Orihuela Palm Grove

Orihuela Palm Grove spreads across the outskirts of Orihuela, in Spain's Alicante province, weaving through several city districts — Palmeral, San Juan and San Antón — as well as the rural area of El Escorratel. Together these plantings form a green belt around what was once a walled town. By size, it ranks as the second-largest palm grove in Europe, outdone only by the famous grove in nearby Elche.

Where did the grove come from?

The plantings trace back to the Muslim period of rule over this territory. After the conquest of Orihuela, Arab settlers began planting date palms and building out irrigation channels, building on and expanding whatever cultivation already existed. Care of the grove continued across the centuries, and today it holds more than nine thousand palm trees, making it one of the oldest surviving groves of its kind on the continent.

What purpose did it serve historically?

During the Al-Andalus era, the walled town of Orihuela sat along a trade route connecting Lorca and Alicante. The grove worked as a genuine oasis: merchants and travelers paused here to rest in the shade and water their animals before continuing along the route. That oasis quality — water, shade and fertile soil set against an otherwise dry landscape — is still the grove's defining trait.

What protection status does it hold?

The grove is recognized as a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural), a designation that acknowledges its historical and landscape value. Alongside the palm groves of Elche, it stands as one of Europe's most significant surviving agricultural landscapes inherited from the Islamic world — physical evidence of cultivation and irrigation methods brought here through Arab settlement.

What can visitors see on site?

Walking among the rows of tall date palms, visitors can trace the old irrigation field layout that still shapes this part of Orihuela. The grove overlaps with residential streets and cultivated plots, so a walk or bike ride here mixes views of ordinary town life with open stretches of greenery. It appeals both to anyone curious about the region's history and to travelers looking for a quiet, natural setting away from the busier town center.

How do you get to Orihuela Palm Grove?

The grove sits at coordinates 38.09552, -0.93969, right next to central Orihuela. Given how far the plantings extend, exploring on foot or by bicycle is the most practical way to move between the different districts it runs through.

Frequently asked questions

What is Orihuela Palm Grove? It's a historic palm grove in Orihuela established during the period of Muslim rule and expanded over the following centuries, now home to more than nine thousand trees.

Is it the largest palm grove in Europe? No — it's second in size only to the palm grove in Elche, making it Europe's second-largest.

Why did the grove develop in this particular spot? Because Orihuela sat on the trade route between Lorca and Alicante, and the palms offered shade and water to travelers crossing the region's dry terrain.

Does the grove have any legal protection? Yes, it holds Site of Cultural Interest status, which protects its historic fabric and landscape from being altered or destroyed.

Can it be explored without a guide? Yes, the grove runs through several city districts and rural land, so it's easy to explore on foot or by bike on your own, moving between the Palmeral, San Juan and San Antón neighborhoods.