ROUTE 4

TOTEM ROUTE 4: PORTAL NOU

ROUTE START

We are now at the railway installations inaugurated in 1914 which include a station, railway lines, platforms, train sheds and stands. These installations helped to modernise the area a little, housing the town’s first hotels and hostals. This character was kept until well into the 20^th century.

Opposite is the L’Hort de la Campaneta, one of the few houses with walled orchards that have survived from the 19^th century. Named after a little bell that hung over a gate next to the house, (now installed in the San Francisco church), Its architecture employs very fashionable local referential elements of the time, closely related in form to the parish church domes.

Leaving the railway lines on the right, we continue up the steps leading to calle Alacant street.On the left is the Municipal Professional Music Conservatory. Continuing along the calle Sol, one of the most visited streets in Altea, we come to the end of our route, the Portal Nou gate, at the Carmelina Sánchez Cutillas square.

(This information is published in the Guía de Altea by J. Miguel del Rey)

TOTEM PLAÇA CARMELINA SÁNCHEZ CUTILLAS

BIC

You have just entered Altea’s old Renaissance quarters.

Altea’s Bastion and Renaissance Area was declared a Cultural Heritage Site (BIC) in 2013.The Bastion conserves its original 1617 structure, with gates giving access to the fortress. The Virgen del Consuelo Church, built between the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries over the remains of the primitive17^th century church, provides character to the ensemble as a whole.

Magnificent buildings from the foundation period, built of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, have also been conserved.

Plaza Carmelina Sánchez Cutillas Square: Next to the Portal Nou gate, the Carmelina Sánchez Cutillas Square pays homage to Altean authoress of the 50’s Generation, who portrayed the streets of Altea in her book “Matèria de Bretanya”.

The Town Hall and Court House Bastion (Lost element):It was a defensive element in the north-east angle of the wall .Situated at the end of the Carrer de la Carnisseria (calle Santa Bárbara today), beside the prison alley. A small stairway attached to the wall lead up to the Town Hall. Access was by an antechamber which lead to room where the Altea jury members met, occupying both units with a wooden deck structure in its interior. Light was provided through windows to the east and south, with orifices in the walls for artillery towards the north. Next to this room was the municipal secretary’s chamber. It was demolished in 1911.

Portal Nou Gate: The second remaining gate, the Portal Nou, also known as the Puerta del Mar, was opened to the east in the mid-eighteenth century due to the importance of the Fishing Quarters.

Sentry Post: The house situated at n· 8 in Calle Fondo street conserves its original 18^th century building and distribution. It also conserves the original interior distribution of the house by the wall, which was built over the sentry post itself, without perforations in them. It is thought to have kept its use as a public right of way along its perimeter.

(This information is published in the Guia de Altea by J.Miguel del Rey)