Turisme d’Elx :: The Jewel in the Crown of Iberian Art

From Ilici to Elx, 2500 years of the city’s history

The inauguration of the MAHE (City of Elx Archaeology and History Museum), headed by the return of the Iberian sculpture, the Dama d’Elx (Lady of Elx) will include a great exhibition in the city, which will run from the 18th May to the 1st November, 2006. 2006.

This event will be backed up by other cultural and social participation activities. The local Elx population and visitors will be implied both in the Exhibition and the stay of the Dama d’Elx.

The possible presence of the Dama d’Elx during 2006 and the inauguration of the MAHE is a unique occasion to give a quality leap in the promotion of the city and to position it as a first class cultural interest tourist resort, linked to the declaration as World Heritage by the UNESCO of the Palmerar d’Elx (Elx Palm Groves) and the Misteri d’Elx, a mediaeval Mystery Play.

¿What is from Ilici to Elx?

The main objective of this great exhibition is to offer both the people of Elx and our visitors the most complete outlook of Elx, its past, present and future.

The inauguration of the Elx Archaeological and History Museum, with the presence of the Dama d’Elx as its main theme, will be the central event. The exhibition will offer the most outstanding aspects of the civilisations that settled in Elx and the cultural wealth and legacy they left us, including the most outstanding events in our history.

The exhibition will be held in several sees, linked by an urban route, which will invite you to discover the city at the same time the different exhibitions and events will show you different unique aspects of local culture and traditions, the Elx Palm Groves and the Misteri d’Elx, both declared World Heritage and it will also include other artistic and economic happenings. Furthermore, there will be a specific programme for school children, popular game activities, concerts, festivals, congresses, seminaries and conferences.

From Ilici to Elx will give the local Elx people in-depth knowledge of their history and culture and it will enhance their engagement with the city, the star of the show. We also trust that visitors who come to visit us will enjoy their stay amongst us, bathing in our culture.

The Jewel in the Crown of Iberian Art

Elx’s history spans over more than two thousand years and has endowed the city with a rich historical heritage that visitors can enjoy in its museums. It is the Iberian culture, however, that has left the city its most extraordinary relics, among them the Dama de Elche. Discovered in 1897, this bust of an Iberian priestess with her enigmatic gaze has since become the city’s symbol par excellence. Although the city has been actively demanding its return for a long time, the bust is at present in Madrid’s National Archaeological Museum.

The Archaeological Park and the l’Alcúdia Museum bring visitors into close contact with the Iberian and Roman cultures thanks to their architectural remains, pottery and sculptures. In the place where the Dama De Elx was found, visitors can admire a faithful reproduction of the bust. Both here and in the Municipal Archaeological Museum located in Alcàsser de la Senyoria, visitors can contemplate examples of Iberian art as well as art from all of the other civilisations that settled in the city.