Villajoyosa

This article is about the town in Alicante. For the municipality in Zaragoza, see La Joyosa.
Not to be confused with Gioiosa.

Villajoyosa
La Vila Joiosa (Valencian)
Villajoyosa (Spanish)
Municipality
Villajoyosa / La Vila Joiosa (official)
Flag of Villajoyosa
Flag
Coat of arms of Villajoyosa
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
La Vila
Map
Location of La Vila Joiosa
Villajoyosa is located in Valencian Community
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa is located in Spain
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa is located in Europe
Villajoyosa
Villajoyosa
Coordinates: 38°30′19″N 0°13′58″W / 38.50528°N 0.23278°W / 38.50528; -0.23278
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
Province Alicante / Alacant
ComarcaMarina Baixa
Judicial districtVillajoyosa / La Vila Joiosa
Government
 • MayorMarcos Enrique Zaragoza Mayor[1] (PPCV)
Area
 • Total
20.45 km2 (7.90 sq mi)
Elevation
27 m (89 ft)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total
33,969
 • Density1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi)
Demonym(s)viler, -a (Val.)
vilero, -a (Sp.)
jonense (locally, in disuse)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
03570
Official language(s)
Websitewww.villajoyosa.com

Villajoyosa (Spanish: [biʎaxoˈʝosa]), in Valencian: La Vila Joiosa ([la ˈvila dʒoˈjoza]), meaning "The Joyful Town", and officially Villajoyosa / La Vila Joiosa,[3] is a coastal town and municipality in the south of the Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the historic and administrative capital of Marina Baixa county, and is located in the province of Alicante. The town is known locally simply as La Vila.[4]

It is the historic and administrative capital of the comarca of Marina Baixa and is located 32 km from the city of Alicante, in the coastal area known as Costa Blanca (White Coast). It has over three kilometers of beaches, including the Platja Centre (Central Beach), close to the town centre. The river of La Vila (incorrectly also known as Amadòrio) runs through the town.

The area is famous for its chocolate industry and tourism. One of the most popular tourist attractions is its Gothic Catholic church of the Assumption, with a Baroque altar piece. Another popular destination, the Royal Palm Casino (formerly Casino Costa Blanca), is now closed. The town's festival of Moros i Cristians,[5] celebrated at the end of July, was declared an International Tourist Interest Festival. Currently, this festivity commemorates a boat landing from the Berber pirates that was repelled by the population of the town.[6]

Platja del Paradís in La Vila Joiosa, by the Mediterranean Sea.
  1. ^ "Equipo de Gobierno Local de Villajoyosa". villajoyosa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  3. ^ "Villajoyosa mantiene su topónimo en castellano al retirarse la propuesta para eliminarlo del pleno". lasprovincias.es (in Spanish). Las Provincias. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  4. ^ Lonely Planet Costa Blanca Miles Roddis – 2002 – Page 216 La Vila Joiosa (Villajoyosa) postcode 03570 • pop 23,700 La Vila Joiosa ('Joyful Town') is, in fact, a fairly staid place for most of the year. Its patron saint is Saint Martha. Known to the locals simply as La Vila, it perks up in summertime, dons its glad rags and has a ...
  5. ^ Villajoyosa Moors and Christians Fiesta Archived 12 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, alicante-spain.info
  6. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "CRISTIÀ - Moros & Cristianos Villajoyosa 2017". YouTube.