Calle Belosa, 5
03599 Altea la Vella
España
Urbanización Alhama Springs
The Alhama Springs urbanisation is one of several developments around Altea. In Alhama Springs there are numerous villas and estates that impress with their protected location behind the Sierra Bernia. Typical features include spacious plots with pine, olive and almond trees, creating a relaxed, nature-loving environment. The residents of this area are international, contributing to a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
From the mid-1960s and in the 1970s, Alhama Springs was built as an urban development project of Altea la Vella. It was known as the English Settlement. An old brochure offers 7 house types that are still recognisable today. The Casa del Cerro is one of the few individually designed houses.
Altea la Vella is the original settlement centre of Altea. Altea la Vella is located slightly further inland, at the base of the Sierra de Bernia. It is a quiet, picturesque town with narrow streets, traditional houses and a charming village church. Today's Altea, which is located closer to the coast, developed later around the harbour and the promenade.
Today, Alhama Springs is self-administrated and managed by a committee which is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure.
60th Aniversary
On 11 September 2025, the 60th anniversary event took place with many neighbours attending.
Video: © Daryl Broicher
Altea la Vella – Where the history of modern-day Altea begins
High above the valley, at the foot of the rugged Sierra de Bernia, lies a place where you can almost feel time standing still for a moment: Altea la Vella – Valencian for "Old Altea." What today is a quiet, unassuming municipality was once the pulsing heart of a Moorish settlement called Altāya – and this is precisely where the story of all of modern-day Altea begins.
An Oasis Under Moorish Rule
When the Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 711, they immediately recognised the potential of this fertile patch of land. In the 11th century, Altāya flourished as part of the mighty Taifa Kingdom of Dénia. The cleverly chosen hilltop location offered not only strategic protection but also a breathtaking view across the landscape.
Yet the Moors didn't content themselves with the fine outlook: they built a sophisticated irrigation system along the River Algar – a feat of engineering that turned dry soil into fertile farmland. The fortified alquería, the agricultural homestead, became the thriving centre of a place that fed people and brought prosperity.
1244: A New Ruler, A New Name
The story took a decisive turn when King James I of Aragón (Jaume I) conquered the region in 1244. Remarkably, the Moorish name Altāya became Altea – a linguistic echo that still resonates today. Initially, the Muslim population was allowed to remain as vassals, a peaceful transition that was not to last.
The Quiet Decline of a Living Place
In the early 17th century, following repeated uprisings, the Moriscos – Muslims who had converted to Christianity – were finally expelled. The once-thriving village subsequently fell entirely into ruin. All that remained were ruins, silent witnesses to a glorious past.
How the Name Migrated to the Coast
When new life later settled directly on the coast, the name Altea migrated there with it – to where the town lies today. The abandoned ruins of the original Moorish settlement inland thereafter took on their own name: Altea la Vella – "Old Altea," a quiet place of origin and a living history book all in one.
Anyone strolling today through the lanes of Altea la Vella is literally walking in the footsteps of eight centuries of history – from Moorish irrigation channels to Christian conquerors to the quiet decline from which the lively coastal town of Altea, as we know it today, ultimately emerged.