Altea
Altea: the white village with the blue dome
Altea is about 30 minutes’ drive south of Moraira, beyond Calpe. The old centre up on the hill, with the blue-and-white dome of the church as its landmark, is why most visitors come. Below it lies the bay, with shingle beaches and a promenade. A visit to Altea fits comfortably into half a day, with the Tuesday market if that suits.
The old centre
The church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo stands at the highest point of the village. The present building dates from 1901 to 1910; its dome of blue and white tiles earned Altea the nickname of the dome of the Mediterranean. Around the church square, most of the sights are a few minutes’ walk from one another:
- Calle Mayor, with its black-and-white pattern in the cobbles, small shops and restaurants;
- Calle San Miguel, a pedestrian street of craft shops;
- Portal Vell, the seventeenth-century northern gateway;
- Glorieta del Maño, a viewpoint over the bay of Altea and the Morro de Toix headland;
- Mirador Cronistas de España, another viewpoint with a wide outlook over the sea.
The old centre is steep and its lanes are narrow, so park below. There are free car parks by the TRAM station on the south side, by Playa de la Roda, and by the art school on Calle Benidorm.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo
Location: Plaza de la Iglesia, old centre of Altea
From Moraira: ± 30 min by car (about 33 km)
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The beaches of Altea
Do not count on sand in Altea: most of the beaches are shingle and rounded stones. Water shoes are far from a luxury. The upside is that the water is often beautifully clear.
| Beach | Character |
|---|---|
| Playa de la Roda | The town beach along the promenade, with plenty of restaurants |
| Playa de l’Olla | With fishing boats and a small island just offshore |
| Cap Blanch | Half urban, with watersports and a Blue Flag |
| Cap Negret | A quiet shingle beach by the Cap Negret natural monument |
| Playa del Mascarat | At the mouth of a stream, good for snorkelling |
If sand is what you want, see the beaches near Moraira.
The Tuesday market
Every Tuesday morning, roughly from 8:00 to 14:00, Altea holds its weekly market. It is split over two sites: clothes, shoes and household goods at the Parking de la Basseta, and vegetables, fruit, cheese and other food on Avenida de la Nucía. Come early, while it is still cool and less busy.
By tram, and what to combine it with
If you would rather leave the car: TRAM line 9 between Dénia and Benidorm stops at Teulada and at Altea. The ride from Altea to Benidorm takes about a quarter of an hour, from Teulada to Altea about 40 minutes. There is more about buses and trams under public transport around Moraira.
Altea goes well with the mountain village of Guadalest inland, or with a stop in Calpe on the way back.
Practical details for Altea
Tourist Info Altea
Address Calle Sant Pere 14, 03590 Altea
Telephone +34 965 844 114
Email altea@touristinfo.net
Website visitaltea.es
Open Monday to Friday 9.30 to 15.30; Saturday and public holidays 9.30 to 13.30; closed on Sunday
Parking
Free, large Camí de l’Algar, about 500 spaces
Free, near the theatre Parking Palau d’Altea, Carrer Benidorm, about 116 spaces
Free, by the beach Plaza de los Deportes, about a hundred metres from the promenade
Bear in mind Tuesday is market day in Altea and some of the car parks are in use for it. Check the signs before you leave the car.
Paid the centre has a blue zone with a three-hour maximum; check the rate on the machine
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo (the blue domes)
Address Plaza de la Iglesia 2, 03590 Altea
Telephone +34 965 840 117
Admission free
The square the Plaza de la Iglesia in front of it is the heart of the old village and freely accessible, as is the viewpoint beside it
Palau Altea (theatre)
Address Carrer d’Alcoi 18, 03590 Altea
Telephone +34 965 362 951
Website palaualtea.es
Programme changes monthly; tickets through the website
Weekly market
When Tuesday from 8.00 to 14.00
Where Parking de la Basseta (clothes and household goods) and Avenida de la Nucía (food)
Besides that a covered municipal market on Avinguda L’Alt Rei En Jaume I 4, open daily
Park below, walk up
The old village sits on the hill and is a tangle of narrow lanes and stairways. Driving is not worth it. Leave the car in one of the free car parks below and take the climb; the best glimpses of the view are on the way up.
Altea, the white village
Altea’s old centre, with its blue domes and artists in the narrow lanes, is one of the finest day trips from Calamora.
A maximum of 4 guests may stay here (infants not included).
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Frequently asked questions about Altea
What makes Altea special?
Altea is the village with the blue dome: the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, clad in blue and white tiles, rises above the narrow, flower-potted lanes of the old centre.
Is the old centre car-free?
In practice, yes: it is steep, the lanes are narrow and driving is not worth it. Leave the car in one of the free car parks below and walk up, past the artists and galleries.
When is the market in Altea?
On Tuesday morning, roughly from 8:00 to 14:00, on two sites: the Parking de la Basseta and Avenida de la Nucía.
How far is Altea from Moraira?
From Moraira it is about 30 minutes by car, some 33 kilometres. Go late in the afternoon, when the light turns the bay to gold.
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