Altea

ABOUT Altea:

Population: 24 000 
Language: Spanish, Valenciano
Founded: 1200s
Province: Alicante
Autonomous community: Valencia
Area: 34.43 km²
Year visited: 2016

Altea is a small picturesque city in Costa Blanca, just between Benidorm and Calpe. The N-332 road goes right through the modern part of the city centre. The streetscape of it's Old Town is very attractive, with small winding roads, mostly white buildings with art galleries, shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants that attracts painters and tourists. The most famous building is a white baroque church with a blue tile cupola on the top, La Mare de Déu del Consol (Our Lady of Solace). The Old Town is situated on a hill above the newer parts of the city. The views from there stretches as far as the skyscrapers of Benidorm to the South and the rock of Penyal d'Ifach in Calpe. Just next to the main road, there is an attractive sea promenade, Passeo del Mediterraneo, with restaurants and hotels. It is especially popular in the evenings. The name Altea comes from Althaia, when it was a Greek marketplace. Altea was Moorish until it was recaptured by the Christians in 1244.

We visited Altea briefly twice the same day; on the way to Calp we climbed the Old Town, and on the way back to Benidorm we had coffee at one of Altea's many cafés.