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Altea and Surroundings
Altea offers visitors 6 km of coastline with steep cliffs
and beaches of shingles and pebbles.
Next to the town centre is the beach called Playa de la
Roda, with shingles but adapted for use by people with reduced
mobility. It is flanked by a seafront promenade with shops,
ice-cream parlours, small restaurants and two nautical and
diving centres open throughout the year.
Towards the south lies the beach of Cap Blanch, which connects
to the beach of Albir in the municipality of Alfaz del Pi,
and this has facilities for windsurf board hire.
On the 2km-long beach of Cap Negret, also of shingles, there
are sunbeds and paddleboats for hire. At the end of this beach
is the small cove called Cala del Soio, which provides a beautiful
panorama reaching from the Rock of Ifach to the cape called
Punta Bombarda.
Yet another busy beach is the L'Olla, with sand, pebbles
and rocks, offering magnificent water for swimming. Stringing
out from the cape of Mascarat, which is ideal for scuba divers,
are the shingle coves of Barreta, Galera and Solsida.
Sierra de Bernia
The Sierra de Bernia, with mountains rising to 1,129 m at
their highest point, offers impressive views over the Bay
of Altea. In this area one can visit the remains of a fort
called the Fuerte de Bernia, an ancient 16th-C fortress built
to control the area against rebellions by the Morisco population
once inhabiting these mountains.
One recommendable excursion route around the Sierra starts
from Cases de Bernia (Jalón) up to Forat de Bernia,
a spectacular natural tunnel that goes through the crest of
the mountain. Once through the tunnel, the return route along
the southern slope leads past the fort. Other sights of interest
are the fountains called Font del Garrofert and Font del Runar.
The Algar Springs
Las Fuentes del Algar, or the Algar Springs, are set in a
natural water park made up of a series of waterfalls, fountains
and small springs. This is a picturesque spot that can be
visited using a variety of footpaths, were one can also visit
the Environmental Museum, which focuses on research and preservation
of the local aromatic plants.
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