Local guide

About Altea

Altea is recognised by a splash of colour: the blue and white tiled dome of the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, which crowns the old town. Around that dome the old village clusters, a historic ensemble declared a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) in 2013, with steep cobbled streets climbing up to the Plaza de la Iglesia, the social heart of the town.

A step from the square is the Mirador de los Cronistas de España, one of the most visited spots, with panoramic views over the Mediterranean. From there you understand Altea's geography: an old town on a hill, a pebbly seafront such as the 825-metre Blue Flag Playa de la Roda, and behind it a backdrop of mountains led by the Sierra de Bernia, where Philip II ordered a fort to be built in 1562.

Altea also holds a geological rarity. At Cap Negret volcanic rocks come to the surface, the neck of an ancient underwater volcano from about 220 million years ago, when Pangaea was starting to break up. It is one of the three volcanic landscapes in the Valencia region, along with the Columbretes Islands and Cofrentes, and you can explore it on foot along the Corredor Verde, an interpretive route that also passes old farm estates turned into small mansions.

The fiesta calendar has two dates that define the town. At the end of September, the Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) in honour of San Blas fill the white streets with music and parades. And in August, on the Saturday closest to Sant Llorenç, the Castell de l'Olla turns the bay into a stage for fireworks over the water: in 2026 it turned 40, and it has been a Fiesta of Tourist Interest of the Valencian Community since 2007.

For everyday life, the Tuesday street market at the Basseta and the Mercado Municipal complete the picture. With a TRAM station a few minutes' walk from the old town and 65 kilometres from Alicante-Elche airport, Altea is easy to visit by public transport.

Things to do

Must-see places

1. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo y casco antiguo: the church with the blue and white dome, in the historic ensemble declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 2013.
2. Mirador de los Cronistas de España: next to the Plaza de la Iglesia, with panoramic views of the Mediterranean.
3. Corredor Verde y Cap Negret: interpretive route to the volcanic outcrop and fossil beach of Cap Negret.
4. Playa de la Roda: 825-metre Blue Flag pebble town beach, between the Paseo del Mediterráneo and the harbour.
5. Sierra de Bernia: a ridge of about 11 km behind Altea, with the remains of the 1562 Fuerte de Bernia fort.
6. Mercadillo de los martes (parking de la Basseta): clothing, shoes, accessories, fruit, vegetables and flowers every Tuesday.