Discover the historical capital of the Marina Baixa
Old Quarter
The Old Quarter is made up of houses that formed the original village.
Even today you can distinguish parts of the walls and watchtowers originally built in the mid-16th century. These structures are in magnificent condition and represent a rare example of defensive architecture.
We invite you to tour this area with it historic-artistic heritage from El Portal (The Gateway) through the Plaza de la Iglesia (Church Square), the Iglesia de la Asunción (Church of the Assumption), the Capilla de Santa Marta (Chapel of Santa Marta), the Roman funerary altar and the charming streets.
Watchtowers
Outside the Old Quarter you can admire the towers that were used as lookouts and defences. While it is not possible to enter the towers, seeing them close-up from the outside makes the visit worthwhile. Among them, the following are outstanding:
Torre del Charco (Charco Tower)
Charco Tower is located near Charco beach, high on a rocky outcrop 31 meters above sea level.
It is a circular tower 7 metres in diameter and 12 metres high. The base is solid rock and there is only one room in the interior.
Torre D'aguiló (D'aguiló Tower)
D'aguiló Tower is located on a steep cliff with access next to the Cales housing estate. The access path provides panoramic views of Benidorm Bay.
It is a Renaissance defensive tower built in the sixteenth century and it formed part of the coastal watch against the Barbary corsairs. It has now been restored and access is free.
Torre de San José (San José Tower)
This ruin dates back to the Bronze Age and it has been catalogued as a construction of cultural interest since 1990. It is one of the main Roman archaeological monuments in the Valencia region. The tower was designed without any access to the interior. It is decorated with pilasters at the corners and is currently 8 metres high.
The San José tower dates from the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and seems to have been built as the tomb of an important person of the same era.
La Creueta
The La Creueta area was once an important crossroads of Roman origin.
This type of landmark was considered sacred and therefore was marked by a monument in the form of a cross.
There are two such monuments in Villajoyosa: one in the La Creueta area where the original iron cross is now located in a park, and the other a stone cross located on the Orcheta road which was moved from its original site due to building works carried out in the area.
The l'Almiserà Roman Monument
This Roman monument is located in the grounds of the Llar Pensionista (pensioner's home) social centre.
It consists of archaeological remains from a site within the town that once connected the Roman city with the Finestrat valley. Believed to be of funerary origin, it was probably erected by the same builders as the Tower of San José.
Censal Park
An attractive park located between the national highway and the promenade. It provides excellent views of the beach and parts of the old town.
Accessibility for all is ensured by ramps. It contains green zones and rest areas, children's playgrounds and a small auditorium where theatrical and musical performances occasionally take place.
Raval de Ponent
Raval de Ponent (or the Arsenal district) is a neighbourhood built outside the town walls in the mid-18th century.
The most distinctive area contains several traditional restaurants surrounded by picturesque coloured houses along the central beach promenade.
The houses are notable for their polychrome façades, the work of local 19th century fishermen as a way of distinguishing them from offshore.
Puente del Río (River Bridge)
Villajoyosa's River Bridge was designed by the engineer J. González in 1859. It separates the Poble Nou (new town) neighbourhood from the Old Quarter and the rest of the city. It provides one of the best views of the characteristic colourful houses on the banks of the Amadorio River. It is one of the three great bridges built in the nineteenth century to join sections of the N-332 road.
The railway bridge, built in 1911 and still used by the Alicante-Denia line, is located to the west of the River Bridge.
Statue of Doctor Esquerdo
Created by sculptor Pedro Estany Capellà in 1915, the statue is a homage to Dr. Esquerdo, founder of the first psychiatric sanatoriums in Spain. One of these, funded by the townspeople, was formerly housed in "La Malladeta". The statue represents the great doctor with a mentally ill patient who is being helped out of a straitjacket by a nurse. It can now be seen in the Plaza de la Generalitat.