Villajoyosa City Guide: Everything for Buying Property and Holidays

1. Location, Nearest Airports and Cities

Villajoyosa (La Vila Joiosa) is a municipality in Alicante province on the Costa Blanca coast, Spain. Population: 34,000. The city sits at 27 metres above sea level, covers 20.45 km2 and has 15 km of coastline. Villajoyosa is 32 km north-east of Alicante and 12 km from Benidorm.

How to Get There

Nearest airport: Alicante (Alicante-Elche), 49 km away. Journey time approximately 1.5 hours by shuttle and train.

The TRAM Metropolitano (line 1) connects Alicante with Benidorm. Five stops in Villajoyosa: Paradis, La Vila Joiosa, Creueta, Costera Pastor and Hospital Vila. Full journey from Alicante approximately 55 minutes.

2. Climate and Weather

Warm, dry climate year-round. Summer (June-August) air temperatures 24-26 C; January average approximately 11 C. Sea temperature peaks at 27 C in July-August, dropping below 16 C from December to April. Optimal swimming season: June to mid-September.

3. History: Villajoyosa Old Town

The territory was settled since the Bronze Age. Around the 5th century BC, the Roman city of Alonis existed here. Villajoyosa as a Christian city was founded in 1300 by Bernardo de Sarria, admiral to King James II.

The city was renowned for coastal defence against Berber pirates. King Philip II ordered defensive walls, completed in the mid-16th century. In 1911, King Alfonso XIII granted Villajoyosa city status.

4. Monuments and Attractions

Defensive Structures

• Murallas de Villajoyosa - Renaissance fortress walls (1551-1565) with cubic towers.
• Torre del Aguilo - 16th-century coastal defensive tower.
• Torre de Dalt - square alarm signal tower.
• Torre del Charco - 16th-century round tower.
• Torre La Torreta - 15th-century tower.
• Torre Simeon - observation tower.
• Torre de la Cruz - defensive tower.

Religious and Civic Buildings

• Iglesia parroquial de la Asuncion - fortified Gothic-style church, built during the fortress wall period.
• Villa Giacomina - 1920 neo-medieval building on La Malladeta hill.
• Chalet de Centella - eclectic building (1927-1930), now the tourist office.

Archaeological Sites

• Torre de Hercules - 2nd-century Roman funerary tower, 3 km north-east of centre.
• Termas publicas monumentales de Allon - monumental public baths (85-110 AD), discovered 2007. 900 m2 excavated.
• Olivera Grossa - ancient olive tree over 2,500 years old.

5. Beaches

Total beach length: 3.5 km.

Central Beaches

• Playa Centro - 1,380 m long, 30 m wide. Golden sand, parasols, sunbeds, water park, lifeguards.
• Playa Paraiso - 1,060 m, sand and pebble. Volleyball court, playground.
• Playa Estudiantes - 140 m long, 8 m wide, pebble and gravel.
• Playa del Tio Roig - 160 m, pebbly.
• Playa Varadero - suitable for snorkelling.
• El Bol Nou - 220 m long, 30 m wide, sheltered cove with clear water.

Remote and Nudist Beaches

• L’Esparrello - 222 m nudist beach, 1.8 km from centre.
• La Caleta - 160 m long, 30 m wide. Blue Flag, crystal-clear water.
• Playa del Torres - 500 m, gravel, suitable for diving. Near Torre de Hercules.
• El Raco del Conill - sand-and-pebble nudist cove in two sections.
• Playa del Charco (El Xarco) - 580 m long, remote sand-and-pebble beach 3.5 km towards Alicante.
• Carritxal Beach - over 3.5 km long on the south-western municipal border.

6. Leisure

Water Sports

• Club Nautico Vila Joiosa - yacht club near the port.
• Kayak and jet ski hire on several beaches.
• Diving at Cala del Xarco and other coastal points.
• Snorkelling: Raco Conill, L’Esparrello, La Caleta, Varadero.

Active Recreation

• Polideportivo Marta Baldo - sports complex.
• Skate Park Vila Joiosa.

Nightlife

No casinos or nightclubs in Villajoyosa. Nearest casino: Casino Mediterraneo in Benidorm. Evening bars in the old town and along the seafront. For a full nightlife scene, Benidorm is 12 km away.

Hiking Routes

1. Sightseeing walk through colourful seafront houses, river park, fortress remains, the Church of the Assumption and watchtowers.

2. Villajoyosa - La Malladeta Route

• Distance: 3.17 km, linear, 1.5 hours, low difficulty

3. La Vuelta al Cantal Route

• Distance: 19.20 km, circular, 5 hours, medium difficulty, 540 m elevation gain

7. Museums

Municipal Museum with archaeological, ethnographic and palaeontological collections. Casa-Museo Barbera dels Aragones with 16th-19th century furniture.

Valor Chocolate Factory

Museo del Chocolate Valor tells the story of chocolate production and the Valor factory, founded 1881. Factory covers 22,000 m2, exports to 50 countries. Free tours with chocolate tasting: weekdays 10:00-13:00 and 16:00-19:00, Saturdays 10:00-13:00. English tours: weekdays 11:00 and 16:00.

8. Festivals

Moors and Christians (24-31 July)

A 250-year-old festival commemorating the 1538 repulsion of Berber pirates. International Tourist Interest status. Highlights include the 28 July dawn sea battle with over 30 Moorish ships, including castle capture and reconquest.

Other festivals: Carnival, Semana Santa, Virgen del Carmen (July), Xocolatissima (August chocolate tasting in the Old Town).

9. Food and Restaurants

Traditional dishes: paella variants (rice with dorado, rice with onion and pumpkin, rice with spinach), fish broths, suquet de peix, popets amb ceba (octopus), rice with legumes, borreta de melva, pebrereta, puchero amb tarongetes (meatballs), seginoses (Christmas sweets), Valencian cocas.

Restaurants: Casa Elordi and Zerca (Mediterranean gastronomy), Taperia El Barrio (tapas), La Caravelle (French/Mediterranean), Taj Tandoori and Maharaja (Indian/Thai), Taverna Valenciana El Posit (rice dishes).

10. Shops and Markets

Fish market at the port with daily afternoon auctions. Supermarkets: Mercadona, Masymas, Spar. La Marina Centro Comercial shopping centre in 8 km towards Benidorm.

11. Hotels

5-star Hotel Servigroup Montiboli (Moorish style near L’Esparrello beach, EUR 180-220/night). Budget: Rosal B&B and Censal (EUR 60-150). Apartments: HappyVila (EUR 68-125), Casita de Pescadores, La Punta. Budget doubles from EUR 50/night.

12. Property in Villajoyosa - Price Overview

Average price (January 2020): EUR 1,462/m2 (4.7% annual growth).

Prices by Property Type

Additional Information

• Resale housing in high demand near beach: studios from EUR 110,000, 2-bed apartments from EUR 170,000.
• New complex 300 m from sea: from EUR 160,000.
• New gated complex on first beach line: from EUR 280,000.