| Elx/Elche | |||
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| — Municipality — | |||
| Altamira Castle in Elche | |||
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Elx/Elche
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Valencian Community | ||
| Province | Alicante | ||
| Comarca | Baix Vinalopó | ||
| Judicial district | Elche | ||
| Founded | Iberos; 5th century BC | ||
| Government | |||
| • Alcalde | Alejandro Soler Mur (2007) (PSPV-PSOE) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 326.07 km2 (125.9 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 86 m (282 ft) | ||
| Population (2009) | |||
| • Total | 230,112 | ||
| • Density | 705.7/km2 (1,827.8/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Il·licità, il·licitana Ilicitano, ilicitana |
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| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 032xx | ||
| Dialing code | 966 - 965 | ||
| Official language(s) | Valencian | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Elche (Spanish: [ˈeltʃe]) or Elx (Valencian: [ˈɛʎtʃ])[1] is a city located in the comarca of Baix Vinalopó, in the Alicante province which, in turn, is a part of the Valencian Community, Spain. According to the 2008 census, Elche has a population of some 228,300 inhabitants[2] (called il·licitans in Valencian and ilicitanos in Spanish), ranking as the third most populated city in the Valencian Community (after Valencia and Alicante) and the 20th largest Spanish city.
Part of the municipality is coastal but the main city is some 11 km (6.8 mi) from the Mediterranean Sea. A small creek called Vinalopó flows through the city splitting it in two parts.
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The economy of Elche is based, in large part, on the footwear industry, with over 1,000 shoe factories, being one of the most important footwear centres in Spain and the rest of Europe. There are other economic activities in Elche: agriculture (dates, olives, cereals and pomegranates), although it has lost importance in recent years; rubber industry; trade, which employs 20% of the workforce; and tourism.
Elche has a conference centre (called Ciutat d'Elx), an international airport (Aeropuerto de Alicante) a public University, Universidad Miguel Hernández, and a private University, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera.
La Alcudia is 10 km from the current city's location and the immediate predecessor of current day Elche. This original location was settled by the Greeks and then occupied by Carthaginians and Romans. Greeks Ionian colonists from the achaian city Helice established their new colony, naming it Helike around 600 BC. The Romans called the city Ilici and granted it the status of colonia; after a brief Byzantine rule, the Goths took over, establishing an episcopal see.
Elche lost importance during the period of Moorish occupation, when it was moved slightly north to its present location. James II of Aragon took the city from the Moors in the 13th century, during the Reconquista. The city grew throughout the 18th century and became more important during the 19th century with the arrival of the railway and a booming industrial development of what used to be the traditional footwear industry.
Many archeological remains have been found in Elche, with the stone bust of the Lady of Elche (Dama de Elche/Dama d'Elx in Spanish and Valencian, respectively) being the most important. This may date from the Iberian period (4th century BC). The original is in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.
The Mystery Play of Elx (better known as Misteri d'Elx, in Valencian) is a sacral-lyrical medieval drama, dated from the 15th century, which was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2002. It is played every year in mid August, in the context of the local holidays dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary. Also as a part of this celebration, on the 13th of August is the date of a celebration in Elche called Nit de l'Albà (Night of the Dawn) in which a city-wide night-long show of fireworks takes place.
Media related to Elche at Wikimedia Commons
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