We study mixed surfaces, the minimal resolution S of the singularities of a quotient (C × C)/G of the square of a curve by a finite group of automorphisms that contains elements not preserving the factors. We study them through the further quotientsAs first application we prove that if the irregularity is at least 3, then S is also minimal. The result is sharp.The main result is a complete description of the Albanese morphism of S through a determined further quotient (C ×C)/G ′ that is anétale cover of the symmetric square of a curve. In particular, if the irregularity of S is at least 2, then S has maximal Albanese dimension.We apply our result to all the semi-isogenous mixed surfaces of maximal Albanese dimension constructed by Cancian and Frapporti, relating them with the other constructions of surfaces of general type having the same invariants in the literature.