Altea

Where to find Altea

Altea is located on the Costa Blanca in the South East zone of Spain. You will find Altea just northeast of Benidorm, Orihuela, and Alicante. It is also south of Denia and Javea. You can arrive in the province from one of three airports. In the north is Valencia Airport, in the south is Murcia Airport, and of course there is the airport of the province…Alicante Airport which is located between Alicante and Elche.

Accommodation in Altea

There are many places to stay here counting Altea hotels, guest houses, and self catering lodging. You will find Altea accommodation to suit all levels of finance. There is a broad choice of accommodation styles offered in the next towns of L’Alfas del Pi, La Nucia, Polop, Callosa d’En Sarria, Calpe, and Finestrat.

Rent a car in Altea

There is a genuine shortage of public transportation in this locale so you should certainly rent a car if you plan to do any type of traveling or you would like to see neighboring amenities or attractions. There are a lot of restaurants, shops, and bars. There are plenty of Altea car hire companies free to choose from if you do not want to journey very far, some people just intend a tranquil holiday. But there is a huge amount to see in this region and by getting an Altea car hire you will be able to have the benefit of the neighboring areas. When you disembark at the airport, there are loads of car hire companies. Also, you will find plenty of Altea car rent companies to pick from.

What to see in Altea

Altea is a medium-sized municipality of Alicante. There are 23,532 inhabitants as of 2008. The name Altea is about is from the Greek “Altahia” which means “I cure”. The Taifa of Denia owned Altea during the last phase of Muslim rule. In 1244, James I of Aragon conquered the area and repopulated with Christians, obtaining a settlement charter in 1279. In 1705, Altea played a part in the war of succession which resulted in the town being taken back by Denia. In the 18th century, there was a marked boom in agriculture, fisheries, and commercialization. By the end of the 18th century the population had reached 5000 inhabitants. Gradually, during the 19th century, the economy started to move towards the sea.

Today, the main economic sector is tourism. Thanks to this, the population has multiplied a lot since the 1960s. In addition to the population growth due to tourism, construction has exploded. Agriculture and fishing also provide a good source of income.

There are many sites and attractions to see in and around Altea. There are the remains of a castle, the Church of our Lady of consolation, there is also the beach, the promenade, and the docks. It is one of the most beautiful towns in the Costa Blanca and in Spain in general. If you’re coming in as a tourist you should start by looking at the town itself. The narrow mediaeval streets make beautiful walk as you steadily climb away to the plaza in the old quarter. Visit the blue domed church known as Virgen del Consuelo district was built at the turn of the century and this is a magnificent building both inside and out. The glazed ceramic blue and white tiles which decorate the dome of this church make it one of the most favorite and most photographed sites in the entire province. You can also climb up on top of this church in order to see some of the more fantastic views around the town. Like many of the gorgeous villages in this you will find whitewashed walls and many different distractions to keep you away from your walk.

Speaking of walking, there are absolutely wonderful walks around Altea town itself and through the mountainous region of the Sierra de Bernia. This is a nature lover’s paradise. Also, the beaches offer some breathtaking views and some peace and relaxation. If you’re looking for water sports and this is the place feel with lots on offer all up and down the coast. Altea golfing, for the golf enthusiast, can offer plenty of different golf courses to choose from close by to Altea itself and throughout the Costa Blanca.

Everyone knows that the Spanish are famous for their Fiestas and Altea has got plenty of them who you to enjoy. Throughout the year and there are many Fiestas, some are big and some are small but every single one of them is a vibrant and colorful affair which most of the time will last at least into the early hours of the next morning if not into the early hours of the morning one week later. Some of the most popular Fiestas in Altea include the feast of San Pedro and La Virgen Carmen which is held on June 24. Although this fiesta has Christian undertones it is essentially for celebrating the solstice of summer. The most famous festival in the area is the Fiesta de Moros y Christianos … the famous Moors and Christians. This celebrated the expulsion of the Moorish race in the 13th century by the Christians. It generally takes the tone of a reenactment where both sides, the Moors and Christians, are represented by members of the local population who will dress in elaborate costumes and parade their way throughout the town.

If you’re looking for a bit more fun you should visit the Paramount theme park of Terra Mitica or Terra Natura. Terra Mitica, which is set just outside Benidorm, comprises of four different themed areas. There is ancient Spain, ancient Rome, ancient Greece, and ancient Egypt. There are some state of the art of rides including an old wooden rollercoaster. Just watch the faces of the children as they are flying around on the rollercoaster. You will have a real good day of fun here. If you want to add some real night time fun then you should head down to Benidorm or Alicante. In Benidorm you will find all night entertainment and free cabaret shows starting from around nine o’clock in the evening.

Altea really comes alive at night, with plenty of shops and restaurants are still open for you to enjoy. They are many different types of shops in Altea including up market clothes shops and shops where you can pick up a bargain. Make sure that you head towards the old town. This is still not really touristy and it is absolutely magical in the evening. You should visit the market which is held on Tuesday in Altea. This is one of the largest markets in the province and virtually takes up the whole seafront.

Where to eat in Altea

The chow in this locality is a jumble of Spain, England, Germany, Holland, China, India, Canton, and hungry, and I am certain if you search hard enough you will uncover other delightful national cuisines. So you will never be stumped for something to eat. A couple of the best restaurants in the area include Restaurante y alojamiento “El Pi del Senyoret” which is located on Partida Quintanes. This is an historic building with a garden/terrace. You could also try the La Capella which is an Calle San Pablo. This restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine using the finest ingredients and real creativity in all their dishes. The tuna with onion confit is especially delicious. Very attentive hosts who serve with great kindness in a comfortable lounge with very fine and elegant decor.

The climate in Altea

Just like everywhere in the district, the weather conditions in Altea are in the main fairly warm and sun-drenched. The winters are temperate and sunny the summers are wonderful and hot. Rainfall does not appear very often but it is well expected that it does rain now and then. It can often mean an invigorating time out from the continuous heat.

How do I find Altea?