Villa Los Pinos Holiday home in Altea, Costa Blanca, Spain

Located on the Costa Blanca, between Valencia and Alicante, Altea is considered the city of fishermen and artists.

Altea, a city in the province of Alicante, in the southeast of Spain, located on the Mediterranean Sea, 50 km. north of the city of Alicante and 130 km. south of Valencia. Altea offers a wide variety of residential areas where you can find luxury villas and holiday homes and holiday apartments for rent. Altea, with its approximately 20,000 inhabitants, occupies an area of 34.4 square kilometers and is built on a hillside. Its wonderful basilica with its bright blue domes majestically crowns the mountain top. The centre of the old town, with its many narrow streets and alleys, has become home to many artists and there are many cosy and beautifully decorated restaurants and bistros. Tourism, which has grown significantly since 1950, thanks to Altea's Mediterranean climate, with beaches where children can enjoy themselves, its characteristic urban centre has contributed to the development of the city and its people.

The history of Altea goes back many centuries, and is characterized by the many civilizations that passed through Altea in their travels through time. Iberians, Phoenicians, Muslims, Greeks and Romans all left their mark on Altea. It seems that the name of Altea is also probably of Greek origin, as it is believed to come from the Greek word Althaia, which means "I heal". As the city was located at the mouth of the Algar river (which means river of health), history assumes that in ancient times Altea was a town with strategic, medical and very beneficial values.

Located along the bay, Altea is nestled between the mountains and the sea. It offers a panoramic view of the picturesque blue domes of the church of the Virgen del Consuelo, also known as the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo. The church is built on the hill and extends over the historical centre of the city. Here you will also find a maze of cobbled streets and numerous flights of stairs that are well worth a visit. The landscape will invite you to enjoy the wonderful views of the picturesque streets and the coast, and will take you to visit the many beautiful points of interest in Altea.

Cliffs and beaches of different pebbles extend along the 6 kilometres of the coast of Altea. Small coves and beaches extend from the Barranco del Mascarat to the promenade that separates it from Alfaz del Pi. Near the centre of the old town is the Playa de la Roda, while the larger beach, Cap Blanch, is a little further south, merging imperceptibly with the beach of Albir. A little further north is the Cap Negret beach, a pebble beach that ends in a small cove of black rocks called Cala del Soio. Another favorite beach is L'Olla, located in front of the island of the same name. The boundaries of Altea are marked by the peak of the Mascarat mountain and the Sierra de Bernia, where you can find coves with small pebble beaches such as La Barreta, La Solsida and La Galera.

In addition to the aforementioned church of the Virgen del Consuelo, with its magnificent blue domes, Altea offers a wealth of museums:

• Museum of Ethnic Music, with its collection of Carlos Blanco Fadol, which is considered one of the most important in the world in its field. A fabulous auditorium offers various concerts and performances for your enjoyment.
  
• Navarro Ramon Museum
• Sala de Pinturas, a museum that houses the art of painting.
• Casa de la Cultura where you can visit different temporary collections.

In addition to all the above, there are competitions and festivals of bands among which the "Concurso Internacional de Bandas de Música de la Villa de Altea" stands out, which takes place in November or December and brings together more than 500 musicians.

On the night of the second Saturday in August, a huge fireworks display is lit, accompanied by lights and sound that is worth seeing.

All visitors to Altea would have to take a walking tour as a means of exploration. The maze of narrow streets and alleys offers a wonderful view of the bay of Altea that has given Altea the fame it enjoys. On your walk you will find a large number of small shops and art galleries offering a wide variety of handcrafted products.

A stone's throw from Altea is Cactuslandia, a place that houses a collection of over a thousand species of cactus and parrots that you are sure to like. In the direction of Benidorm there are a variety of amusement parks, such as Terra Mítica , the first theme park on the Costa Blanca . This park is divided into five zones representing the five lost civilizations of antiquity. Its attractions will transport you to the myths and legends of past times.

Aqualandia is a great theme park dedicated to water, where young and not so young will have fun and live unforgettable experiences in its many pools with trapolines, rapids, waterfalls and a variety of slides.

Beautiful exotic animals and sea creatures await you at the Vergel Safari Park or the Mundomar Zoo, both of which offer different shows and attractions.

Marina Greenwich beach offers different options for the practice of sports. You can dive, fish, surf, attend the sailing school or rent a boat. Similar activities can be practiced in the bay and at the water sports club. For those who wish to enjoy a good game of golf, they can do so on different courses near Altea. The Don Cayo Golf Club is located in Altea la Vieja, in the valley formed by the Bernia mountains. It is a nine-hole course with incomparable views. Completed in 2005 and nestled between the Sierra de Finestrat and the Mediterranean Sea, is the Club de Golf Real de Faula which offers two twin 18-hole courses, spacious and well maintained. Here you will also find two 5-star hotels, swimming pools, tennis courts, a children's club, a fitness centre, restaurants and numerous shops.

The most characteristic dishes of Spanish cuisine are also richly represented in Altea. The most typical of the area, as well as of the Costa Blanca, is undoubtedly the rice, which can be prepared in more than 300 different ways. In the mountains, rice is used as one of the ingredients of the famous puchero, and also pork, sausages, pumpkin, turnips, beetroot, peas and beans. The restaurants on the coast always have fish and seafood on their menus. The countless restaurants specializing in fish from the bay serve the most delicious local dishes, such as: sea bream, sea bass in salt or grilled with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. The gastronomy of the Costa Blanca also includes sweet desserts with honey, such as nougat and ice cream from Jijona, grapes, raisins, dates, almond cake, cake filled with sweet syrup accompanied by coffee, liquor from Alcoy and herb liqueur from Sierra Mariola. It is also worth trying the red, rosé and white wines of the Alto Vinalopó and Marina Alta.