ALTEA (WHITE VILLAGE)

Altea, also known as the “White Village,” is located on the north section of the
Mediterranean coast in the province of Alicante. This area is called Costa Blanca, the
“White Coast”.

Altea is known for its good weather, beaches, and beautiful alleyways. Local houses are
specific to have beautiful white-washed facades. The White Village is protected by the
hills of Serra de Bèrnia, creating a mild microclimate. The promenade by the seashore is
overflowing with palms. Navigating through the streets, one even see the sea.

The town prides itself on the Church of La Mare de Déu del Consol, which translates as
“The virgin of the Consol.” The Church is easily recognized for its magnificent domes,
tiled with glazed ceramics.

One can find several restaurants near the temple, some even with a sight of the sea.
Altea is a tourist town that has managed to maintain its Mediterranean essence and
today is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Blanca.

ITINERARY

The tour begins at the first Russian-Orthodox temple in Spain, the Church of St.
Archangel Michael. The wooden building on the coast of the Alicante region was built
almost entirely from materials brought straight from Russia.

The excursion will then continue with a stroll through the white streets of Altea, leading
the group to a remarkably unique viewpoint, the Portal Vell, also known as Valencia
Gate.

Valencia Gate used to be one of the access gates of the city walls of Altea. This gate
allows one to access one of the most beautiful streets in the center. It is also possible to
see the Peöön de Ifach from the view.

Resuming the trek, the group goes up the square to see The Church of Nuestra Señora
del Consuelo. This temple is seeable from almost any part of town. The structure prides
itself on two exquisite blue-tiled towers, which gave the Church its nickname. The
Dome of the Mediterranean.

After the tour, the group gets time off. Later, the group continues to see the promenade
of Altea together, and throughout the summer season, it is also possible to visit and
enjoy the beach.

EL CASTELL DE GUADALEST

El Castell de Guadalest is a Valencian town located in a hilly area of Marina Baixa.

Guadalest has an area of 16km2 and a total population of 189 residents. The town
manages to attract tourism to Costa Blanca because it has maintained typical features of
an inland village over time.

The medieval castle stands over the Guadalest valley. The keep rises in 11th-century
Muslim rule over the Iberian Peninsula. It then serves to control the valley as fighting
between smaller kingdoms (since the breakdown of the Caliphate of Cördoba)
continues.

In the 13th century, Christians conquested the region, and the town was incorporated
into the Kingdom of Valencia by James I of Aragon.

The Muslim residents were allowed to stay in the valley until the expulsion of the
Moriscos. The site then changed ownership many times over the centuries.