The White City of Altea

Says Roman Yudkin aka markych: "We got to the small Spanish town of Altea almost by accident, deviating from the route to have lunch. That day we were heading from Alicante to Valencia, choosing a more picturesque road along the sea instead of a fast motorway. Altea turned out to be a very elegant town with closely intertwined narrow streets and houses painted in bright white."

(20 photos in total)

Source: Livejournal/markych

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2. Altea has been known since Phoenician times. The Moors who then conquered this area rebuilt the city in their own way and gave it the name "Altaya", which in Moorish meant "health for all". Thus, it is to them that the city owes the status not only of a resort, but also of a local health resort.

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4. Like many Spanish cities on the Mediterranean coast, Altea is located on a hill where the Old Town rises — a historical and cultural center, a real maze of narrow old streets.

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6. Despite the excellent preservation, the old town does not look like a museum at all: it is in this part of the city that the largest number of cafes, bars and restaurants are located. To get to the old town of Altea, you need to overcome a staircase of 257 steps.

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8. Here, at the top of the hill, stands the symbol of Altea, which certainly adorns the Costa Blanca guidebooks - the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a bright blue and white dome.

9. Not far from it is the famous observation deck, from which many landscapes of Altea are painted. From here you can enjoy a fantastic view of the bay, the Sierra Bernia mountain range, the elite area of Altea Hills and the suburbs of Altea itself.

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14. Despite its proximity to Benidorm, Altea is largely considered its antipode with its cozy and even intimate atmosphere. Here you will not find buildings higher than 4 floors and noisy parties.

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16. Altea is primarily a city of artists and art galleries, exhibitions and live concerts, classical, not pop music. For example, the Rolling Stones and Tom Jones perform in Benidorm, while Jose Carreras and Montserrat Caballe prefer Althea.

17. The very word Altea for Spain is a brand. The city is famous for the "colony of artists" who arrived here in the 50s and literally transformed it. Today, Altea is considered one of the most beautiful resorts in Spain. It is not by chance that the Seat Altea car is named after the city.

18. Altea is a bohemian resort, and in the summer season classical music concerts, art exhibitions and art programs dedicated to contemporary art are held in the city.

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20. Approximately 23,000 people live in the city, of which a third are foreigners, mainly from European Union countries.