Altea

EXCURSIONS AROUND ALTEA
Not far from Altea is Polop, a small village that still contains the old Arab quarter streets. Polop is surrounded by huertas and pinewoods, and has a parish church, which is crowned by a beautiful bell-tower.
It is pleasant to wander around the solitary lands around Polop, scattered as it is with masses, quadrangular thick built in an effort to ward off bandits during the last century.
A pleasant excursion from Polop is on foot to the magic peak of Mount Ponoig, which was called the <<sleeping lion>> by Gabriel Miró, and is a vantage point from where one can see as far as Ibiza on a clear day.

Another worth wile excursion is to the pretty village of Callosa d´Ensarrià. Caluja, as the Arabs called the village, was praised in many Arab texts, for the magnificence of its countryside, and for the exquisite fruit which is grown in the area: pears, apricots, strawberries, oranges, lemons, apples, pomegranates...
It was reconquered by James I, and later passed, in 1248, to become part of the estate of the nobleman Arnau de Sarria, from whence the modern name of Callosa d´Ensarrià comes.
From Callosa, take the road to Coll de Rates, which reaches a height of 980 metres, offering marvellous views of El Marquesat region.

The Algar Waterfall is to be found 2.5 kilometres from Callosa d´Ensarrià, at the source of the river from which it takes its name.
A picturesque spot, one of the most surprising in the whole province, being so incredibly green and rich in water. The crystal-clear, pure waters crash against the rocks and rush down towards the valley in a torrent, bouncing merrily off the stones it meets on its way.
The visitor can bathe under the 25-metre high waterfall, or in one of the deep pools to be found in the area.