Experience the best of Altea la Vella

Altea la Vella is a small district in the municipality of Altea, in the Alicante province of the Valencian Community, a few kilometres inland at the foot of the Sierra de Bernia and about 3.5 kilometres north of Altea's old town. That old town climbs a hill in whitewashed streets to a church with a blue-and-white tiled dome, and the views reach along the coast.

Altea's marina, below the old town, is a harbour with cafés, boats and promenades, and galleries and craft studios line some of the lanes, which have long drawn artists. Calpe's Peñón de Ifach, a great limestone rock that stands out in the sea, lies a short drive north-east, and Benidorm, with its high-rise beaches, is a short drive south-west. Inland, the village of Guadalest sits on a rocky crag beneath a ruined castle.

Valencian food is simple and fresh: arroz al horno, rice baked with pork and potatoes, grilled fish from the boats, and local oranges, and the loquats of nearby Callosa d'en Sarrià are prized in spring. Summers are dry and hot, and winters are mild. Spring and autumn are the best times for walking, and the sea stays warm enough for swimming into October.