Altea, Spain: Enchanting Scenery On Spain's White Coast

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Altea is a charming town on Spain’s White Coast, in the region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. It lies directly by the sea in the midst of a beautiful bay surrounded by rugged mountains, and this dramatic scenery has been the magnet that has attracted artists to this place. It is a little piece of heaven with wide ranging views from the wide walk ways by the sea extending for miles along the bay.

The traditional Spanish village has grown to encompass a lovely harbor, a gorgeous promenade and a bustling modern town center.

The charming white-washed old town winds up to the top of the hill with small but interesting boutiques and a church in the square.

Altea has excellent amenities, but it is not a city for night discos and bright lights.

Albir Beach Close to Altea

It is a haven for people who love medieval cobbled streets, picture-book old quarter and palm-fringed seafront promenade.

Similar to other Costa Blanca towns, Altea is divided into two sections – the old and the new neighborhoods.

The View of Altea

The old section is perched on top of a hill and offers spectacular views. The N332 motorway splits the town in half – on one side are the sandy and pebbly beaches backed by the long promenade and the marina, and on the other side of the road are the old and new towns.

A Little Bit of History

Situated at the foot of the Sierra Bernia, beside the estuary of the River Algar, Altea has an interesting history that lends to the beauty of this area.

Altea has been marked by the presence of many civilizations: Iberians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs, and they all have left their marks and influences on this town.

Our Lady of Solace Church (La Mare de Deu del Consol), Altea, Spain - The church was dedicated to Virgin del Consuelo and it is best known for its blue domes. It is one of the attractions worth your visit if you are visiting Spain's Costa Blanca. The Christian Spaniards recaptured the area from the domination of the Moors and they built many fortifications around the town to protect it from further invasions.

Altea got its name from the Moors who conquered the region and named it Althaya, which means “Health to All”.

It is also believed that Altea got its name from the Greek name Althaia, which means “I Cure” and from the River Algar, which means “River of Health”.

Recently the Fine Arts University and a stunning new concert hall have been built in Altea, thus paving the way to make Altea the cultural capital of Costa Blanca.

Our Lady of Solace Church, Altea

The feast of San Lorenzo is celebrated with fireworks, and the Moors and Christians Festival is celebrated with parades and re-enactment of the defense of the town from Moorish invaders.

It culminates with an impressive firework display.