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The dome of
Altea's church, blue with a white geometrical design, is one of the
symbolic images of the Costa Blanca. Altea is situated on a hill whose
peak rises above the white-tiled parish church. The magnificently
jumbled and cluttered centre of the Old Town provides Altea with a
special charm. When visiting, start at the Plaza del Convento and take
the Pont de Moncau - this leads to the Vellaguarda district, an area of
steep narrow cobble-stoned streets with balconies and small glorietas
(circular intersections). In the Plaza, the cultural and leisure centre
of Altea is the Church of the Virgen del Consuelo (Our Lady of Solace).
Altea's peacefulness and tranquillity have made it a paradise for
artists and craftsmen and their shops and stalls are scattered
throughout the Old Town Centre. At the foot of the hill lies the wide
sea promenade and the commercial street, the Avenida del Rey Jaime I.
Altea has a 6 kilometre beach, with cliffs alternating with shingled
bathing areas. Playa de la Roda is located adjacent to the old town
centre. The main beach, Playa de Cap Blanch, is located to the south and
runs into Albir's beach. The Playa de Cap Negret, a shingled beach
ending in a small cove with black pebbles called the 'Cala del Soio', is
located to the north. L'Olla is another much-frequented beach opposite a
small island of the same name. Altea ends in the 'Mascarat point' and
the Sierra de Bernia, where the La Barreta, La Solsida and La Galera
shingled coves are located. In earlier times, Altea used to be situated
on the road to the Sierra de Bernia and was called Altea la Vella - a
small village intersected by a Way of the Cross that ascends to a
Calvary surrounded by cypress trees. The Sierra de Bernia, with its Font
del Garroferet and ancient fortress, are excellent reasons to visit the
area.
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