The Elche Palm Forest is the largest palm forest in Europe, located in Spain. On its territory of 5.1 km2 are located: Huerto del Cura, a city park and several more gardens.
There are a total of 11,000 palm trees in the park, mostly dates. They are even harvested in December. The largest palm tree was named "Sissi" in honor of the Austrian Empress Elizabeth, the palm is about 165 years old and weighs 10 tons.
Palm cultivation in Elche has been known since the time when the Iberians lived here, around the 5th century BC. The grove survived the era of the Romans and Moors. The forest and irrigation system developed by the end of the 10th century, when most of the Iberian Peninsula was under the control of the Moors.
The climate of the Elche palm forest is dry, with precipitation of 300 mm per year, so the palm trees are planted near irrigation canals that take water from the Vinalopo River. The laws for the protection of the grove appeared for the first time after the Reconquista.
There is a tourist route through the Elche Palm Forest that starts at the Huerto de San Placido, also known as the Palm Museum. You can walk or bike along this path. Its total route length is 2,580 meters.
Gallery
