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The basílica de Santa María and Altamira Palace surrounded by the date-palm orchards of central Elx
Stadt

Alicante · Baix Vinalopó

Elx

A city built into an irrigated palm landscape, where the medieval Misteri, the archaeology of Ilici and a modern footwear economy remain part of everyday Elx.

Palms, theatre and Ilici

A city growing inside an irrigated palm landscape

Elx is not merely bordered by palms. Historic orchards, irrigation channels and rows of date palms enter the city, preserving the structure of an agricultural oasis beside the old medina.

That living landscape sits alongside the basílica de Santa María, where the Misteri d'Elx is performed, and the long archaeology of Ilici at La Alcúdia. Footwear manufacturing explains the scale of the modern city beyond them.

Fast facts

INE padrón, 1 Jan 2025

Population
245,557
Change since 2015
+8%

227,312 in 2015

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One new contribution

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The basílica de Santa María and Altamira Palace within the date-palm orchards of Elx
New contribution · Summer 2026

Elche and the Palmeral

How irrigation, date-palm orchards, the Misteri, ancient Ilici and footwear production form the landscape and identity of Elx.

Published 1 September 2026

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