If you've spent more than an afternoon wandering the cobbled lanes of Altea's Old Town, you'll already know this isn't your average Costa Blanca beach town. The whitewashed walls, the bougainvillea-draped doorways, the blue-domed church rising above the rooftops — it all feels like someone deliberately designed a backdrop for artists. And that's precisely what happened. Altea has been drawing painters, sculptors, ceramicists and photographers to its hillside streets for decades, and today it's widely considered the arts capital of the Costa Blanca.
September is arguably the best month to explore Altea's creative side. The summer crowds have thinned, the light is golden and long, and many galleries reopen after their August breaks with fresh exhibitions. Here's everything you need to know.
Why Altea Became an Artists' Town
The story starts in the 1960s and 70s when European artists — many of them fleeing the grey skies of northern Europe — discovered that Altea's quality of light was genuinely exceptional. The way the Mediterranean sun bounces off the white walls and dances on the water below created a natural studio that painters couldn't resist. Word spread. By the 1980s, the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia had established its Faculty of Fine Arts right here in Altea, cementing the town's reputation as a serious centre for artistic education.
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The Best Art Galleries in Altea
Centre d'Art L'Olla
Galería Tassili
El Obrador de Cerámica
Taller de Pintura Altea
Street Art in the Old Town
The UPV Faculty of Fine Arts
The Universidad Politécnica de Valencia's Altea campus sits just below the old town and is worth a visit in its own right. During term time (which begins in October), the faculty holds regular open exhibitions and end-of-semester shows that are free to the public and genuinely excellent. In September, before term starts, there are often final summer residency exhibitions to catch. The building itself is elegant — a restored 19th-century structure with a shaded courtyard where you can sit and have a coffee at the small bar.
Art Markets & Craft Fairs in September
Every Sunday morning, Altea runs an artisan market on the seafront promenade near the Passeig de la Mar. This isn't a tacky souvenir market — you'll find locally made jewellery, handprinted textiles, photography prints, and ceramics from artists who actually live here. September is a particularly good month because vendors are still active before the winter slowdown. Get there before 11am for the best selection.
If you're visiting in the last week of September, keep an eye out for the Feria d'Art, a small art fair that's been held in the old town square intermittently — 2026's edition hasn't been confirmed as I write this, but locals expect it to happen. Ask at the tourist office on Calle San Pedro.
Practical Tips for Visiting Altea's Art Scene
- Best time of day: Early morning (before 10am) or late afternoon (from 5pm) when the light is best and the lanes are quieter.
- Wear good shoes: The old town streets are steep and cobbled. Flip-flops are a bad idea.
- Bring cash: Many small studios don't take cards.
- Take your time: Don't try to rush through galleries in an hour. Altea rewards slow wandering.
- Book workshops in advance: The ceramics and painting sessions have limited spaces, especially in September.
Where to Stay for an Art-Focused Visit
To really absorb the creative atmosphere, you want to be based in or near the old town — close enough to walk up in the morning before the day heats up, and to drift back down to a terrace with a glass of local white wine in the evening. Browse our holiday rentals in Altea and you'll find apartments and houses at various price points, many within ten minutes' walk of the main gallery quarter.
Booking direct through JV Properties saves you up to 18% compared to Airbnb or Booking.com — that's money you could spend on an original painting from Galería Tassili instead. View available properties in Altea for your September dates.
Altea has a way of making you want to create something. Even if you leave without buying anything, you'll leave with a phone full of photographs and the distinct feeling that you've been somewhere that takes beauty seriously. That's rarer than it sounds on the Costa Blanca.
