Palau dels Altamira is a fortress-palace in Elche housing the Archaeological and History Museum of Elche (MAHE), situated beside the Vinalopó riverbed. Evolving from Islamic fortifications built around the 11th century, the structure transformed into a medieval fortress and later a Renaissance seigniorial palace, with Gothic-style additions built by the Cárdenas family in the 16th century. The museum displays collections spanning Islamic, medieval, and contemporary periods, including fragments of ancient Islamic flooring, architectural elements, and a replica of the famous Lady of Elche Iberian bust on its ground floor. Visitors can observe sections of original Islamic walls, historic cisterns, and architectural features representing centuries of continuous transformation.
