This sizeable and sober episcopal palace next to the cathedral now holds a collection of religious art. There are some fine pieces but the undisputed highlight is the masterly Temptation of St Thomas by Velázquez. A sizeable early work, painted around 1632, it depicts the saint as a young man swooning after having resisted the temptations of a prostitute, seen in the background. Angels reward him with a white chastity ribbon.
Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro
Alicante Province
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.12 MILES
Murcia’s resplendent casino first opened as a gentlemen’s club in 1847. Painstakingly restored to its original glory, the building is a fabulous…
18.57 MILES
In the Islamic world, a garden is considered a form of Paradise. Elche’s past and culture couldn’t therefore be any more obvious than in these privately…
-
0.02 MILES
Low slung but achieving an understated majesty nonetheless, this cathedral is built of light-coloured stone in the centre of the old town and features…
12.16 MILES
Murcia’s cathedral was built in 1394 on the site of a mosque. The initial Gothic architecture was given a playful baroque facelift in 1748, with a…
17.28 MILES
This well-documented site is 3.5km south of the town centre. The Dama de Elche, a masterpiece of Iberian art that’s now in Madrid, was unearthed here…
-
18.56 MILES
This lovely park on the northern side of central Elche is one of several appealing places to stroll among the rustling palm trees. A small visitor centre…
-
Museo Arqueológico y de Historia de Elche
18.51 MILES
This museum is a superb introduction to the town's long and eventful history. Everything is particularly well displayed and labelled, and it occupies both…
-
Parque Natural de las Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja
16.21 MILES
Backing Torrevieja are two large lagoons, a pink one used for salt extraction and a green one. They are important habitats for flamingoes and other waders…
Nearby Alicante Province attractions
0.02 MILES
Low slung but achieving an understated majesty nonetheless, this cathedral is built of light-coloured stone in the centre of the old town and features…
2. Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina
0.17 MILES
Worth admiring is this church's Renaissance facade and its Gothic bell tower graced with gargoyles. The single-naved interior also preserves architecture…
3. Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol
0.24 MILES
One of Orihuela's many noteworthy buildings is this mainly 14th-century church, with an impressive late-Gothic facade and a more extrovert baroque portal…
0.38 MILES
A 16th-century monastery and university with two fine Renaissance cloisters and a refectory clad in 18th-century tile work, Santo Domingo was built on a…
0.58 MILES
Barrio de San Isidro was decorated with dozens of murals by well-known artists during the cultural flowering of the 1970s, in homage to Miguel Hernández,…
11.84 MILES
An inviting, light gallery devoted to Spanish artists. Much is mediocre, but the 2nd-floor Siglo de Oro gallery has two fabulous Murillos – a Crucifixion…
12.01 MILES
The Museo Arqueológico has exceptionally well-laid-out and well-documented exhibits spread over two floors, starting with Palaeolithic times and including…
12.12 MILES
Murcia’s resplendent casino first opened as a gentlemen’s club in 1847. Painstakingly restored to its original glory, the building is a fabulous…