Paco

Into the Old town of Altea - Costa Blanca, Spain

by tzuki

"Altea, Old town"

Altea is a little village over the seaside of Costa Blanca, in the Alicante region. It has a beautiful and warm climate during all year because the village is protected by the Bernia mountain range.

The village, at the same time, it is divided in three areas:
- one over the seaport where in summer are plenty of terraces to enjoy the weather & tapas
- another one around the Council
- and the most beautiful one (as I suggest), in the Old Town.

The Old town is full of restaurants, terraces, art galleries and artisan shops. It is nice to walk along these streets and have a taste of it.

Altea is 50km far from Alicante, 10km from Benidorm and 130kms far from Valencia.

"Altean Cuisine"

The well known "mediterranean cuisine" it has been practiced always by the people from Altea. Perhaps this is one of the best secrets for longevity ;)

This cuisine is based in rice, fish and the products of the Altean´s gardens. Sometimes, meat is also welcome. Rices are normally cooked as "Paellas" and some specialty are:
Paella amb aladroc - Rice with anchovies
Empedrat - Rice with broad bean and salt cod

Others as:
Paella marinera, el Arròs a banda y el Caldero are rices cooked with the fish soup.
*Caldero is the genuine rice that cook the sailors in an iron pot.

ALTEA - COSTA BLANCA

by RoyJava

"In The Shadow Of ..."

Along the Costa Blanca
most travellers do rush past the lovely little village of Altea,
on their way to Benidorm.

Its old, but beautiful centre
welcomed a lot of famous guests,
included Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren.

And Engish Lady of Fame, Christine Keeler,
had a house which never got finished,
because of her illustrious arrest in 1963.

My parents had a tremendous villa,
named Casa Corina,
up in the mountains of Altea,
which overshadowed the wonderful time we spent there ...

... more to follow ...