Enjoy an interesting morning in Elche, the “Palm Forest of Europe”, a town that has been declared a World Heritage Site.
Drive through part of the palm forest and groves to the delightful “Priest’s Garden”. Here a pleasant visit is made to admire the abundant variety of species of Mediterranean plants, shrubs and cacti. The focal point of the garden is the magnificent eight trunks “Imperial Palm”.
The Palm grove is a group of productive gardens of palms date palms that constitute a forest close to the city of Elche. It occupies 1.617.000 square meters and accounts with more than 200.000 specimens.
Enjoy a specially prepared tasting of local produce such as dates, fig bread, dried apricots and date liqueur.
Visit the Basílica of St. Maria where one of the major events in the Elche calendar is celebrated - the mediaeval passion play “The Mystery of Elche”, the only passion play that is permitted by the Vatican to take place inside a church.
Stroll through the quiet Municipal Park before visiting one of Elche’s foremost shoes factories. Elche is the major manufacturing centre for shoes in Spain and, during your visit, an audio visual and a demonstration of the manufacturing process will explain the origins and the development of the trade.
Sip a glass of one of the local liqueurs before entering the showroom where a selection of shoes is available to buy at factory prices.
After the visit, we will depart to the Port of Valencia or Hotel.