Altea

Visit to Altea

The Old Town stands out: the Portal Vell will tell us that we are in the walled enclosure. On Costera dels Matxos you will see the Fundación Scholter (Scholter Foundation) exhibiting paintings. You should also pay a visit to "El Palau" a beautiful modern concert hall, also containing the Museum of World Musical Instruments. Go up the Calle Mayor (Main Street) and admire the cobbled and stepped streets, and the balconies with their wrought iron balustrades.

Before you know it, you have arrived at the outstanding Plaza de la Iglesia de la Virgen del Consuelo (Church of the Virgin of Consolation square). A typical Mediterranean atmosphere fills this charming part of the town, with the church Iglesia Virgen del Consuelo crowned with unusual blue and white tiled domes.The Craft Fair is held from 7.30 pm until midnight during the summer season and at Easter, with stalls selling glass objects, puppets, hand made gold jewellery, silver, leatherware, etc. Beside the square you can enjoy magnificent views.

Continue your walk, going down the Calle Costera del Mestre de la Música towards the Paseo del Mediterráneo promenade, where you will find lovely gardens and a wide selection of cafés, restaurants, and shops – in fact everything to help you enjoy a gentle stroll.

Optional trips

There are other very interesting places around this area that you may wish to visit on another day: for example, the "Villa Gadea Museum" , the village of Altea La Vella and the Sierra de Bèrnia mountain, also accessible from Altea. How to get there. Taking the road to Altea La Vella you will find the Villa Gadea, a UNESCO International Centre, 3 kms. from Altea.

After visiting the "Villa Gadea" go on to the Caserío de Altea La Vella, situated at the foot of the Sierra de Bernia mountain. This hamlet is welll-known for its typical village houses clustering together around the church.

Not far from Altea la Vella , on the main road to Callosa d'Ensarrià, a side turning will take you up to the summit of the Sierra de Bernia mountain, to the Fort de Bernia (ruins of an old castle), to the fuente del Runar (Runar Waterfall) and to the Forat, a needle of rock through which you pass to the north side of the mountain. Hiking is very popular in this area. There is also a special picnic area for the use of visitors.