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Altea

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Altea
Municipality
Flag of Altea
Flag
Coat of arms of Altea
Coat of arms
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceAlicante
ComarcaMarina Baixa
Judicial districtBenidorm
Government
 • MayorAndrés Ripoll Llorens (2007) (PSOE)
Area
 • Total
34.43 km2 (13.29 sq mi)
Elevation
61 m (200 ft)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total
23,780
 • Density690/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
DemonymAlteà
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
03590
Official language(s)Valencian
WebsiteOfficial website
For other uses, see Altea (disambiguation).

Altea (Valencian IPA: [aɫˈtea]. Spanish IPA: [alˈtea]) is a town and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain, north of Benidorm on the section of Mediterranean coast called the Costa Blanca.

At present, the economy of Altea is based on tourism, which started to grow in the 1950s because of its good weather, beaches and the labyrinthine streets with whitewashed house-fronts that characterize the town. Altea is protected on the north by the bluffs of the Sierra de Bernia, creating an especially mild microclimate. Its seafront esplanade is planted with palms.

History

The Iberian coastal settlements at the mouth of the Algar River in the wide Bay of Altea were later joined by a Greek marketplace, named Althaia.[1]

During the Moorish domination the land around Altea belonged to the Taifa of Denia until it was recaptured by Christian Spaniards in 1244 under James I of Aragon. The town was quickly fortified, and walls were erected to enclose what is now known as the "old town" from outsiders.

Main sights

This maze of cobbled narrow and crooked streets with glimpses of the bay is one of the better features of the town. Other sights include the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo or La Mare de Déu del Consol ("Our Lady of Solace"), easily identifiable by its picturesque blue and white domes, tiled with glazed ceramics.

  • A street of Altea by night
    A street of Altea by night
  • La Mare de Déu del Consol
    La Mare de Déu del Consol
  • Streets of Altea
    Streets of Altea

Education

Altea shares a campus of the University Miguel Hernández.

Twin towns - sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Altea is a founding member of the Douzelage, a town twinning association of 23 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ Althaia, with an implication of curative power, was the name of several nymphs in Greek mythology, and of the mother of Meleager.
  2. ^ "Douzelage.org: Home". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Douzelage.org: Member Towns". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
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