Environment
The city of Altea feels a little bit divided due to the passing of the national road N-332 which separates Altea a little bit from its beach and harbor area. La Nucia to the north of Altea with its Sunday market is worth a nice day trip. Some kms. away from Altea you will find the mountain area of Sierra de Bernia which reaches up to 1130 mt high hills. From that area you will have a nice view on the Altea area and the coastline. All around Altea there is a huge construction boom happening over the past years. Not so much along the coastline but more in the hills surrounding Altea.
The white-washed old town of Altea which perches on top of the Altea hills is about the prettiest pueblo in the whole area. Altea was once a Roman fishing village. At the start of the development of the Costa Blanca in the 1950's, Altea's charm and wonderful quality of light attracted potters, craftsmen and a wide variety of painters who set up an artists' colony and began to restore it. These artisans are still living here which has been only beneficial to Altea as their presence and taste has undoubtedly kept Altea from being ruined by modern developers. |