The Palmeral of Elche is the largest palm grove in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — an oasis of date palms threaded through the city of Elche. With North African roots and a history going back well over a thousand years, it is a living relic of the irrigation systems brought to the region under Arab rule.
Walking among the thousands of palms, fed by old channels and dotted with fountains, gardens and shaded benches, gives the unmistakable feel of an oasis in the middle of a town. The paths are well kept and free to enter, and the grove is as much a place for a slow stroll as a monument to see.
The Huerto del Cura garden and a long signposted route through the grove are the highlights, and the surrounding old town of Elche — itself rich in history — makes an easy continuation.