The fascinating history of Elche, from its beginnings to the present, is amply collected and interactive in the Archaeological and History Museum of Elche Alejandro Ramos Folqués (MAHE). The renovated space, inaugurated in 2006, gives the city a first-class cultural infrastructure, which definitively values ​​the rich archaeological and historical heritage of Elche. Audiovisual elements, touch screens and panels facilitate the understanding of the exposed material.

His conception is based on the scrupulous respect for the trajectory developed for more than forty years by the Municipal Archaeological Museum Alejandro Ramos Folqués, character and center that have acquired a notable prestige in the whole of Spanish archaeological research.

All the fortress

The museum had occupied since 1982 the rehabilitated facilities of an old textile factory in the East wing of the Alcázar de la Señoría, or Altamira palace. The new museum project of the MAHE incorporated not only the whole fortress but also the first basement of an underground car park built in the area of ​​Traspalacio.

There are thus two spaces to establish a historical / chronological discourse of the city. It is a unique museum, divided into two sections: archaeological and historical. The first one covers from the origins to the end of the Visigothic stage and the arrival of the first Arab settlers; The second begins with the founding of the new village by the Muslims and reaches to this day.

Archaeological pieces

In Traspalacio, with new structure, it shows a large collection of excellent archaeological pieces. Its six halls range from the Neolithic period (about 4,000 BC) to late-antiquity, with a broad protagonism of the Iberian legacy and memorable works such as the pillar-stele, the sculptures of the bull and the sphinx and decorated pottery: all figure Among the best exponents of this culture found in Spain. There are also reproductions of burials and habitats from that time (6th to 3rd centuries BC).

From this plant you can contemplate a piece of medieval wall and remains of one of its towers, as well as part of a seventeenth century aqueduct that supplied water to the city by a branch of the Major ditch.

Alcazar de la Señoría

The second exhibition space is the palace of the Lordship, incorporated as one more element to the museum, since it had not been visited in its entirety until the opening of the MAHE. Excavations carried out for rehabilitation in 2005 made it possible to expose part of the old Islamic route, with a large monumental gate accessible from the side of the river.

Through the patio de Armas you can reach its two floors of the East wing, which houses the historical museum and a technological exhibition with pieces selected from the 13th century to the present, supported by panels and graphic material.

The lower room covers the period from the Christian conquest (1265) to the seventeenth century, and it is worth noting the crossings of the terminus of the roads of Orihuela (14th century) and Alicante (15th century).

The upper floor covers the last three centuries of local history, while the conservatory of the west wing is dedicated to exhibitions.

tower of tribute

The imposing tower of the Homage, which presides over the fortress, was the home of the Lady of Elche during her temporary stay of six months in 2006. While the Illicitanos await their return, the place occupies an exact replica of the famous Iberian bust, ceded by The Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ).

The courtyard of Arms of the palace of Altamira is used of regular form for cultural and social acts.

• 
  MUSEO
  Elche
• 
  PLAZA
  Aspe
• 
  CASTILLO
  Novelda
• 
  CASTILLO
  Villena
• 
  MERCADO
  Aspe
• 
  EL PALMERAL DE
  Elche
• 
  BASILICA
  Aspe
• 
  CASTILLO
  Sax