Have an awareness of the history, evolution, culture and characteristics of Elche’s historic Palm Grove will enable us to enjoy and appreciate it to a greater extent. To this end and with the advent of UNESCO’s World Heritage Listing in 2000, the City Hall created the facility known as Palm Grove Museum and Interpretation Centre.

A traditional 19th century house was chosen as the ideal setting for this museum and educational facility. The house has two wings connected by a covered wooden bridge and is located in the heart of the city at the grove known as Huerto de San Plácido, quite close to Huerto del Cura and on the Palm Grove Walk. Not surprisingly it is surrounded by palm trees and their history, uses and evolution are divulged in the various exhibition rooms inside by way of videos, panels, displays, tactile screens and ambience sound.

A stroll in the grove

The museum experience is complemented by a walk outside in the grove where a specialised palm worker or “palmerero” (Mornings from Tuesday to Friday; booking required) will show his or her white palm plaiting skills in the workshop annex of the museum; here, new craftsmen and women are trained in this traditional cottage industry. The craft courses last for seven months but the higher qualification in this trade is only awarded after three years of supervised training.