Altea

The name Altea may come from the Greek *Althaia*, meaning "I cure", or from an Arabic word for watchtower. Archaeological traces of Iberian, Roman, and Muslim settlement have been found in the area. During the final period of Muslim rule, Altea belonged to the taifa of Denia before Jaime I of Aragon conquered it in 1244. A charter of settlement followed in 1279, granted by King Pedro III of Aragon.

A medieval repopulation project called Bellaguarda struggled and eventually failed. After several periods of abandonment, the town was re-established in its current location and received a new charter in 1617. In 1705, an Anglo-Dutch fleet supporting Archduke Charles of Austria landed in the Bay of Altea, led by the Valencian general Juan Bautista Basset. This played a part in the subsequent Austrian capture of Denia and Valencia, and in gratitude the Archduke granted Altea the right to display the double-headed eagle on its coat of arms.

The town grew steadily through agriculture, fishing, and trade, reaching 5,000 inhabitants by the end of that century. Altea has been a member of the Douzelage European twinning association since 1991.

The most recognisable landmark is the parish church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo, whose two distinctive tiled domes have made Altea known locally as "La Cúpula del Mediterráneo." Beside it sits the old quarter, known as El Fornet, a hillside neighbourhood of whitewashed houses decorated with flowers, cobbled streets, and several viewpoints looking out over the sea.

Other monuments include the remains of a castle, the Carmelite monastery church, and the Torre de la Galera, a listed heritage site. The Torre de Bellaguarda, an old watchtower, stands beside a park in the oldest neighbourhood of the town. Altea also has a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Archangel Michael — the first Orthodox church built in Spain — constructed from materials brought from the Ural region and modelled on a Russian church of that tradition.

Two museums are worth noting: the Museo Navarro Ramón, housed in the Casa de la Cultura and dedicated to local painter Juan Navarro Ramón (born 1903), and the Museo Casal del Festero, which displays 25 years of costumes from the Moros y Cristianos festivals. The Palau Altea serves as the town's cultural and congress centre, hosting exhibitions and concerts, including an annual series held in the rural chapels around the area.

Llorente Bus serves Altea from Benidorm on routes 010, 012, and 031, with five stops in town; routes 027 and 028 continue to the northern beaches of Platja del Cap Negret and Platja de l'Olla. Interactive timetables and route maps are on the Llorente Bus website. Parking is restricted to residents in the Casco Antiguo; free car parks sit on the periphery.

The old centre and port are walkable but involve steep hills. Galleries, studios, and souvenir shops line Carrer Sant Miquel, Carrer Major, and nearby alleys. A nightly open-air craft market runs in summer in the main square.

Altea's local version of coca (a Valencian-style flatbread, similar to pizza) is *coca a la llumà*, baked in a wood-fired oven and traditionally made on Thursdays. Seasonal chiringuito restaurants along Platja de l'Olla serve snacks, drinks, and full meals in summer.