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Elche is recognized world-wide thanks to a religious reinactment of the life of the Virgin Mary ( called the Mystery of Elche ) in the Basilica of Saint Mary; something not usually allowed in sacred places.This church was built over an old mosque according to the design of Saint Nicolas church in Alicante and is an excellent example of Valencian Baroque from the 18th century. The Mystery of Elche is celebrated in two acts; the first on the 14th of August and the second on the 15th of August in this great basilica. It relates her death, assumption into heaven and her coronation as the Virgin Mary.
As a result of its expansive palm tree grove, Elche is known as The City of Palms. Another name given to it is the Palmeral of Elche. It is considered to be the only palm forest in Europe. The palm trees are believed to have been originally planted by Phoenicians during the 6th century BC. The forest consist of over 10,000 palm trees with the majority of them being date palms. The grove, at present, covers more than 3.5km and includes many beautiful gardens and parks. The Moors are credited with the cultivation and design between the 8th and 13th century. During in the 10th century an irrigation system from the River Vinalopo was added and still exist today. Last but not least the Palm Forest has now been declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
The Mystery Play of Elche is equally fabulous and conducted annually. The play has been declared as the masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001 by the UNESCO. The play is the only proof of the medieval religious European theatre. The play it self dates from the 15th century using a sacred lyrical program.
After the Napolenic Wars and the First Barbary Pirates War (1801-1805) and the Second Barbary Pirates Wars (1815), the Congress of Vienna in 1815, along with the involvement of the United States Navy, that the effectiveness of the corsairs declined. France colonised much of the Barbary coast in the 19th century which helped bring the era of the Barbary Pirates to a close.
