Visiting Alea, In The Alicante By Peter Wilson At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Approaching Altea in the Alicante region of Spain, the beautiful blue jewels of the the mosaic domes glitter in the sunshine, alerting you that you are arriving in one of the most stunning regions in the Costa Blanca. Whether you approach from the south, via Benidorm, or from the north, via Calpe or Denia, the first sight to welcome you will be these glistening blue domes. For a vacation spot, you could not find a more perfect location than Altea. Whitewashed houses sparkle in the constant sunshine, winding streets beckon you to explore interesting corners of the town, and everywhere you turn yields a beautiful vista of the surrounding sea. Breathe the fresh sea air and be revitalized. Altea has managed to become a wonderful vacation destination while maintaining the quiet charm of a small town and protecting its natural beauty. Despite extensive construction of hotels and restaurants since the world has discovered this little corner of heaven, Altea stubbornly retains its old world charm and beauty.

Because of the tranquility of this area, you will not find your typical tourists type in Altea. This area attracts a more cultured and respectful group of visitors; they tend to be artists, writers and actors. These people will normally stay in the old hotels near the church, and they prefer to dine in the restaurants in that quarter of old winding streets. These restaurants are proud to be able to serve the international dishes this clientele is used to as well as local specialties they crave. In the more modern part of town, accommodations are newer, but still respect the old styles.

As with most old towns, the best way to enjoy the scenery is on foot. A good starting point is Mestre La Musica Street, a long stone stairway that winds past small stone houses scattered at every level. This street leads to a doorway that is the entrance to the walled town. Follow this street to Mayor Street and you will arrive at the simple town church, which is the seat of local activities. From Easter Season to the end of summer, you will find markets selling the products of a local group of craftsmen. In this old world and bohemian setting, you will find lovely handmade crafts to remember your vacation by. The Church of the Virgen of the Consolation was built in 1910 on the foundation of the old, primitive parish. Each one of the interior tiles was hand painted and the beautifully ornamented dome gives the towers a quintessentially Mediterranean feel. There is not much left to the adjoining ruins of a castle, but it is an interesting site nevertheless.

For a free show that is fun and interesting, don't miss the fish exchange market at 6:00 each day. At the docks at the end of the day, the local fishermen sell their catch to the local restaurants in a rapid paced auction that is a sight to see and hear. You won't understand a word while they hawk their wares, since it is in the local Valencian dialect and delivered at high speed, but it is still a wonderfully colorful show.
As you can imagine, the restaurants of Altea are able to offer a wonderful variety of fresh foods and fish. You can eat just about every meal on a terrace overlooking the sea. Bogedon de Pepe is famous for its old world decor and its stupendous platters of mussels. The old quarter has many restaurants that can suit anyone's budget and taste.

Altea is a quiet and pretty town ideal for refreshing and rejuvenating. But if you do require excitement, you won't have to travel far, since other seaside towns such as Torreviejos and Benidorm offer a lot of attractions, such as exciting water sports or wonderful nightlife and shopping.

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