Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa (in Catalan, the Villa Joiosa - the Merry City -, or simply the Villa ) is a Spanish commune located on the coast of the Province of Alicante, 32 kilometers in the North-East of the town of Alicante. It is close to the famous seaside resort of Benidorm. The communes bordering are Campello, Orcheta, Finestrat and Aguas de Busot, and counts 15 km of coast. The river Amadorio passes by Villajoyosa.

Geography

With 27.983 inhabitants (2005), Villajoyosa is the legal chief town and the capital of the sector of the Marina Baja. City with strong tradition of fishing, its economy is centered today on chocolate industries and tourism. (Villajoyosa, the casco antiguo). The festivities of “Moros there Cristianos”, held in the honor of Holy Marthe from July 24th to 31st, were declared of international tourist interest by the Ministry Work and of the social Affairs in 2003. These 250 years old festivities, remind the attack made by pirates in 1538. The spectacle presents a naval action and an unloading on the beach.

History

The first inhabitants of Villajoyosa arrived at the Bronze Age. The hill where the old part of the city was occupied by the people Ibérique. At the time Roman, the town of Alona made great great strides. During the the Middle Ages, the place was depopulated until in 1300 year of the foundation of Villajoyosa by Bernat de Sarrià, the admiral of Jacques II of Aragon, with an aim of controlling the littoral of the maritime attacks of the Moslems. In 1321, the city is directed by his/her son Pedro, duke of Ribagorza. Thereafter, various noble families are succédé for the possession of the city. In 1443 it obtained the privilege envied to become a true city. In 1911, Alphonse XIII granted to Villajoyosa the title of city.

Demography

With 27.983 inhabitants according to the census of January 1st, 2005, Villajoyosa is the most populated common 13ère province of Alicante. According to this census, 15.11% of the population of the commune is of foreign nationality (42% of them coming from various countries of the EU)

Administration

List mayors, since the first democratic elections.

Monuments

old working (with its houses colors)
Church of Pond of Déu of Assumpció
Roman Tower of archaeological Saint-Joseph
Excavation
archaeological and ethnological Museum
Museum of the chocolate
Walk at the edge of the sea ( Paseo Marítimo )
Market with fish with traditional shouted the
Playas

Twinning

External bonds

Town hall of tourist Villajoyosa
presentation of Villajoyosa
History of Villajoyosa
Site of the municipal museum of Villajoyosa, where is told the history of the city
Statistical data of Villajoyosa (site of the diputation of Alicante)
Site of the festivals of '' Moros I cristians ''
Site of association '' Santa Marta '', about the festivals of '' Moros I Cristians ''
Site of Tourism on Villajoyosa carried out by the '' Agencia Valenciana de Turismo ''

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