Palmeral of Elche

Palmeral of Elche
Location	Elche (Alicante), Spain
Coordinates	38°16′12″N 0°41′53″W / 38.27°N 0.698°W / 38.27; -0.698
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (v)
Designated	2000 (24th session)
Reference no.	930
Region	Europe and North America
Area	144 hectares (360 acres)
Spanish Cultural Heritage
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Historic Garden
Designated	27 July 1943
Reference no.	RI-52-0000020

The Palmeral or Palm Grove of Elche (Spanish: Palmeral de Elche; Valencian: Palmerar d'Elx) is the generic name for a system of date palm orchards in the city of Elche, Spain.

The Palmeral was planted in Roman times and underwent modifications in the medieval period under Islamic and Christian rulers. The Roman empire introduced water management techniques to Elche, but the 10th c. Islamic Caliphate of Córdoba and later rulers of Al-Andalus planted palm groves and garden-estates in huertos (rectangular base agricultural units). Islamic rulers also constructed the largest canal system sections in Elche. In the 13th century Christian rulers conquered Elche and expanded the canal system. Industrialization and urban sprawl contracted the Palmeral in the late 19th and 20th century. The Spanish national government and Valencian regional government enacted legislation to protect the Palm Grove. In 2000, UNESCO designated the Palmeral a World Heritage Site, but climate change, pests, and disease threaten the site. The Palmeral includes a National Artistic Garden, Palm Grove Museum, Route of El Palmeral, and Municipal Park.