ELCHE (Ilici)		Quality of Remains
		Ease of Access
		Atmosphere & Setting

History & Occupation:

The ruin known as Alcudia, some distance outside modern Elche, dates back to the Neolithic period, thought by the 5th century it had become a cultured Celtiberian city by the name of Helike. The famous Dama de Elche found at the site and considered a national treasure belongs to this peroid. Indeed, Helike seems to have been a sizeable religious centre during the period, with a number of temples found at the site. The Carthaginians occupied the city and it fell out of favour and power, declining badly during their rule until the destruction of Carthaginian power by Rome. The city was then named Ilici (or Colonia Iulia Ilici Augusta) and began once more to prosper. After the fall of Roman power in Spain, Ilici came briefly under the rule of the Byzantine Empire before its conquest by the Visigoths.

Remains and Visit:

The Alcudia site is a complex of Neolithic, Iberian, Carthaginian, Roman and Byzantine ruins. The Roman parts of the complex show signs of a high level of sophistication and wealth with quality mosaics and peristyle houses. A set of baths show the arrival of Christianity as a power in the late Roman and Byzantine era, with a Christian baptismal pool. The site is constantly undergoing further excavation and there is a great deal to see and a great deal more left to unearth yet.

Images:

West wall	Iberian temple	Forum	Peristyle house	Baths
Baths	Mosaic	Mosaic	Dama de Elche	Aerial view (c/o Google Earth)