Pais Valencia is the region
hugging the Mediterranean along the eastern coast of Spain. It
is a lush and fertile area with orange, lemon and peach groves,
and even rice fields irrigated by systems devised by the Moors.
Here you will find deserted beaches, pretty hilltop villages
and the historic towns and cities of Valencia, Alicante and Cartagena.
The region is divided into 3 provinces - Alicante, Castellon
and Valencia. It is bounded to the north by Cataluna and Aragon,
to the west by Castilla-La Mancha, to the south by Murcia and
to the east by the Mediterranean Sea. Every year holiday-makers
are drawn to the beaches of the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Azahar
and the Costa Calida.
Elche is located 16 miles inland from
Alicante and is the capital of the El Baix district.
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Elche officially has the two names,
Elche in Spanish and Elx in Catalan. The famous Elx Palm Grove
is a forest of over 200,000 palm trees which was declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. The palms lend the city an exotic
air, evident on every street corner and can be especially enjoyed
in the well-tended city park and just a short walk away in the
Huerto del Cura (Priest's Garden), where a palm in the form of
a seven-armed candelabra is a good example of the freaks of nature.
The river Vinalopo flows through the city and has several impressive
crossing points. In the historical, old section of the city amongst
the most interesting sights are the Altamira Palace, the Basilica
of Santa Maria, the Moorish fortress and the Moorish Baths. |