Altea, a painter’s paradise
Today we tell you a little bit about Altea, one of the most picturesque and beautiful towns in the Comunidad de Valencia, and only a stone’s throw from Albir and L’Alfas.
Altea has approximately 22,000 registered residents and sits approximately 10 kilometers from the holiday destinations of Benidorm and Calpe. It consists of 2 separate locations Altea itself and Altea La Vieja which lies approximately 2 kms away and sits nestled under the Bernia Mountain range (Worth a visit to see the 10 stations of the Cross set behind the Church of Parroquia De Santa Ana) and maybe sample a beer, wine or some food in the various “Village Bars & Restaurants nestled beneath the magnificent Bernia Mountain.
From the sea – Altea appears as “A Painter’s Paradise” and a “snowy white” town, set against an apparent never ending range of mountains and the clear blue skies of the Mediterranean Sky. Altea is noted for its “Old Town” primarily consisting of a labyrinth of small tiny streets which meander their way up the hillside towards its pinnacle – The beautifully tiled blue domed Church of “Nuestra Señora del Consuelo” in the “Plaza de la Iglesia”. A church has stood here since the early 17th Century but was rebuilt in the early 20th Century in its magnificent Neo-Baroque style that we see today.
A reconstruction with a modernist decoration
During the reconstruction the facade was completely redesigned, and a second, smaller dome was built. Modernist pieces were used for the decoration; hence we see the blue tiles, (typical of the Levante region), with white decorations and if you look closely you can see figures in the form of Dragons.
In normal circumstances, the streets heading towards the church and the Church Square itself are full of “hustle and bustle” – well apart from Siesta times and as the glorious sun shines through the streets, the buildings light up with an almost super natural glare from these white painted luminescent buildings.
The shops here sell a multitude of items: from souvenirs and cards to Pottery and Classical Art Works and if and when you’re tired of wandering the “Altean Cobbles” there are many delightful restaurants and cafes to stop for a refreshment or two, with some amazing menus to delight any gourmets taste buds and any pocket too.
From the Church Square on foot – heading towards the Sea – there are some amazing viewpoints where, day or night, there are some spectacular views from Calpe Rock to the north through to Altea Harbour (filled full of activity when the trawlers arrive – and again worth a visit) to the south where you can clearly see the Albir Lighthouse and the Sierra Helada Natural Park stretching across to “The Cross” in Benidorm.
Out to sea you may be able to see one or both of the local Fish Farms owned by Grupo Culmarex which produce approximately 1,250 tonne of Lubina (Sea Bass) and Dorada (Sea Bream) a year – each! – That’s a lot of Fish for anybody’s’ chips? So from amazing Scenery and History – to the Beach, Harbour and Sea Side Bars Altea has something for everyone… So Get out there and discover it for yourselves, it won’t let you down.
