Alcázar de la Señoría (Palacio de Altamira) Tower
Perched on a low hill above the old town, the Torre del Homenaje of the Palacio de Altamira — Elche's medieval fortified palace — offers the most rewarding panoramic view in the city: a 360-degree sweep over the terracotta rooftops of the Raval neighbourhood, the blue dome of the basilica, and an endless green canopy of palm fronds stretching to the horizon. It is the view that makes the Palmeral'
History of the Alcázar
The palace was built in the 15th century by the Marquis of Villena on the foundations of an earlier Moorish alcázar, and its robust square tower — the Torre del Homenaje — is the oldest surviving structure in the complex. For centuries it served as the seat of local power, a prison and a granary before being restored and opened to the public as part of the Museu Arqueològic i d'Història d'Elx (MAHE).
The palace now houses MAHE's medieval and early modern collections, including the original stone sarcophagus of the Dama de Elche (the famous Iberian bust, whose replica is displayed here while the original resides in Madrid's Museo Arqueológico Nacional). The building itself — with its Gothic arched courtyard and carved stone window surrounds — is as interesting as anything inside it.
Climbing the Tower & Best Photo Spots
Access to the tower roof is included with the MAHE museum ticket and involves a narrow spiral staircase that emerges onto a crenellated terrace. Arrive in the late afternoon when the sun is behind you to the west and the entire palmeral glows green-gold below — this is the shot that defines Elche.
The view northward takes in the white bell tower of the basilica and the tight medieval street grid of the Raval, while the southern panorama reveals the flat, irrigated farmland of the Vega Baja stretching towards the coast. Bring a wide-angle lens or use panorama mode; a standard smartphone shot will not do it justice.
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