EL HUERTO DEL CURA

In the palm grove, but located in the heart of the city, this cura del, an orchard of the priest, owes its name to the chaplain José Castaño Sánchez, who was the owner until 1918. With small dimensions (13 000 m ²) compared to the whole occupied by the palm grove, it houses about 1 000 palm trees, of course the most specific forms of palms, but also other fruit trees such as lemon, orange or grenadier. The visit of this very charming orchard, a national artistic garden since 1943, is highly recommended. By taking its time, since many corners and corners can to the walk. At the entrance you can see the house and chapel of the priest. Built in 1940, the current house retains the main features of the architecture of the site: a large eastern porch, the shadow of which was the selection of dates, and supported by columns made of palm trees, just like the beams. The chapel was built in 1900 by the chaplain José Castaño Sánchez, with the exception of the altar altarpiece, in the th century Castilian baroque style, added by the current owners of the garden. In front of the house of the priest, you will be able to follow the place called the tunnel of the salomónica, and turn right into a pond where there is a reproduction of the Dame lady, a bust found in Elche in 1897 and now exposed to Madrid. To the great displeasure of the city that would like to see her return home. Your journey will also lead you to cross many tagged palm trees, in tribute to illustrious visitors, among them the kings of Spain, the pianist Arturo Rubinstein or Severo Ochoa, the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1959. And of course, the imperial palm tree dedicated to Sissi Empress who visited the palm grove in 1894. An impressive tree that has become with the years a wonderful candelabra to 8 branches exceeding 8 tons. Rockeries areas, dotted with cacti and grasses or ponds with beautiful water lilies are also the programme.

At the entrance to the orchard, a small shop will allow you to shop in local products, dates but also bread or dating liqueur.