Although Russian homebuyers discovered the charm of the Costa Blanca long ago, it was not until 2007 that the first Russian Orthodoos church was built in Spain. The prayer house in Altea is small, but at the same time very special. The wooden church is an exact replica of a 17th century Russian church. No expense has been spared to build an authentic church that does justice to the original on all fronts. For example, the building materials all come from the Ural Mountains. The man who made that possible was a Russian billionaire, who had it built especially for his mother.
The church of San Miguel Arcangel stands out mainly for the golden domes and blue rounded roofs, which are so typical of many important Russian buildings. The building can be visited daily. However, it is forbidden to take pictures inside and guests will only be admitted if legs and shoulders are covered. The interior is a feast for the eyes with its many religious icons and golden decorations.
The garden with beautiful plants and a pond with terrapins is also well worth a visit. There you will also see the life-size statue of Saint Nicholas holding a sword in one hand and a mini replica of the church in the other.
The prayer house is easily accessible. From the N332 coast road from Altea to Calpe it is at the height of Altea Hills and has the residential area in the background.