With an average temperature of 18º per year, Altea is the getaway you need this fall
With the arrival of the cold and the fall of the leaves, traveling to coastal towns does not usually enter our plans. Why go to the beach if the holidays are over? However, the Mediterranean does not only live in summer and there are endless destinations to visit during this season. Between Benidorm and Calpe, there is a small fishing village full of charm at any time of the year: Altea . Known for its legendary old town and its whitewashed houses, visiting this captivating town in low season can be the perfect fall getaway . The tranquility that is experienced during these months and the drop in prices outside the summer period, makes it a different plan and suitable for all tastes. Stroll by the sea as if the summer had not come to an end , eat tasty rice dishes or end the day with a delicious ice cream, enjoying a dreamlike autumn is possible in this beauty from Alicante.
The Valencian Community is synonymous with rice and finding a good paella has to be our main mission. The restaurant of Hotel San Miguel _(Calle San Pedro, 7) _ is the ideal place for lovers of traditional cuisine. With the beautiful views of the coastline as a backdrop, eat the classic paella or more original dishes such as cauliflower and cod paella wave spinach paella with anchovies it is a sine qua non condition. However, Altea also has special corners for its most gourmet and cosmopolitan public. For example, the ** Xef Pirata ** _(Calle del Ángel, 4) _ finds its quietest during these months, since in summer it is the fashionable gastrobar. The avant-garde hamburgers and tapas bear the hallmark of William Ancina , a rogue kitchen with a pirate soul that has dazzled all the people of Altea; especially for its pleasant terrace for autumn afternoons and evenings. Although for romantic dinners, ** Oustau ** _(Calle Mayor, 5) _ is the corner you were looking for. A restaurant with eclectic decoration, but at the same time intimate to try Mediterranean cuisine in all its essence, but with a modern twist.
The fashionable gastropub
To end the night with a good taste in your mouth, next to the church is the ice cream parlor De Flavors _(Calle Sant Miguel, 4) _ where you can find the best ice creams and cakes according to those who live there. But if you want to have a good drink in an unusual setting, the masquerade _(Plaza de la Iglesia, 8) _ offers the best mojito in the area. All the cocktails on the menu are original creations of Kurt Schmidt, a seafaring adventurer who created this project in 1986 and who decorated the different rooms with his particular collection of two hundred masks from around the world.
Autumn nights in Altea look like this
And although on a trip, food always plays a very important role. In Altea there are many other things to do. In autumn there is usually a quite pleasant weather to be able to walk along quiet beaches like L'Olla or if you don't want to stray too far from the center, a new urban beach was inaugurated last month (along Calle Conde de Altea), rehabilitated after his disappearance forty years ago due to a big storm. While the Sierra de Bernia invites you to explore one of its four mountain and hiking routes for a different day. Although if you are looking for a retreat to rest from daily stress, the Garden of the senses _(Partida de la Olla, 42) _ is the perfect hiding place. A rural house full of details where you can practice yoga or have a snack in a botanical oasis where to observe one of the most beautiful sunsets in Altea.
But before ending this express trip to the Alicante coast, if you are an inveterate traveler —like most Traveler readers— you will be tired of trying to find that original souvenir to take home with your family. in Althea, craftsmanship is one of its key points and therefore, finding a nice and useful gift is a simple task. Soap&Soul (Travesía del Ángel, 4. Bajo) , is a small shop hidden in the old quarter, where its owner produces soaps, oils, and serums with 100% natural ingredients manually and with great care. In the end, gastronomy, nature and crafts shake hands in this small Santorini of the Marina Baja. And all in the fall.
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Views of the Altea square
The alleys of Altea