What to see in the old town of Altea: discover its secrets

Although it is not known whether its name derives from the Greek, “Althaia”, meaning “I heal”, or from the Andalusian Arab “attlaye”, meaning watchtower, what is certain is that this area of Marina Baja, with its narrow streets ascending to the highest point of the town like a watchtower, heals the soul of everyone who visits. If you also want to enjoy this healing charm, we will tell you what to see in the old town of Altea so you can discover every corner.

What to see in Altea in its old town

San Miguel Street

You can start your tour on San Miguel Street, where white houses with balconies full of flowers will welcome you to the historic center of Altea. You will begin to feel the atmosphere of the area, with numerous artisan shops to take home a lovely souvenir, as well as bars and restaurants.

Church of Our Lady of Consolation

It’s impossible to skip this point when asking yourself what to see in Altea’s old town, because while walking along San Miguel Street, the Church of Our Lady of Consolation awaits you at the Church Square with its two beautiful tiled domes. If its exterior impresses, don’t miss the chance to visit inside, where its baroque interior and religious sculptures astonish even more with their beauty.

Main Street to the Portal Vell

Once you have enjoyed this lovely square, where you can pause to have a drink, you can continue the route of Altea’s old town along Main Street. You will continue delighting in the intertwining of white-facade houses and cobbled streets up to the Portal Vell, the old entrance to the northern part of the city, which dates back to the 17th century.

Molí de Bellaguarda

If you think that what to see in the old town of Altea is not enough, there are still some surprises. To discover this one, you need to retrace your steps along Carrer del Portal Vell to reach the Costera del Mestre Música and visit the Molí Bellaguarda. This historic spot, also known as Aljub, is a hydraulic mill used between the 14th and 16th centuries that is very well preserved. A piece of the area's history, closely linked to water, that you cannot forget to see.

Manyo Lookout

Leaving the mill, we will go back along Costera Mestre Música to enjoy one of the most famous viewpoints in Altea’s old town, the Manyo Viewpoint or Glorieta del Maño, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the town's coastline. An impressive spot you definitely need to take a photo of.

Viewpoint and Casa Cervantes

If you liked the views and want to see more viewpoints, the next step we recommend is a 2x1. Continuing along C/Hondo, you will reach a peculiar eclectic-style house known as “Casa Cervantes”, from the early 20th century, whose owner was a fan of the author's works. Just beside this striking house, there is another viewpoint from which you can enjoy beautiful views of the Mediterranean coast and the mountain range. Certainly another photo you will keep as a memory.

Los Cronistas de España Viewpoint

Leaving the viewpoint and going down Santa Bárbara Street and the Plaça de la Iglesia will bring you to the last point of our route about what to see in Altea’s old town, though not the least important. The Los Cronistas de España Viewpoint is another place where you will want to take another photo to impress your followers on social media.

From this spot, you can also enjoy beautiful views of the Mediterranean with the port and the mountain range as main features, as well as the picturesque maze of white houses seen on the slopes, adding life to this part of Marina Baja.

Now that you know what to see in Altea's old town, aren’t you eager to come and see it? Surely! But moreover, you have many activities you can do in the town for the whole family, so you have no excuse not to visit this corner of the peninsula to enjoy a pleasant climate, excellent cuisine, and views that will stay forever in your memory. As if that weren’t enough, with our vacation rentals in Altea at villasguzman.com, you can enjoy first-class accommodation in the town, which will serve as a base for your activities to enjoy an unforgettable holiday and get the rest you need to make the most of your visit. We look forward to welcoming you!