Huerta del Cura in Elche

Thousands of date palms surround three sides of the historic inland city of Elche, one of only two palm forests in Europe. Probably originally planted by the Phoenicians in the 4th century BC, these magnificent trees are still watered by the 10th century irrigation system built by the Moor Abderraman III. The palms have infiltrated the city, providing shade and bursts of cool green wherever you look. Within this vast forest some areas have been transformed into gardens and parks, the most famous of which are the Huerto del Cura, or Priest's Grove, and the beautifully manicured municipal park.

Laid out in the 19th century, Huerto del Cura palms shelter stands of orange and pomegranate trees, and paths wind past glorious displays of cacti and lilies. Beside a lily pond deep in the garden stands a replica of the bust known as the Dama del Elx, a mysterious and enigmatic Iberian figure dating from 500 BC and discovered in 1897 at the nearby hamlet of La Alcudia The original is now in the Museo Arqueol6gico in Madrid. The most famous tree is the Imperial Palm, a vast and ancient hermaphrodite with seven stems, six male and one date bearing female, growing from one main trunk. The date crop from specific trees has traditionally been for consumption by famous Spaniards; two palms regularly supply King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia with dates.