How to get here
- By road: Elche is connected to Madrid and the central Iberian Peninsula by the A-31/A-3 motorway. It is connected to the rest of the Mediterranean coast and Europe by the A-7 (E-15) motorway, and to the southern Iberian Peninsula by the A-7/A-92 motorways.
- By train: Acesss by train to Elche is made from Alicante or Murcia. The main lines are Madrid – Alicante (2h 12min by AVE train), Barcelona – Alicante (4h 40 min by EuroMed train), Valencia – Alicante (1h 40min by EuroMed) and Murcia – Alicante (1 h by regional train). From the Alicante station you can either take a regional train (20 min) or a taxi to Elche.
- By plane: The International Airport of Alicante – Elche is 10 km from the city, a 15-min drive that costs from 25 € by taxi. You can also take a bus (Route 1). The airport is connected with the main European cities.
Accomodation
A number of hotels with special prices for RICTA2015 are selected. To obtain these rates, please don’t forget to send your request directly to the e-mail address of the selected hotel, and indicate that you will be attending the RICTA 2015 Conference. They are within short walking distance from the conference centre and prices are quite appealing. Don’t forget your swimming clothes for the two first!
Distance to the Conference Centre: 320 m
Double room with buffet breakfast included: 70€
Distance to the Conference Centre: 550 m
Double room with buffet breakfast included: 60€
Distance to the Conference Centre: 350 m
Double room with buffet breakfast included: 60€
Double room, individual use, with buffet breakfast included: 56€
Elche facts and suggestions
Elche is located in south-eastern Spain, in the south of the Region of Valencia. Its population exceeds 250,000 inhabitants. It is 10 km from the sea-shore. Elche has a rich history that runs over various millenniums, which has contributed to its cultural heritage and landscape treasures like the Lady of Elche, a piece of artwork which is the most representative of the ancient Iberian art; the palm tree grove, which constitutes the largest palm grove in Europa with over two hundred thousand palm trees; and the Mystery Play of Elche, the last living trace of the medieval religious theatre. These last two have been declared as World Heritage items by UNESCO.
The nine kilometres of Elche´s coastline constitutes one of the few coastal stretches in the province of Alicante which is free of urban development, with the exceptions of Arenales del Sol and El Pinet. It is a unique ecosystem that combines dune systems and pine forests with extensive golden sandy beaches.
Elche, with a tradition that goes back to the 19th century, is the leading centre of production and exportation of footwear in Spain. Around 40% of the shoes manufactured and sold in our country are produced by companies based in Elche, and this includes many of the leading brands in the sector.
You can consider a very pleasant walk along any of the beaches on the Province, strolling along the quayside promenade at the foot of the Castle of Santa Bárbara in Alicante, or visiting the historical city of Orihuela, to name a few, during the weekend before RICTA 2015.
