Elche (in Spanish) or Elx (in Valencian)[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.

Part of the municipality is coastal but the main city is some 15 km (9.5 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea. According to the 2006 census, Elche/Elx has a population of approximately 220,000 inhabitants (called il·licitans in Valencian and ilicitanos in Spanish), ranking as the third most populated city in the Valencian Community and the second within the Alicante province. A small creek called Vinalopó flows through the city splitting it in two parts.

Economy

The economy of Elche/Elx is based, in large part, on the footwear industry, with over 1,000 shoe factories, being one of the most important footwear industries in Spain and the rest of Europe. There are other economic activities in Elche/Elx: agriculture (dates, olives, cereals and pomegranates), although it has lost importance in the last years; rubber industry; trade, which employs 20% of the workforce, and tourism. Elche/Elx 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 Cardenal Herrera - CEU) .

History
Frontal view of the Lady of Elx.

La Alcudia is 10 km from the current city's location and the immediate predecessor of current day Elche/Elx. This original location was settled by the Iberians and then occupied by Carthaginians and Romans. The latter 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/Elx 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/Elx, with the stone bust of the Lady of Elx (Dama de Elche/Dama d'Elx) being the most important. This may date from the Iberian period (4th century BC). The original is in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid.

Average coastline sea temperature
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