. After the council of Trento forbade performances within the walls of Catholic churches, the Misteri d’Elx became the only vestige of an ancient tradition after obtaining a bull from Pope Urban VIII in 1632.

We are before a liturgical ceremony aimed to proclaim the Catholic dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The play is divided in two acts, known a la Vespra (The Vespers) and La Fiesta and it is held, every year, on the 14th and 15th August in the basilica of Saint Mary.

On of the play’s outstanding merits is the fact that singers are not professional. People who prepare the play and the complex stage also do so far altruistic reasons.

The space of the Elx Mistery Play, known locally as the festa d’Elx, is clearly divided in two planes: horizontal-earth and aerial-earth-vertical. In the centre of the basilica’s transept a square stage is set, known as the cadafal (Cataphalque), to which one arrives through a long corridor known as the andador. In the space a false heaven canvas is set, at the dome’s base.

We must underline the use of aerial engines such a la Mangrana (pomegranate) l’Araceli and la Coronació (coronation), which are used for spectacular apparitions of angles, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary or her coronation by the Holy Trinity.

Fiesta
The annual fiesta in Elx is held in August. Celebrations in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption are widely known for the Misteri d’elx play, a medieval sung drama depicting the death and assumption to heaven of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the night of the 13th August, known as the Nit de l’Albá (Night of Dawn), spectacular fireworks enlighten the skies of Elx in an uproar of colour and powder.

Another much loved fiesta is known as la vinguda de la Mare de Déu de l’Assumpció (Our Lady’s of the Assumption Arrival) held in December. It commemorates the finding f an arch floating on the waves in which, according to tradition, them image of Our Lady an d the libretto of the medieval play were found by the legendary coastguard Francesc Cantó. The heyday in the Elx Holy week processions is Palm Sunday, declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest. Tens of thousands of locally produced white palms are carried in this procession, the Sunday before Eastern.

Fiesta and history walk hand in hand again every year for the August, Moors and Christians processions where parades and the embassy act are a must.

Cuisine
Regional cuisine is waiting for you to discover it. The king dish of local Elx cuisine is known as arrós amb crosta (a tasty rice incluiding chicken, sausages and a top layer of omelette).
You can also ask for rice such as "rabbit and snails" and the no less appreiated puxtero amb tarrongtes, (a stew including chicken, veal and meat-balls).
For dessert, locally produced fruit incluides dates, figs and pomegranates. We mus't forget the tortada d'Elx (almond cake) or the traditional pa de figa (fig bread cake) traditional liqueurs include cantueso (red lavender), paloma anisette and licor de dátil (date).

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