Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

One of the prettiest towns on the northern Costa Blanca, Spain, Altea tumbles down a hill towards the sea, in a maze of narrow winding streets and alleyways. Altea’s blue domed church is one of the landmarks of the Costa Blanca, and in the areas around the church you will find countless little workshops and galleries, belonging to the artists and craftsmen who have made this charming town their home. Mostly unspoilt by tourism, Altea retains much of its old world charm, reminding visitors of its long history going back to the Moorish occupation and beyond. Despite all this Altea has grown into a popular holiday resort with a sizeable expat community, its fine beach and artistic heritage are two of its main attractions. The superb climate of the town is another factor in its success with Altea weather normally expected to be dry and sunny most days of the year. No doubt another of its attractions is its proximity to the resort of Benidorm with its many fine facilities, in fact it is an ideal base for exploring Benidorm, whilst being accommodated in a charming Spanish town. Altea has a decent selection of hotels for you stay in the resort, among them the popular Negret Hotel Altea with its 250 rooms. Apart from Benidorm, there are numerous other places worth visiting in the area, you could take a trip to other fine seaside resorts such as Calpe, Albir, Moraira or Javea, head to the city of Alicante for some retail therapy, or venture inland to the likes of Guadalest, Alcoy or the Gallinera Valley.