Colourful Walk and Sunset Views

What better way to start the route than with a visit to one of the most famous Spanish landmarks. The Valor chocolate factory has a whole history behind it.
Five generations have been in charge of producing chocolate in Villajoyosa. Inside there is a museum with an exhibition of old machinery, chocolate tasting and a shop where you can buy some of the delicacies.
There are tours in English every day except Sundays at 10:00. From Monday to Friday there are also tours in English at 16:00. To find out more about the exhibition of the museum, check the official site.

The historic centre of Villajoyosa is not accessible by car, so it is best to leave your car parked in this public car park and then walk around all the attractions.

Over the gorge that forms the Amadoiro river and then flows into the sea, there are old houses that seem to hang from the cliff. The best postcard of the hanging houses can be found on the other side of the historic centre, across the bridge over the river.
These houses have their main façade overlooking the streets of the historic centre and their back side is the one that can be seen from the gorge.

The Town Hall is one of the historic buildings to be seen, but the whole architectural ensemble of Villajoyosa is of great beauty. The narrow streets leading down to the sea have colourful facades of the houses and street lamps.
There are small squares to sit and contemplate the surroundings. Along the way, you can see the church of the Assumption, which served as a fortress against pirate attacks.

The main attractions of Villajoyosa are the old fishermen's houses located on the beachfront. Their characteristic feature is that the exterior is painted in different shades of blue, green, red and yellow, giving them a picturesque image. These colours with which the houses are painted were used so that the fishermen could identify their home from the sea.

On the promenade, there is a lunch menu with a choice of three starters and main courses. Many of the dishes are based on ish or seafood, although it also offers Mediterranean food. There are tables for outdoor dining with views of the sea.
Open Hours: Every day from 12:30 – 16:00. Fridays and Saturdays also from 19:00 – 22:00

As in Villajoyosa, it is not allowed to drive in the historic centre. There is a very large car park by the sea, an ideal place to leave your car parked and start walking around Altea.

The first stop in Altea is just a few metres away. The beach has small pebbles, but the most important thing is the viewpoint located at one end.
From here, you can see the deep blue sea with the small hills in the background.

Altea is one of the towns with the most viewpoints overlooking the sea. Starting the ascent towards the church, this viewpoint has a large place to take pictures and overlooks the east side of Altea. Next to it there is a small bar where you can have a drink or a snack.

Starting with the climb up the stairs, from the viewpoint you can see much of the environment with the sea as protagonist. Even on sunny days you can see up to the Peñon del Calpe, located about 15 kilometers away, and the city of Benidorm. From here begins the most beautiful landscape of Altea with its white houses.

The culminating point and the highest point of Altea is the large square where the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo is located. Here you can spend some time photographing the blue domes.
Before arriving at the square, walking through the narrow streets with the white painted houses, flower pots and red roofs, make real postcards. One of the best photos is taken from the top of the steps leading to the “Calle Mayor”.

One of the ways to enjoy the atmosphere of the church square and wait for the sunset to begin, is to sit in this bar and relax with a tea, coffee, beer or cocktail accompanied by toast, sandwiches or something sweet. The open-air terrace is located a few metres above the square, which allows for better views.
Open Hours: Every day from 17:00 – 2:00.

The best views from the top of Altea are to be found here. It is advisable to wait until sunset to photograph the sun setting into the sea with the orange sky in combination with the blue colour of the sea. In the background of the picture, you can see the views of the mountains of the Serra Gelada Natural Park.

Located in the church square, its dishes fuse Dutch, Swiss (the nationality of its owners) and Spanish cuisine with delicacies for the palate and beautifully presented dishes. There is the option of eating outdoors at the tables on the square or in the interior, which is decorated with paintings and has a large window with a view.
Open Hours: Every day from 13:00 – 15:30 and 18:00 – 23:00.

Ideally you should stay near the historic centre or on the promenade to be close to the main attractions and the beach in summer.