Villajoyosa

Bordering Towns

It borders the municipalities of Aguas de Busot, Campello, Finestrat, and Orcheta.

History

The town of Villajoyosa took the first settlers in the Bronze Age, and the hill where the old town sits was an ancient Iberian settlement. In Roman times the area experienced a boom, and the Roman city named it Alone, or Alonis.

Torre de Dalt. Orchard towers that are structures attached to houses and transmit signals to the interior alarm received from the coast towers.

Torre del Baix or Xauxelles. It lies hidden in the corner of an existing building.

Torre del Charco. A circular watchtower from the 16th century. It is currently under private ownership.

Torre de la Cruz.

La Torre Torreta. This tower contains documents from the beginning of the 15th century, during the earliest days of the Christian repopulation. It dominates the village orchard.

Simeon Torre. It is a garden watchtower that was part of the system for preventing pirate attacks.

Torre de San Jose. A Roman funerary monument that is close to the towers.

Museum Valor Chocolates. A museum dedicated to the history of chocolate.

Villajoyosa (in Valencia, La Vila Joiosa), usually called La Vila and formerly Alonis, is a municipality of Valencia, Spain. It is situated on the Costa Blanca, in the district of Marina Baja. It has 32,534 inhabitants (INE 2008).

Geography

Villajoyosa is located 32 km northeast of the city of Alicante. It is the capital of the district of Marina Baja. The town of Villajoyosa passes the Amadori river and the dam of Relleu. The township has 15 km of coastline. From Alicante, you reach this village by the highways AP-7 or N-332.

The TRAM Metropolitano de Alicante (formerly Trenet de la Marina of FGV) leads from Alicante to Denia and stops in Villajoyosa, with the option to cross trains (the station has four tracks).

In the 16th century Villajoyosa had an important role in defending against the coast of Alicante and the many significant Berber pirate attacks. Therefore, King Philip II ordered a plan to carry out new walls, finished midcentury, which, hiding the previous ones, are those that are standing today.

As part of the defense system, watchtowers and numerous coastal garden towers were erected and attached to rural farmhouses. The works of the fortress-church of the Assumption, Gothic Levantine was completed during that time. The end of pirate attacks wasn’t until the late 17th century and led to a weakening defensive urban growth outside the city walls.

In 1911 Alfonso XIII gave Villajoyosa the title of town.

Places of Interest

Collection of historic and artistic Villa.

Torre del Aguila. A square built in the 16th century; formed part of the coastguard against piracy.

Municipal Museum. Contains interesting remains of the settlement of the city.

Casa Museo La Barbera dels Aragonese. Visit by appointment only.

Beaches. Playa Paraiso, El Bol Nou, La Caleta, Playa Center Raco del Conill, Playa del Torres Beach Students, Varadero Beach, Playa del Tío Roig, Playa del Esparello, Playa del Charco, and Punta del Moro.

Festivals

The festivals of Moors and Christians are held in honor of Santa Marta from July 24 to 31 and are declared of International Tourist Interest by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in 2003.

No one knows the exact location of Alonis, but it is believed that its location was the center of the city (Plaza de la Generalitat, Columbus Street, Old Town). Recently, at the center of town, there have been a few remnants of some springs and military settlement, which also leads to the belief that Alonis surrounded the river Amadori.

In the Middle Ages the place was uninhabited but was near some villages, such as the town of Torres, cited in the Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner. Its foundation was a Christian city under the name of La Vila Joiosa (which means Villa Alegre in Valencian).

It was formed in 1300 by Bernardo Sarria, Admiral James II of Aragon, with a strategic aim of controlling the coastline maritime attacks by Muslims. In 1321 the place went to Pedro Infante, Duke of Ribagorza. Various noble families came into the possession of the city, which, in 1443, won the coveted privilege of becoming a real town.

The festivities, which date back 250 years, recalls a major attack by Berber pirates allegedly commanded by Arraez Zalla, who, in 1538, was repelled by the inhabitants of the village and has the particularity to present a naval battle and landing on the beach.

On July 29 the people of Villajoyosa celebrated Santa Marta and the gentleman porter with a procession. The gentleman porter was a guide for the public’s journey to the holy offering, and they flocked to this gentleman.

Lorenzo D. Martinez is in charge of the bands, the parades, the cache, embassies, paellas and parade floats. Also, in summer they usually celebrate chocolatissima with guided tours and tastings of chocolate in the old town. Other important festivals are being held in the district of Ermita, with the celebration of San Miguel in late September.

Also in the second week of August is the famous festival of alternative music, Marearock Festival, formerly located in Torrevieja, with more than 4000 people celebrating. The festival was held only in the summer of 2008, with the new municipality of the PP adjourning it for the summer of 2009.