Santorini quickly became one of the most popular summer destinations for the British. However, the island has recently faced challenges such as tourism taxes and earthquake evacuation, leaving many punters in the alternative.
If you follow whitewashed buildings, clear blue skies and stunning beaches, one destination in Spain stands out. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Altia is widely known as the “Santorini of Spain” because of its hilltop old town and panoramic views.
The city is located in the Costa Blanca region on the southern coast of Spain. It is a stone located far from Valencia and Benidorm, a popular seaside resort.
Altea boasts an old town filled with whitewashed homes, artisan shops and small boutiques. The best way to explore this area is by foot, and short climbs offer stunning coastline views and sunsets similar to Santorini.
One popular tourist attraction is La Mare de Due Del Consol Church – Our Virgin Virgin. The church is easily identified by its iconic blue and white domes covered in glass ceramics.
For those who want to relax on the beach, Playa della Roda is the closest to the city. There is a pebbled beach with a lively promenade.
Altea also benefits from its own mild microclimate. The average daily temperature in September ranges from 22c to 28c. Meanwhile, temperatures can approach 30c during the summer.
Altea is also popular on Tripadvisor. One visitor said: “A beautiful old town with great paths, shops and plenty of restaurants. Worth a few hours and a quick walk to the beach if needed.
The second is “A lovely distinctive old town area – it's on a hill, so there are plenty of ocean and mountain views. It seems to be getting even more popular, but this place is typically Spanish.
“It is home to many bars and restaurants, and perhaps Oustau is a bunch of picks. Taxi that you can collect freely from Arch (Arco)”